Aidan Davitt
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I am delighted to welcome the Minister of State back today. He has outlined important legislation. He touched on two parts that I think are of the utmost importance. First is the part pertaining to online issues. How matters are reported online and associated disinformation happens has to have some sort of filter or safeguard.”
“I am sure there are safeguards pertaining to them, as the Minister of State has outlined, that will protect them in a certain way, but they need some sort of financial help. Many of these papers and entities are at a crossroads.”
“As part of his brief and as part of this overall review, while this regulation is welcome and much-needed, I ask the Minister of State in his position to do anything he can to influence and bolster these blocks of real information in our lives. I thank the Minister of State and appreciate the legislation.”
“I refer to the local democracy task force established by the Minister, Deputy Browne, which is looking at recommendations on supports and boundaries. The biggest issue is to do with the role of councillors. Most Members of this Houses were councillors for quite a while.”
“We need to see an empowerment of councillors and a reversal of the stripping back of powers that happened over the past 20-odd years. I have talked briefly to the Minister about the task force. I am aware that a lot of work is under way and its report may be near enough ready.”
“I have been in the Seanad for about ten years. To speak to something the Minister of State said, this has been on our radar for the past seven or eight years. The guys over there have been talking about it a lot more than I have. While we are here to fully implement the legislation, the agreement has been in use for seven or eight years.”
The complete record
Every one of 65 lines we hold for Aidan Davitt, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 2.
“I want to speak about our rail infrastructure, particularly the line from Dublin Connolly to Sligo. Mullingar is on the line. It is quite a large and growing town. It is well supplied with the infrastructure of a modern town, with a link road and a dual carriageway all the way to Dublin. There are slight complications with water but it is extremely well served and there are many options in this regard. The power is quite good and the national grid has been upgraded in the area recently. There has been some improvement on the train line recently, with extra trains and new carriages, but dual rail tracks between Connolly Station and Mullingar would be a great help. Mullingar has a large conurbation outside the commuter area that stretches beyond Maynooth and towards Enfield. Mullingar should come under this general upgrade.”
“Just because it ticks boxes X, Y and Z, somebody should still be able to take a look at it and say that, although the boxes are all being ticked, it might not be the best man, lady or company for the job. A lot of this has been thrashed out so far. I appreciate the Minister of State's time. She is a hard-working Minister of State and indeed has been very helpful any time we have been on to her office with the few queries. Keep up the good work.”
“There should be a grant-type system to enable small businesses to be aware of what they can tender for. I would say 90% of small businesses have no idea about the process, what is required or the paperwork. I find with a lot of that type of stuff that, once you get it in order the first time, it is there for a lifetime. Training is vital to make small businesses aware. I would support some type of grant to enable them to have the bit of time to resource it and get it in order. That would be a help to small businesses, which is part of this. Oversight is most important. Practicality has to be front and centre as well. In public procurement, practicality still has to be one of the greatest factors, not just price and transparency. The practicalities of the decision-making process are most important.”
“I am delighted to have the Minister of State here today. I concur with the reference made by Senator Cathal Byrne to Kent's in Wexford. I could not let it pass without mentioning Derek Kent, with whom I served on the Leinster council and several committees in the GAA. There was lots of oversight, and no better man for that than Derek Kent. I will focus most on an issue that has been hit on by both contributors so far. We had a long discussion about the green public procurement strategy and the action plan in April when the document was released. It was certainly a step forward. The lack of awareness among SMEs of how to tender for public procurement is a massive issue. The way forward is probably through the local enterprise offices and county councils.”
“I ask our Acting Leader, the very experienced Senator O'Reilly, if he would invite the Minister for Health to the House. I am raising the issue of genetic testing in Ireland. We have no clear plan and most genetic testing in Ireland is carried out abroad, which is a great scandal for this country. We had a proposed plan that this would be comprehensively considered and dealt with before March of this year. Needless to say, that has not come to fruition. A national service must be implemented. We have to have a strategy and a plan. We are relying on other countries, often far away. People will understand such travel is not ideal for genetic testing. I would appreciate if the Acting Leader could liaise with the Minister and she if she will come to the House to have a debate on this issue.”
“Heretofore, this was the responsibility of the councils but they often did not have the money to clear away surface rubbish and other bits and pieces that could block rivers. The Minister of State has come up with an innovative scheme that involves county councils tidying up black spots on rivers and we are working on that in my own town at present. Again, I commend the Minister of State and thank him for coming to the House today. I am sure, as always, that he will be as helpful as possible to all Members of the House.”
“At the end of 2024, the OPW approved €686 million for 900 different flood relief schemes, which is incredible. Those schemes will protect more than 7,000 houses, which is a very substantial number. There is one scheme in particular that I discussed with the Minister of State recently, which is being progressed by Westmeath County Council. The Department is providing funding, in conjunction with councils, to tidy and clean up rivers and so on. I have been working with Councillor Aoife Davitt on the Brosna river and have started to get the ball rolling with the Minister of State in relation to tidying up that river. There are a couple of black spots where people evidently congregated or socialised and there is rubbish on the river that is an eyesore. This is a very worthwhile scheme.”
“I am not going to rehash all of the figures that he mentioned in his statement but the massive investment of €1.3 billion under the national development plan really is an eye-watering figure. In this current climate, with all of the turbulence caused by weather and climate change, now is a prudent time to be spending this level of money on defence and future proofing for the next generation. There are 55 flood relief schemes protecting approximately 13,500 homes at present. No one is more aware than myself and the Minister of State of the works in our own county of Westmeath, particularly in Athlone. Incredible work has been done down there, which has protected a hell of a lot of homes. He will have his finger on the exact number but without those works, a lot of houses would probably not be there today in reality.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is the first time he has been in the House since he assumed his portfolio and I sincerely and wholeheartedly congratulate him on his elevation. The Boxer, as he is called locally, as well as far and wide, which is no trade secret, and I soldiered together on Westmeath County Council for a number of years. I wish him hearty and well deserved congratulations. He is a hands-on type of person, as he proved the last time he held ministerial office and he certainly will not be found wanting in coming up with solutions. I advise any Senators who know of worthwhile and worthy projects to approach the Minister of State and talk to him because invariably, if it can be done, it will be done. That has been my experience.”
“I said I would be delighted to air that in the House. I know it is an issue that is very close to the heart of the Deputy Leader as well. With regard to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, there has been no feedback or follow-through to the councils for national roads and money for national roads. There usually is at this time of year. It would usually be in the mix and the councils would have a greater oversight of what is going on with different national roads. I ask that the new Minister for Transport come to the House and discuss the plans for TII, the roll-out with councils and the plan for different national roads going forward.”
“As I rise today, I thank the Cathaoirleach and commend him on the great work he has been doing with the Irish diaspora, strengthening our links through all our different established elected bodies and caucuses throughout America. Well done; it certainly does not go unnoticed. There are a couple of little issues I wish to raise. I agree with Senator Aubrey McCarthy with regard to bringing the Minister for housing to the House. It would be good to have a debate on housing and the general direction we are going in that regard. It is something the previous Minister did on a couple of occasions. It would be useful, and I would certainly like to second that proposal. Tomorrow is World Down Syndrome Day and, as the theme for this year, they are seeking more supports and help with care and care initiatives.”
“Regarding something else that was briefly touched on earlier, there was a report out last week. This topic has been in the House quite a while. The Minister for trade and enterprise, Peter Burke, should come to the House to discuss all the figures involved with the occupied territories Bill. It is time we had a deeper look at the Bill.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Grealish, and Fr. Des Walsh, who was very good to accommodate us with mass earlier this morning. I thank Fr. Walsh. I raise the topic of the proposed slashing of night-time flights into Dublin Airport. There is a proposal with An Bord Pleanála to slash night-time flights by 30%, which is contrary to what is in our programme for Government. Approximately €19 billion worth of imports and exports each year are coming and going this way. Some 12% of our total imports and about 6% of our exports are based on flights. If this cut goes ahead, it could have an impact on approximately €10 billion’s worth of Irish imports and exports. It is very important. I ask the Leader to talk to the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, and see if he would come to the House to discuss same.”
“Oireachtas Members, staff and journalists who walk these corridors can attest to the fact that when Martin recognised you, he would have a friendly word and was pleasant and helpful. His political record speaks for itself. I will finish where I started. A Senator with severely impaired vision had an incident on a Dublin street. The very least he is owed by these Houses is a basic level of decency.”
“Comhghairdeas, a Chathaoirligh, agus the Leader. I wish you well, along with all the fellow Senators who were elected and appointed. My door is open to anyone who is finding their feet, from all parties and none. I would be delighted to help in any way I can. I want to mention a fellow Senator, Martin Conway, who was not present yesterday. I feel he is owed a duty of care by these Houses after his incident on O'Connell Street. There has been a lot of commentary about the incident. In all of the commentary, I have not heard it once being asked if he is okay, if he needs help, if he is getting the support he needs or how his family are coping. Have we lost all humanity in these Houses?”