Alison Comyn
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I know we are on the cusp of the summer recess but I want to talk about school for a moment. I raise a matter for a future debate or possible Commencement matter with the Minister for education about the inclusion of philosophy as a leaving certificate subject.”
“I believe this proposal sits naturally within the broader reform of the leaving certificate currently being championed by my colleague Senator Shane Curley. As we reimagine and modernise senior cycle education, we should not only be asking what students need to know, but how they should learn to think for themselves.”
“I especially compliment the staff who work in the background for me, including my assistant, Anna Brennan, who I have many times introduced as my right-hand woman. I would not be able to manage without her. I hope she has a very restful week. The work will go on here.”
“Despite all the technological change, people still value the reassurance, convenience and trust that comes with the local post office. That is why this investment is so important.”
“For those people, the post office is not just a convenience; it is an essential service. As a spokesperson for communications, I believe this debate should be about the future, rather than simply preserving the past or what we have at the moment.”
“Croke Park was a sea of red on the day. Many of us wanted to take public transport and it was under immense pressure. However, that was not just because of the semi-final. Dundalk and Drogheda railway stations are under serious pressure every day. One of the main reasons is the lack of parking.”
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“I especially compliment the staff who work in the background for me, including my assistant, Anna Brennan, who I have many times introduced as my right-hand woman. I would not be able to manage without her. I hope she has a very restful week. The work will go on here. Just because we are not sitting in the Seanad or Dáil does not mean that we are not working for everybody. I wish everybody some time off, but as for the rest of it, the work will continue.”
“I believe this proposal sits naturally within the broader reform of the leaving certificate currently being championed by my colleague Senator Shane Curley. As we reimagine and modernise senior cycle education, we should not only be asking what students need to know, but how they should learn to think for themselves. I hope to bring this forward as a debate or Commencement matter when the House returns in September and I look forward to engaging with the Minister on what I believe is a timely and worthwhile proposal. I echo the comments made by my colleagues on the cusp of the summer recess. It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Cathaoirleach, Leader and all my colleagues. Senators mentioned the background staff, including Martin Hughes, the clerks here, and the ushers as well.”
“I know we are on the cusp of the summer recess but I want to talk about school for a moment. I raise a matter for a future debate or possible Commencement matter with the Minister for education about the inclusion of philosophy as a leaving certificate subject. I have been approached about this issue by Robert Finan, a brilliant Trinity graduate in philosophy from Drogheda who makes the compelling case that the subject is not abstract or elitist, but one with enormous practical value for young people today. At a time when artificial intelligence is transforming how we learn, work and consume information, the ability to think critically and independently evaluate evidence, question assumptions, not follow the herd, and construct reasoned arguments has never been more important. These are life skills, not just academic skills.”
“Once it is lost, rebuilding it would be extraordinarily difficult. This Bill provides the legal mechanism to continue funding the network over the next five years. It sends a clear signal that the Government recognises the importance of maintaining a nationwide post office service, while supporting its continued development and adaptation. For those reasons, we support this Bill and hope that it has a swift passage through the Houses. It is investment not only in post offices themselves but in the people and the communities they continue to serve every single day.”
“That human connection is something we should never underestimate. We must continue to engage with the Department and An Post to make sure these men and women know they are valued and looked after, especially in retirement, financial security-wise. As our population ages and concerns around loneliness and isolation continue to grow, places where people are recognised, welcomed and treated with dignity become increasingly valuable. As a Louth-based Senator, I recognise the important regional dimension to the debate. The Government has rightly committed itself to balanced regional development. If we want people to continue living and working in rural Ireland and in small towns, then essential services must continue to exist in those communities. The post office network forms part of that essential infrastructure.”
“For those people, the post office is not just a convenience; it is an essential service. As a spokesperson for communications, I believe this debate should be about the future, rather than simply preserving the past or what we have at the moment. Supporting the post office network should not be about standing still; it should mean giving the network every opportunity to evolve. As the Minister of State mentioned, none of this would be possible without the hundreds of independent postmasters and postmistresses who operate their businesses across the country. They are much more than service providers. I have spoken to them all in our community. We all know them really well. They know their communities and their customers. They often recognise when somebody has not called in as expected. They have saved lives over the years.”
“Despite all the technological change, people still value the reassurance, convenience and trust that comes with the local post office. That is why this investment is so important. The €75 million being provided over the next five years is not simply about maintaining buildings; it is an investment in connectivity, inclusion and community resilience. It recognises these services cannot and should not exist solely online. We often speak about digital transformation, and rightly so, but many older people – in fact, not only older people – are not as comfortable carrying out transactions online. They are much more comfortable face-to-face. That could be down to broadband connectivity, poor mobile coverage or simply lack of confidence. We all hear about scams every day of the week. Even I sometimes worry about doing business online.”
“In many communities in rural Ireland and, increasingly, in our towns as well, the post office remains one of the last truly local public services. We remember what a lifeline post offices and the postmen and postwomen coming to the houses during Covid were. They were vitally important. Communications have changed beyond recognition over the past two decades. Letters have given way to emails, online banking has replaced many over-the-counter transactions and more and more public services have moved online, yet the need for trusted, accessible, face-to-face services has not disappeared. In fact, they have become even more important. Ireland's network of around 930 post offices remains the largest retail network in the State, serving well over 1 million customers every week. That tells us something important.”
“I thank the Minister of State for attending and I wholeheartedly welcome this important Bill. I will take the opportunity to explain why this legislation really matters. On the face of it, it is a relatively straightforward Bill that provides the legal basis for funding already agreed by Government, allowing €15 million per year to be invested in our nationwide post office network between now and 2030. Behind that technical amendment is something much more significant. We all know post offices are way more than just a postage stamp or parcel. For many people, it is one of the few places they visit every week. It is where pensions are collected, bills are paid, passports are processed, banking is done and people can call in knowing they will be greeted by someone they know well and who knows them.”
“I know it might be very unusual, but there is no air conditioning and the windows may not be operational. Therefore, using public transport is extremely difficult at the moment, particularly in our part of the country. I call for a debate on the state of our trains and the state of our parking. At certain levels of population we should be getting expanded parking, or, as I have had said many times, in our particular case, a railway station on the north side to ease the pressure of such demand on our public transport.”
“Croke Park was a sea of red on the day. Many of us wanted to take public transport and it was under immense pressure. However, that was not just because of the semi-final. Dundalk and Drogheda railway stations are under serious pressure every day. One of the main reasons is the lack of parking. I have raised this issue before, and it is not getting any better. We have two of the largest towns in Ireland and we now have railway stations that are at capacity. If you are not there at a quarter past six in the morning, there is not a puck's chance of getting parking, and there is no public transport to get you there on time. I live a 45-minute walk away from the railway station. Much as I would love to get the train, I simply cannot. Over the last week or so many passengers have come to me mentioning the heat on the train.”
“Having, I daresay, bored my colleagues to death prior to the semi-final in Croke Park on Saturday, I want to thank the gentlemen of the Louth senior team for providing such an uplifting time for us in Louth over the last months and weeks. I also congratulate Mayo, worthy winners on the day, and the Cathaoirleach's county of Kerry. I look forward to an exciting match and hopefully the curse will be broken.”
“It is oversubscribed for 2026 which means nobody else will get a grant until 2027. We really have to look to see if there are other hidden costs and have a debate on that. For now, my final words are that, as I said, I hope the entirety of County Louth will be painted red and white and we will hopefully break our own curse ahead of the County Mayo curse.”
“I was contacted by a member of the public in Drogheda about the hidden cost of getting older. There is room for a debate here about the hidden costs of getting older. This woman is renewing her driving licence. She is 75 years of age, going on 76. It is billed as a free service but it is only free until one has to provide a GP report and an eye test. It can cost between €65 and €100 for a free service and that might only cover one to three years. It might have to be renewed after that. I ask that we invite the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy O’Donnell, to the House to look at any other potential hidden costs that may exist. I noticed in the past couple of days that Louth County Council has had to put a freeze on housing adaptation grants for older and vulnerable people.”
“I do not want it to dominate my time but I cannot let today go by without congratulating the County Louth football team. We had an incredible 70 minutes of high-octane drama against County Monaghan in Croke Park on Sunday. We are now through to the all-Ireland semi-final. I cannot believe I am saying it. It is the first time since 1957, 69 years ago. I offer my congratulations to Gavin Devlin. It is hard to mention just one man but I will name Dara McDonnell, man of the match. I urge everyone in County Louth to paint the entire county red and white for 11 July. I have to give my condolences in advance to my colleague, Deputy Calleary. His county has waited 75 years to win an all-Ireland final but I am hoping the County Mayo curse will last one more year. I am sorry about that.”
“Before we move to our next speaker, I welcome to the Gallery some special guests from the Athlone Flower Club. They are looking blooming lovely if they do not mind me saying so. They are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran. I hope they have a wonderful day here. They are looking smashing. It is a gorgeous day out there.”
“We are experiencing very high temperatures, and young people want to go out, swim and have fun. Without wanting to spoil any fun and games, I urge Members to please speak to their children. Let them know that if they are not particularly strong swimmers or if they are swimming in a dangerous area where there are no lifeguards, they should take care. We do not want to have any more statistics with regard to the loss of young people.”
“This is a service for elderly and vulnerable people and to remove it from the town is unthinkable. I attended a very busy protest rally on Monday. There were so many people there. I started a petition, and we have almost 1,100 signatures on it. This is not going to happen, but at the same time it is only just a review that is taking place at the moment so I have to keep the pressure on. We have to make sure that HSE management and the Minister for Health are aware of this. This is not just happening in Drogheda but right across the country. Our smaller grassroots healthcare is being downgraded when we need it to be upgraded, especially in large towns and emerging cities like Drogheda. If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me, I want to comment on the fact that we have what I suppose passes for a heatwave in Ireland at the moment.”
“I support what Senator McCormack said about the horrific Women's Aid statistics published earlier. Domestic violence in this country has reached epidemic proportions. I remind the House that we had an extensive debate on the matter with the Minister for justice on 12 May but I agree with the Senator that we must do anything we can to stop the violence. Last week, I made an impassioned plea regarding the proposed closure of the 14 step-down beds at the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda, saying that it must not happen. Following extensive meetings with management over the week and intervention by the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and others, we have a stay of execution in respect of those beds. I cannot overstate how vital this service is. It frees up beds in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which is already under severe pressure.”
“That is probably a worthy debate to have here. For now, we should think back to Veronica. We will think of her family this Friday. We hope that when they look back, they will see that her passing was not in vain.”
“There was pandemonium and stunned silence at the same time. You would have to think that her death was not in vain when, only four months later, the Criminal Assets Bureau was established. The bureau has gone on to do incredible work. There were 34 journalists killed around the world in 1996. Veronica's was not an isolated case. We are only halfway through this year and 21 journalists have already been killed around the world. Being a journalist is still a very dangerous job. We have never seen a more divisive and polarised media right across the world. An independent and trustworthy media is something we really need to value and hold on to. As media spokesperson in the Seanad and as a member of the arts committee, I want to see a debate on how we can protect and make sure that our media is both independent and trustworthy.”
“I also congratulate, formally, Senator Ahearn on his appointment. He has been doing a sterling job so far and I know he will into the future. I look forward to working with him. I warmly welcome his family, who are rightly proud today. They will always remember this date. There are other dates that are permanently etched in the minds of generations of people. It might be the assassination of JKF or the passing of Elvis, but for a young journalist working in the Dublin in the mid-90s, it was definitely the senseless murder of the journalist Veronica Guerin in June 1996. This Friday will mark the 30th anniversary of her death. I was working in the continuity department of RTÉ at the time. I was the person who the station would break to when there was breaking news. Unfortunately, the breaking news that day was her murder at Newlands Cross.”
“I thank the Minister. Before concluding, I welcome some very special guests to the Visitors Gallery. We have a group of students and teachers from the Presentation Girls’ School, Maynooth, County Kildare. I see a group of very bright young women. Welcome to the Seanad Chamber. They are guests of Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil. As is customary, there will be no homework for the rest of the week. I hope they enjoy the rest of their visit.”
“We need to make sure our elderly people are looked after in their own hometown and not removed. Of course, if the jobs can be protected within the hospital, we need to do that. There is a wider discussion to be had on looking after our smaller healthcare facilities in communities right across the country.”
“In 2015, long-term care was removed. In 2021, the then health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, visited the hospital regarding an upgrade, but now I am hearing that the 14 beds on the top floor are under threat. The downstairs of the hospital has clinics, the doctor on call and the ambulance service. There is no question but that it needs an upgrade. The hospital has been in place since 1907 and has provided an invaluable service to the town and must be protected at all costs. I will certainly do everything in my power to make sure that the HSE reverses this decision. My own grand-aunt was the midwife in the hospital when it was the maternity hospital. They say she delivered half the town. I certainly will not allow the bed closure to happen if it is unwarranted and unneeded.”
“I am very shocked and quite angry at some of the news that is coming from Drogheda, County Louth, today. The 14 step-down beds in Cottage Hospital are under threat. These are vital beds that at times serve very vulnerable and elderly people who are freeing up beds in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital but who cannot go directly home. The beds in Cottage Hospital are to assist these people in making it back home again. The thought that these people might have to travel to Dundalk or even further is just unthinkable. There are 30 staff in the hospital, very loyal staff, some of whom have been there for up to 35 years. They were told by text that the beds are under threat. That is simply not acceptable. This hospital has been under threat for years. In 2012, I marched with local people to try to stop its closure.”
“We all have to acknowledge that the threat to Ireland's security is real, and we must, at all costs, secure our coast and keep our citizens safe. I am encouraged and thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I am encouraged that my proposal was not dismissed outright. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I are working hard on this to see if it is a possibility. We understand Dún Laoghaire is currently being used. It is a temporary measure. We believe that Drogheda Port, with all of its infrastructure and access, has less density and does not have busy ferries coming and going at all times. I am also encouraged the see the Naval Service is recruiting and taking security and a new naval base very seriously. I will continue to advocate for Drogheda Port to be considered as a maritime hub and security base.”
“Maritime facilities across the world operate successfully in tidal environments through modern engineering solutions and carefully designed infrastructure. The question is not whether challenges exist; it is whether the strategic advantages justify examining this opportunity. Drogheda has been a maritime town for centuries, and proudly so. This emerging city continues to grow. As the State continues to invest in the infrastructure needed to support that growth, we should be ambitious enough to ask not only what Drogheda can become but what role Drogheda can play in supporting Ireland's national security, economic resilience and maritime future. I would welcome the Minister of State's views on whether a feasibility assessment of Drogheda's potential as an eastern maritime security and surveillance hub has been or will be undertaken.”
“It will increasingly depend on surveillance technology, unmanned aerial systems, maritime drones, intelligence gathering, the monitoring of critical infrastructure and rapid response capability. Drogheda's location makes it uniquely suited to many of those functions. Its proximity to Dublin Airport, which is just 20 minutes away, major transport networks, being moments from the M1, and some of the busiest shipping routes in the Irish Sea could make it an ideal location for an eastern maritime security hub serving a range of State agencies. A multimillion euro green energy project is planned for the former Premier Periclase site right by the port. The tidal issue is real, although it is not necessarily a barrier.”
“The development of an eastern maritime security hub would therefore not simply be a defence investment; it would represent a major economic opportunity for Drogheda and the wider north east, supporting high-quality employment, attracting investment and encouraging the development of maritime technology and innovation. I am not asking the Minister of State to announce a massive naval base for Drogheda to replace Haulbowline. I am asking whether we have properly considered the strategic potential of Drogheda at a time when Ireland is rethinking maritime security. The future of maritime security will not be defined solely by the size of vessels tied up alongside a quay wall.”
“It is connected by road, rail and air transport infrastructure in a way few coastal locations can match. Drogheda, as we know, is one of the fastest growing urban centres in the State and is experiencing one of the highest rates of housing delivery in the country. Significant Government investment announced by our colleague, the Minister, Deputy James Browne, in the past few days is now being directed towards the infrastructure needed to support that growth, including the phased delivery of the port access northern cross route, which will ultimately provide a direct strategic link between Drogheda Port and the M1 motorway.”
“If that is indeed the direction of travel, then perhaps now is the ideal time to ask a different question. What strategic national role might Drogheda Port play in the decades ahead? Ireland's maritime security environment has changed significantly in recent years. The use of drones and the protection of critical infrastructure, undersea communications cables, energy connections and key shipping routes have become matters of national importance. Across Europe there is growing recognition of the need to strengthen maritime surveillance and security capabilities. In that context, Drogheda offers a number of advantages worth serious examination. Located right at the heart of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor, it provides immediate access to the Irish Sea and sits between the two largest cities on the island.”
“I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, about this in person. I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to come to the House today to discuss what may, at first glance, seem an unconventional proposal, but I urge him to hear me out. It is one I believe warrants serious consideration. In recent days when I have mentioned the possibility of a maritime or naval facility in Drogheda, some people have pointed to the tidal nature of the River Boyne, navigational constraints and the challenges associated with accommodating larger vessels. They are legitimate considerations and should not be dismissed. However, there is increasing discussion about the future development of Bremore as a deepwater port and the gradual movement of larger scale commercial maritime activity from Drogheda.”
“They need to be in an umbrella organisation for that to happen. All of us should be working towards that and making sure that the women are also getting the funding that the men get. Another hearty congratulations to Tullyallen Men's Shed.”
“I have another congratulations from my parish to Tullyallen Men's Shed which is celebrating a decade in existence. It started all those years back. Daithi Cusack is one of the founding members and is still the chair of the shed. We all know what incredible work the men's sheds organisation does for men across the country. It is fantastic that it has got funding from the Department of rural and community development over the years. It keeps them afloat. It is one of those cases where it is not just the work the organisation does but the effect it has on the members. It is fantastic for men's mental health. It gets them to talk and to gather together. I also have to mention that the women's sheds, or hens' sheds as they are sometimes known, are doing incredible work as well but they are not receiving the funding. We are working on that.”
“The fact that we have the highest rate of shoplifting in Europe warrants a wider debate in the House on how we can help our retailers in keeping their businesses afloat. On another note, I will also mention that two counties, Sligo and my own county of Louth, are representing Ireland in the Entente Florale, which is a fantastic competition held every year. Congratulations to Riverstown in Sligo and Blackrock in County Louth. These are two wonderful areas. The work done by Tidy Towns is phenomenal. It is the first time that Sligo has been entered into that and I wish it luck, although I hope that Louth wins the award. The judging will take place on 9 July. The competition is being hosted in Ireland this year, in Carlow, which is fantastic. Good luck to everybody involved in that.”
“The first worrying report I will talk about is one I saw on the RTÉ website this morning. Forty-one people are due in court on shoplifting offences. That is 41 people in one court alone in Dún Laoghaire. It warrants a wider conversation on retail crime. There are 15 children included in those 41 people. For the first time, it is being highlighted that meat, at a very high cost, is being shoplifted en masse . As a journalist, I have sat in many courtrooms over the years. There used to be petty crime and usually it was quite an unfortunate occasion that somebody would have to shoplift. This is now being done en masse and it is costing retailers €1.62 billion every year, which is a phenomenal amount of money. This is organised crime. My colleague, Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, has brought the Protection of Retail Workers Bill, which is vital.”
“I wholeheartedly support this and I look forward to seeing how it will work in reality. It puts the power and empowerment back in the hands of the survivors and that is where it should be. On a final note, if anyone is going through any kind of domestic abuse, even if they think it is small, or there is a red flag as they say these days, there is support available. I urge people to contact An Garda Síochána, which now has very specialised trained units, and their local domestic abuse support services. That is what they are there for. They should talk to a family friend or whoever it is. They should not stay in the shadows. This is firmly out in the public, where it belongs.”
“We have an epidemic of it. When we are looking at the dating game, if we want to call it that these days, it is so far removed from where it used to be many years ago. You might meet somebody in person or through family or friends, at the local disco, even through the church maybe, where you would have some hope of knowing who they were, their background and vetting them, for want of a better word, yourself or through friends or family. Nowadays, when people go online they have no idea who they are speaking to and have no idea of the person's background. For some of the victims and survivors we are talking about here today, if they had known, at least they would have had a sporting chance of making their own decision, but that was taken out of their hands.”
“When I went to report on domestic abuse, it was sometimes seen as a private matter and not something that anybody would be interested in, but the fact is that it is the same as any other assault. It is heinous and it should be made public. I am delighted that this has brought it out of the shadows and that it will firmly remain in the public domain. It is quite sad and poignant that today is the anniversary of the death of the British MP, Jo Cox, who was brutally murdered in the course of her everyday business. She was a mother to two very young children. It shows us that the fight against domestic abuse of women, men and children, is relentless. My colleague pointed out some statistics. An Garda Síochána responded to over 65,000 domestic abuse incidents in 2024. That is over 1,200 incidents per week. Let that sink in for a second.”
“I particularly welcome the Minister, when he has this important legislation in his hands. As Chair of the joint Oireachtas women's caucus, I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say that this is vital and warmly welcomed. I look forward, as the Minister said, to it making a swift passage through both Houses. I particularly acknowledge my colleagues, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin and Deputy Paul McAuliffe, who have made this possible and, of course, the families of the two victims, for whom both these laws are suitable tributes. I welcome Jason Poole and Joe Poole to the House. Jennie was murdered by her ex-partner in 2021 and David French and his family have fought relentlessly to remember Valerie, who died in 2019. I have spoken in the past about being a journalist.”
“Before we move to our next speaker, I welcome to the Visitors Gallery, Mr. Matthew Wagner, who is a guest of Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. It is quite timely then that we are moving to our next speaker, an Seanadóir Joanne Collins.”
“I spent last night knocking on doors in Drogheda selling Field of Fortune fundraising tickets because this is the main fundraiser now for completing the 14,000-seater stadium in Dundalk. We need new home county grounds and I am going to ask one more time for funding from the sports capital grant. We are short €7 million, unfortunately. The Minister can see we are on a roll, and this is the type of structure we need to give a team clearly heading towards a major part of the championship. We need to give it a home suitable for champs. Once again, I raise the matter of the sports capital grant for the grassroots and right the way through because with the likes of the wee county doing so incredibly well on a national platform, we need the infrastructure to match it.”
“I have to mention, of course, that historic win against Dublin only two weeks ago, the first since 1973. I am not rubbing it in with anybody-----”
“Like many of my colleagues, I thank the Minister, Deputy Browne, for listening to my impassioned pleas and helping me deliver a vital piece of infrastructure to south and middle Louth. There are now almost 3,000 houses unlocked, thanks to an injection of almost €40 million, which is something really vital. It is not only going to bring housing but other developments, like the potential for a second railway station, sporting facilities and plenty of jobs. While I am standing here and very unsubtly wearing my County Louth colours, I also mention a magnificent win against County Armagh, the first it had in the all-Ireland championship. We have to talk about Sam Mulroy. He really does like his last-minute victories, putting one in the net with only two seconds to go and catapulting us straight into the quarter-finals.”
“This is not just about childcare but also about women being able to move back into the workplace. We really need to have a timely debate in the House on how we can make sure that when planning developments to provide housing, affordable housing and any other kind of housing, including crèche or childcare facilities, those facilities must be built along with the first tranche of housing so that we are not waiting until the very end or seeing those facilities falling off completely.”
“However, affordability means little if there are no spaces. Looking across the country, and particularly in my own county of Louth, there is much housing being developed in Drogheda and east Meath, right up as far as the north county in Haggardstown. Those planning developments have childcare written into them, yet we are not seeing those crèches opening. They are either opening far too late, are being downsized or are just being forgotten completely. These young families - and they are young families that are moving into these developments - have nowhere to put their children. I will hazard a guess that they are being sold these houses on the basis of the availability of childcare, but there is very little use in their getting their dream homes if there is nowhere for childcare.”
“I was going to extend a bem-vindo to the Portuguese delegation. I must also, and this is rough, say hoş geldiniz to our Turkish delegation. As the convener of the Turkish-Irish friendship group, it is very special to see them here. My childcare concerns are far behind me. That is the case for my own generation and it passes to the next. When my children have their own children, they are going to be in a better place to look after childcare because there have been extensive interventions through Government. Via the Minister, Deputy Foley, we have reduced childcare costs for families through significant increases in the national childcare scheme. We have introduced fee caps and increased State investment to make childcare much more affordable. We have expanded core funding and supports for childcare staff.”
“Before we move to our next Commencement matter, I welcome two guests in the Visitors' Gallery - Diarmuid Cronin and Elizabeth Barron from Rylane, County Cork. Tá fáilte rompu. I see they are in the safe hands of my colleague, Deputy Aindrias Moynihan. I hope they enjoy their day.”
“I urge parents to have a word with their children. We do not want to stop fun but they are not invincible. I have asked previously for a debate on making swimming lessons compulsory and freely available in primary schools across the country. It would be timely to ask again for that debate.”