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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“As it is, their nearest Garda station is Ashbourne, which is over 40 minutes away, and that is presuming that someone gets the call. Yes, they can call Drogheda, Duleek or Dunleer stations, but the smaller stations are only open for a couple of hours. It is clear that with huge populations across the country, small Garda stations are now completely overburdened. With regard to this Garda station in particular, it was promised in 2022 to look at a new building. We need to have a wider conversation with the Department of justice and to invite the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, in to have a debate on this particular Garda station and the many other rural ones right across the country.”
“Along with other residents with young families trying to settle here, we are living on our nerves. It is getting lawless up here. These criminals are brazen. Another email states: I have personally witnessed over the last six months three serious incidents directly outside my front door. Last night at 5 a.m., there was an attempted house and car theft where three cars pulled up full of men dressed in black. I have a two-week old baby and I cannot express how frightening it is to feel so unsafe in my own home. A new Garda station was promised for Laytown in 2022 when Deputy Helen McEntee was the Minister for Justice. These housing estates that I spoke about are three or four minutes away from Laytown Garda station.”
“I am afraid this is the second time I have raised this issue but given the plethora of emails I have received about rising crime in east Meath over the last couple of days, I have to raise the issue of Laytown Garda station again. It is currently housed in a small housing estate and it is only open on Sunday and Monday between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. These is not a sleepy, fishing or seaside village we are talking about any more; this Garda station looks after a population in excess of 15,500 people. I could be talking about many Garda stations across the country at the moment. I am looking at some of the emails I have received. One is titled “Scared in our Own Home”, and states: Within the last month, there have been at least three attempted break-ins on the roads of cars and homes, the most recent one last night.”
“I welcome the decisive action that has been taken in the past couple of days. The statistics the Minister of State mentioned regarding seizures in the past two years are probably cold comfort to the families of Grace Lynch and Jason Monks and, indeed, those of the eight fatalities arising from the use of e-scooters, e-bikes and quad bikes over the past couple of years. We need to see enforcement in the coming days and weeks. People must have confidence in the new restrictions. Even in the past few days, I have heard from people in my own town and county that near misses are still happening. They can still hear scramblers on the estates and local fields. The message has clearly not got through to those using the scramblers. That is what we have to make sure is happening. There has to be a fear of consequences now.”
“Anyone who knows where one of these vehicles is being kept should contact the local Garda station or the confidential Garda telephone line at 1800 666 111. Every single one of these machines must be removed from streets, estates and back gardens. A wider conversation needs to take place about e-scooters and electric bikes, many of which are also being used for illegal activities or antisocial behaviour by underage riders. Anything with an engine belongs in a proper licensing, insurance, taxation and testing regime. I look forward to hearing from the Minister of State about the immediate enforcement timeline and the operational details. Grace Lynch's family, and every family across the country, really deserves to hear this.”
“We must back the force fully in law and with resources to remove every single one of these machines from our streets and confine them to designated safe tracks, where they belong. I was really happy to support my colleague Senator Fitzpatrick at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting last night not only on the ban itself but on her proposal for a scrambler amnesty, which she mooted only hours after last Sunday's tragedy. Some of these vehicles may have been bought in good faith but they should never be used on public roads. A mechanism for a refund of up to 90% within six months, 70% up to 12 months and 50% up to two years is a practical way to get these machines off our roads. There is also the issue of storage.”
“In another instance, a child narrowly missed serious injury by a scrambler coming through the front gate of the garden in which the child was playing. I have also worked with residents in Ballsgrove, Drogheda, where scramblers tear through residential areas morning, noon and night, including at a pedestrian crossing used daily by children from Marymount National School. We need to work with parents to deter the purchase of scramblers for youngsters where they clearly will not be used for sporting pursuits. The message must be clear that these vehicles are not welcome on any public road or space and parents should not buy them for their child. It is heartening that in 2024 and 2025, more than 250 scramblers were seized by An Garda Síochána.”
“The fact the riders believed otherwise speaks volumes about apparent gaps until now in deterrence and enforcement. I welcome the decisive action in the past three days. It is worth remembering that these restrictions were introduced as far back as 2023. The law existed but what seems to have been missing is proper enforcement. In towns and cities right across the country, scramblers have been used for antisocial behaviour and criminal activity for years. Too often, they are driven with no fear of consequences, and that must end immediately. I first raised this issue in the Chamber last April after working with families in east Meath who had been terrorised by scramblers on their estates. In one case, a child was struck by a scrambler but, fortunately, not seriously injured.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. His taking this Commencement matter shows the seriousness with which he is taking the issue. The events of 25 January 2026 are permanently etched in our memories and, more importantly, in the memories of the heartbroken family of Grace Lynch, the beautiful 16-year-old schoolgirl who was tragically mown down by someone who, we can only presume, was driving an illegal scrambler in a treacherous manner on a road in Finglas. Three days later, the Government has moved with absolute unity to say these machines, which are lethal in the wrong hands, have no place on our roads, on our housing estates or in any public space. However, let us be clear: those scramblers last Sunday should never have been on the road in the first place.”
“Before we hear our next matter, we have some special guests whom I welcome to our Distinguished Visitors Gallery. They are guests of Deputy Mark Ward. I believe they are visiting from the St. John of God Community Services Centre. It does incredible work. I hope they enjoy their visit to Seanad Éireann and Leinster House today. I thank everybody for the remarkable work that they carry out.”
“We have a very busy Chamber. Before our next speaker, I welcome students from, Scoil Mhuire, Navan, County Meath. They are all guests of our wonderful County Meath TD, Aisling Dempsey. They are very welcome to the Chamber. I hope they enjoy their visit here. As I said to the previous visitors, it is customary if a school visits the Seanad that there is no homework for the rest of the day. I always like to extend it for the rest of the week, but I will leave that to the discretion of the students' teacher who is with them. I hope they enjoy the rest of their day here.”
“I welcome some very special guests to our Gallery; the students of Glenart College in Arklow. They are very welcome. I believe they are guests of Deputy Malcolm Byrne. I hope they have a very enjoyable trip today. I am sure they will get some very interesting tours. As is customary for anybody who visits the Seanad, there will be no homework for the rest of the day. I like to push it out to the rest of the week, but I will leave that one to the discretion of their teachers. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their stay.”
“I look forward to seeing legislation being brought forward as soon as possible to take these lethal weapons, when they are in the wrong hands, off the streets. I would also welcome a debate in the House with the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, to see how we can bring that legislation to bear and get these scramblers off our streets.”
“There is nothing wrong with scramblers, but the issue is around their misuse. In the wrong hands, as we can see, they are lethal weapons. They should stay in a controlled sports environment and that is why we have to work hard. I welcomed the legislation that made it illegal for them to be on public roads, but we need to go as far as we can to make sure they are illegal in every public or private space, be it beaches, parks, housing estates or green spaces. It should be illegal in every single area. The only place where scramblers should be seen is in safe hands on properly designated sports tracks. As alluded to, I met the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, today. He is taking our recommendations on board and to the Cabinet.”
“I would also like to pay tribute to Brian Crowley and I thank the Cathaoirleach for his moving tribute. He truly was an inspiration and a pioneer of politics. The only other name on everybody's lips today is that of a beautiful young girl, Grace Lynch, who lost her life in such a tragic way in Finglas. To see her mother paying tribute to her was just heartbreaking. We need to ensure this does not happen again and no other parent goes through what she is going through. I last raised the issue of the misuse of scramblers last April, quite shortly after another teenager, Jason Monks, lost his life in an incident involving a scrambler. I had already been working with families in east Meath and in Ballsgrove in Drogheda who are plagued morning, noon and night by these children on scramblers. As I say, they are children.”
“Her honesty and compassion helped to change conversations and helped other patients. I also acknowledge my other colleague Senator Teresa Costello who stood with Ziva and supported her campaign, helping to amplify her voice and the vital message she was sharing with the country. Those who knew Ziva often described her as a ray of sunshine. It is deeply moving and appropriate that, at her request, mourners are being asked to wear a pop of sunset colour at her funeral tomorrow. That is a beautiful reflection of the warmth and light she brought into the lives of others. I again extend my sympathies to her family. If there is any slight hint of comfort, it is in the extraordinary impact she made in such a short life. May Ziva rest in eternal peace.”
“She was someone who brought so much light, warmth and compassion into the world. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at just 21. She chose to use her voice to help others. She became a really powerful advocate for young women affected by breast cancer, speaking openly about her experience and campaigning for greater awareness, early diagnosis and age-appropriate care through her organisation, Too Young to be Heard. Ziva shone a light on the reality that breast cancer can affect young women and people of all ages and on the devastating consequences of delayed diagnosis and not being taken seriously because of your age. Even while living with advanced illness, Ziva remained focused on helping others. Breast Cancer Ireland described her as a much-loved patient supporter whose bravery and selflessness left a lasting impact.”
“Like my colleague Senator O'Loughlin, I take a moment to pay tribute to a truly remarkable young woman from my community in Drogheda, County Louth. I refer to Ziva Lily Sheehy Cussen who, at 24 years of age, was taken far too young by breast cancer. Ziva's courage, kindness and strength touched hearts right across Drogheda and far beyond. Her loss has left a deep sense of sadness in so many homes. I send my deepest sympathies to her heartbroken family, namely her adoring parents Jim and Marcelle, and her beloved sister, Lainey, on the devastating loss of their beautiful daughter and sister. Ziva passed away on Saturday surrounded by her loving family and under the wonderful care of St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin. Her death has deeply affected our town and the wider community. There is a profound sense of loss.”
“Unfortunately, tickets are sold out but please dig deep and help any community group across the country that you can support to make Christmas better for those in need. Go raibh maith agaibh.”
“Make sure you are helping in whatever way you can to provide a happy Christmas to people in need. With that in mind, I will mention some in my home town of Drogheda. The Drogheda Rotary Club and the Drogheda Soroptimist Club have for 19 years held their remembrance tree appeal. It will be found in the Laurence Shopping Centre on West Street and in the Southgate Shopping Centre. They have collected funds over the years for many groups. This year is for Drogheda community centre, Drogheda and District Support 4 Older People and Meals on Wheels. It is an amazing cause. If you see something like that in your community, make sure to support it. The Fairytale of Dundalk is in An Táin on 22 December and is raising funds for the North Louth Hospice.”
“I echo the words of my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin. Our thoughts are with all those who lost their lives. It is such a difficult time in Bondi Beach. I would also like to recall the two heroes who saved countless lives by tackling those gunmen. It gives me a little bit of hope for the true spirit of Christmas that they may have saved lives. Thinking of heroes, I urge people across the country to look towards the community groups and volunteer groups who will try to make Christmas a little better for people. People are struggling. Not everybody will have a happy Christmas, though they would love to. Do not wait until a bucket is shaken under your nose. Go to your local Vincent de Paul or community group. See how you can help. Donate toys to toy drives, etc.”
“This fee is taking a heavy toll, quite literally, on the local economy in Drogheda and it is time for a fair and creative solution.”
“We are the only citizens in Ireland who must pay to directly enter and leave our own town. There have been numerous attempts over the years to remove or reduce the toll, but I would like to offer a practical solution: that drivers entering Drogheda to shop or visit locally, and who exit within three hours to return home, should have their toll cancelled or significantly reduced. It is a simple measure that could be implemented with existing technology and it would provide a real boost to local businesses, particularly now when so many are struggling after recent events and a lot of closures in our main town centre. Encouraging local people to enter the town at the moment would be a great help. Therefore, I call on the Minister for Transport to come before this House to debate this issue urgently.”
“I begin with a note of gratitude for my colleague, the Minister, Deputy James Browne and the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, who provided essential emergency funding in my hometown of Drogheda over the weekend. A freak incident caused a large section of our Christmas lights to collapse, bringing down masonry and seriously damaging a car. It was nothing short of a miracle that no one was seriously injured or worse. There has, however, been significant disruption at one of the busiest times of the year, but overnight, Louth County Council has worked to get the streets open again. I urge everyone to come into the town and shop locally when they can. With that in mind, I raise once again the issue of the prohibitive toll on the M1 at Drogheda, a toll that uniquely penalises local people.”
“That is exactly what the parents, the staff and, most importantly, the pupils want to know. They are in dire need of new classrooms but I am still no clearer as to when that is going to happen.”
“I thank the Minister of State for outlining what, I am afraid, we already knew, which is the very long and varied history of this particular school dating back to 2013, which I did not even mention. This has been 12 years in the pipeline. I note the Minister of State's response and the commitment from the Department on providing schools but there is no mention of this particular school. What they want to know is the timeline for this school. Diggers were supposed to have been on-site last summer but that did not happen. They went back and made compromises to try to provide a school and they need to know. They are no further down the line. The Minister of State has not mentioned when it is going to go ahead, when a builder is going to be chosen and when they will have diggers on the site.”
“The staff, parents and children have waited long enough. They have done their part by making huge concessions to their original plans. Now it is time for the Department to do its part. I ask the Minister of State to make a clear commitment that this project will move further without further delay and that these children, including those with the greatest needs, will not have to spend another winter learning in damp, cold classrooms. For the town and the community, this is much more than a school building; it is a promise that every child in this rapidly growing area deserves to learn in safety, comfort and dignity.”
“Planning permission was first submitted in June 2021. After a lengthy appeal, An Bord Pleanála granted approval in April 2022. Since then, the progress has been painfully slow. The Department's own records show that the project is now at tender stage, but the school community really needs certainty. It needs a clear timeline for when the tender will be completed, when construction will begin, and when the pupils and staff of Marymount National School will finally step into the modern school they deserve. Let us remember that this is not just bricks and mortar. For Drogheda, which is Ireland's largest town and is soon to be a city, this school represents a commitment to the future. Marymount National School has been the heart of that community since the 1960s. It has provided care, compassion and education under ever-increasing pressure.”
“It will finally give those children the environment they need to learn, develop and flourish with dignity. I spoke yesterday to the principal, Jane Kirwan, who told me that the school is happy to have a 20-mainstream-class school instead of a 24-mainstream-class school, and can only presume that this number has the evidence to back up what is coming down the tracks over the next ten years. There are a huge number of estates currently being built in the town and in and around the school’s parish, not to mention the influx of those coming from abroad. The school turns families away on a weekly basis. This project has faced decades of delay and disappointment. It was originally approved as a 24-classroom build. It was paused around the time of the general election last year and later reduced to a 20-classroom build.”
“Teachers are doing extraordinary work in conditions that no child or educator should have to endure. Most distressing of all is the impact on children with special educational needs. The school has just one small SEN room accommodating six pupils, meaning many others are taught in mainstream classes without proper facilities or spaces. Earlier this year, I helped the school to fight for a single SNA to add to its group. It is unfair to these children and to the teachers who are doing their utmost with so few resources. That is why this planned 20-classroom school is not just welcome; it is essential. It will provide four purpose-built special education classrooms, fully integrated into the main building with wheelchair access, sensory rooms, shower facilities and breakout spaces.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I ask him to picture, if he can, rats and mice in classrooms, water dripping down the windows, and young children sitting in their coats trying to stay warm in a 60-year-old building. This is not a scene from centuries ago. It is happening today in Marymount National School in Ballsgrove in Drogheda, a busy, thriving school doing its very best to serve a growing community, including more than its fair share of students with special educational needs. The building dates back to 1969, and after more than half a century it is simply no longer fit for purpose. Staff and students contend daily with leaking roofs, persistent damp, poor insulation and even rodent infestations. Classrooms are cramped and overcrowded, with spaces constantly repurposed to cope with demand.”
“I ask that the Minister, Deputy Browne, be invited to the House to debate this matter and ensure one arm of the State is not, in effect, sabotaging the objectives of another. Community organisations all across the country, like Wolfe Tones GAA club, should be supported, not penalised, for their initiative and commitment to improving local life.”
“Yet, the club has been left really disheartened to learn that upgrading an existing water connection for a new clubhouse would cost €140,000, a sum that would wipe out its entire grant and eat into its fundraising. That cost alone would jeopardise its €600,000 clubhouse project, leaving it unable to proceed to the next phase or even reapply for another sports capital grant as the current one would be consumed by a single utility bill. The club currently has over €200,000 in cash ready to go. A waiver or reduction of the €140,000 connection fee could be the difference between the project stalling indefinitely or going ahead to provide a much-needed community facility for a rapidly expanding area that straddles both Louth and east Meath.”
“I join others in sending my deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of the late former TD, Donal Carey. May his gentle soul rest in peace. We all know community facilities are the heart of every town and village. As our population continues to grow, with 325 new homes completed in County Louth alone in the third quarter, the demand for recreational spaces is increasing. However, the cost of building and maintaining these facilities has become almost impossibly expensive. Local clubs and organisations are doing everything they can to meet the State halfway by fundraising for years and securing grants through hard work and persistence. Wolfe Tones GAA club in Drogheda, for example, has raised more than €75,000 itself and secured sports capital grant approvals of €133,000.”
“Things have been picking up and to take that away now will have a hugely detrimental effect. It is terrible message to send to the people of the north east, to those who are very vulnerable. I still urge that there be some rearrangement made here.”
“I am very disheartened and disappointed by that response. I had real faith that it might be looked at again. This is a unique situation. The Red Door Project works on the ground. The implementation board put in these recommendations and it is disheartening to see it almost being taken away now. I am not taking away from the good work of the Ana Liffey Drug Project, but its people are not on the ground. It is true that it was put in as a temporary measure in Drogheda but it has proven itself by its results and the work it is doing. Continuity is key with this kind of work. I accept that staff from outside can be placed in County Louth to try to complete the work being done, but the trust may not be there. We are only now reaping the benefits from the lessening of the drugs feud over the past couple of years.”
“Just to be clear, it is not funding from the Probation Service but from the justice Department as part of the implementation board, which was hard fought for and hard won, and the results are showing. Drogheda deserves continuity, respect for local expertise and meaningful investment in the services which have proven their worth on the ground. I am hopeful of getting a positive response today in order that it can be reviewed immediately and that funding can be reinstated to the Red Door Project in order that it can continue its valuable work.”
“The Red Door Project is not just another service provider. It is an incredible local service which is part of the fabric of Drogheda's recovery. Its understanding of the local dynamics, the legacy of the feud and the risks facing its clients a second to none. Its partnership with the Probation Service has delivered real results and safer communities, supported rehabilitation, and restored lives, which is the ultimate goal. I am asking that this decision be urgently reviewed and that the funding for this probation partnership be restored to the Red Door Project. The loss of the collaboration would undo years of progress. It has already lost the funding from 31 October, so this is not fear and scaremongering. It is already seeing damage to the trust that is so central to successful community justice.”
“It undermines continuity of care, removes local expertise and destabilises those who rely on this service to meet court obligations and rebuild their lives. Furthermore, this decision directly contradicts the spirit and intent of the Drogheda implementation board which was established by the Department of Justice following the escalation of the Drogheda drugs feud a few years ago. That board's final report earlier this year highlighted the need for local relationship-based supports, integrated multi-agency work, integration and sustained community involvement, essential to reducing relapsing and to strengthen resilience in the Drogheda and north-east area. To remove funding from that project, which embodies exactly those principles, flies in the face of that evidence and the Department's stated objectives.”
“It provides education and community employment placements, daily integration supports and consistent engagements for clients attending the drugs court. It has a long-standing proven record with the Probation Service, the courts and other community agencies. This work is not easy; it is complex, trust based and locally embedded. The project's strength lies in its deep knowledge of Drogheda, its people and its challenges, knowledge which has taken years to build. It has become a crucial source of community intelligence and a stabilising presence for individuals who might otherwise fall between the cracks. The decision to remove this funding and reallocate it to a Dublin-based organisation - one that, however capable, has no local roots - poses a real risk.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I raise the concerning removal of funding for the Red Door Project's probation service work in Drogheda. The decision risks dismantling a proven model of restorative justice and community rehabilitation. Since 2018, the Red Door Project has been a core partner in the drugs court initiative, working directly with some of the highest risk and most vulnerable individuals in the community. Over the last seven years, the project's staff have built strong, trusted relationships with participants, probation officers and the courts. These relationships are not easily replicated and provide vital stability and support for those attempting to reintegrate. I have worked with the Red Door Project over the years. It provides a fantastic drop-in space, where staff maintain eyes on those at highest risk.”
“She has written a fantastic book about the wives of famous men, many of whom came through the doors of these Houses, including Matilda Tone, Sineád de Valera and Mary O'Connell. Senators will know the surnames but they may not know the first names. I advise people to buy this award-winning book. Congratulations to Nicola.”
“Zelenskyy played in his native Ukraine as an actor back then, a teacher turned politician. The programme was called “Servant of the People”, so it really is a case of life imitating art. You never know what is in your future. If he had been asked then what he would be doing in eight years’ time, I dare say he would not have thought he would be saying he was fighting for his country and that he was doing so ably. We are more than happy to support him with that. I take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to a wonderful Drogheda author. She was born in Tallaght but has made Drogheda her home. Nicola Pierce has just won the Hodges Figgis history book of the year at the An Post Irish Book Awards for Great Irish Wives .”
“I was delighted and honoured to be present today for such a historic occasion and to hear the address by President Zelenskyy at the joint sitting of the Houses. The Cathaoirleach's speech was remarkable and I thank him for it. As I was sitting there, I was thinking that I am very new to politics, but President Zelenskyy is also relatively new to politics. It is not his first visit to Ireland. His first visit took place eight years ago. It was to my hometown of Drogheda. On 4 November 2017, the President was then an actor and comedian. He brought his comedy troupe, the Kvartal 95 Studio, to the TLT in Drogheda, a 900-seat venue which, I am told, was sold out, with all the tickets being bought by the wonderful Ukrainian community that was there at the time. We now have an even more vibrant community there. Mr.”
“Before I conclude business today, I welcome the guests of Deputy Brian Brennan to the Seanad. They are just catching the very tail end of a very busy morning's work. I hope they enjoy their stay here.”
“Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome more guests to the Visitors Gallery, two of whom I feel should be in our Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Please welcome Dr. Fiona Nic Fhionnlaoich from Shankill, County Dublin, granddaughter of former Senator, Peadar Toner Mac Fhionnlaoich, known as An Cú Uladh, the Ulster Hound. He was a Senator in the second and third Seanaid. I hope you can feel the presence of your grandfather in the great Chamber. I also welcome Julie O'Shea from Ardmore, County Waterford, guest of the usher, Paul Smith. I am sure you are being very well looked after. We have other guests of Deputy Séamus Healy. I hope you have a very enjoyable day today.”
“I hope the students enjoy the rest of their stay. I thank them for coming in. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. She will have ten minutes, group spokespersons will have six minutes and all other Senators will have four minutes.”
“Before we begin, I welcome the students from St. Mary's National School. They are guests of Senator Cathal Byrne. It is lovely to see them. I hope they enjoy the rest of the day. There has been a long-standing tradition that any schools visiting the Seanad or Leinster House have no homework for the rest of the week. I am not sure whether that can stand or how the teachers will fare with it.”
“Dáil Éireann has passed the Finance Bill 2025 on 26 November 2025, which is sent herewith to Seanad Éireann for its recommendation. Dáil Éireann has passed the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2025 on 26 November 2025, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.”
“I echo the words of the Minister. This is warmly welcomed, and I am delighted to see it go through with unanimous cross-party agreement. I spoke at length last week, so I will not repeat myself except to say this will make a huge difference to independent and all screen producers and filmmakers across the country. I look forward to seeing the fruit of its labour and to seeing the Bill progress even further.”