Anne Rabbitte
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“On Ireland's most popular pornography website, almost two thirds of the video titles indicate content of concern, including sexual violence, extreme misogyny and material that mimics child sexual abuse. This is not on the fringes of the Internet; this is mainstream, free and one click away from every child in this country.”
“I also acknowledge the role of Deputy Cathal Crowe in the Lower House and that of Senator Rónán Mullen whose Bill, which was before Seanad Éireann last week, spoke to this very issue. It is something we should all get behind and support to ensure we have the law to protect our young people. I also wish to bring up Skyclarys.”
“I am wearing sandals today. Good afternoon to everybody. I warmly welcome the Minister for justice's bringing his memo to Cabinet where he seeks to criminalise extreme violent pornography. For too long, this has been a glaring gap in our criminal law.”
“He said that we should not deny his son the chance to hold onto his voice, even if it is just to be able to ask for a glass of water. That is the parent of a child with Friedreich's ataxia, who has already lost a child to Friedreich's ataxia. We have 200 such patients in this country.”
“Where we have rural depopulation - and there are great reports coming from the GAA - the one thing we want to do is ensure a sense of community. That sense of community circles around a few things. It can be the church, school, post office or the pub.”
“The Senator also said, as did Senator Murphy O'Mahony, that if we can be anything in this world, we should be kind, and that is one thing Martin Naughton was, and it is one thing we should always remember. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. We think of him today. Senator McCormack raised the issue of active travel.”
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“The Bill introduces three new offences: receiving training for terrorism; travelling for the purpose of terrorism; and organising or facilitating travel for the purpose of terrorism. It also expands the offence of public provocation to commit a terrorist offence to include the glorification of terrorist activities and updates the law to recognise certain cyberattacks as terrorist offences in appropriate circumstances. These measures will provide law enforcement and the justice system with additional tools to prevent terrorism, disrupt terrorist activity and respond to emerging threats. At the same time, Ireland remains committed to ensuring that all counterterrorism measures are implemented in accordance with the rule of law, human rights obligations and the principles of necessity and proportionality.”
“The passing of the Bill will pave the way for Ireland's participation in an enhanced EU counterterrorism network, enabling a co-ordinated and dynamic response to domestic and cross-border terrorist threats. Enactment of this Bill is a commitment in the programme for Government and supports the broader programme commitment to strengthen national security. The Bill is an important step in strengthening Ireland's counterterrorism framework and ensuring that our laws remain fit for purpose in the face of evolving security threats. While most of the directive has been implemented in Irish law, the Bill addresses the remaining gaps and brings Ireland fully in line with the current EU counterterrorism framework.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, is very welcome to the Chamber this evening. Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate and supports the Bill. The Bill is part of Ireland's commitment to bring our terrorism law in line with those of other EU member states. Fighting terrorism is a top priority for the EU, and in March 2017, the EU adopted a directive on combating terrorism, namely, Directive (EU) 2017/541. The new rules strengthen the EU's legal framework to prevent terrorist attacks and address the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. The directive introduced new offences relating to the foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon through enhanced information exchange between EU member states. This Bill will amend the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Acts 2005 and 2015.”
“Before moving on, I welcome Deputy Sorca Clarke to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. She is accompanied by Lisa Kirwan, Violeta Bobyleva, Jane Atli, Emma Noonan, Ann Bellew and Mary Murray. They are very welcome and I hope they have a lovely experience here today in Leinster House. We had a school group in from Scoil Íosagáin in Coolgreany, County Wexford who are guests of Deputy Ó Súilleabháin. They have left. I hope they get no homework and are well looked after. Everybody else in the Visitors Gallery is very welcome.”
“Is it agreed that Senator Harmon will take her speaking slot now because she has another commitment? If there is agreement from the House, we can facilitate this happening. Is that agreed? Agreed. I call Senator Harmon.”
“These include a commitment to deliver hundreds of safe spaces, new refuge units, new safe homes significantly increasing capacity nationwide, and an EU-level agreement reached in December on the victims' rights directive, which Ireland will move to transpose. Taken together, these measures represent real, tangible progress across funding, legislation, prevention and victim support. Today our focus is on one family, one name and one principle - that the public are entitled to know. I welcome this Bill. I commend Jennie's family on their extraordinary advocacy. I acknowledge the role of Senator Fiona O'Loughlin and Deputy Paul McAuliffe. I urge every Member to support it, as has already happened here, and I thank them all for their support.”
“We have moved from a fragmented system to a co-ordinated national response, including the third national zero-tolerance strategy; the establishment of Cuan, which is a dedicated agency providing leadership and oversight; a stand-alone offence of stalking, which carries penalties of up to ten years; a new offence of non-fatal strangulation; and the doubling of the maximum sentence for assault causing harm. This is not the only reforming law before us. Alongside this, the Minister will advance Valerie's law, to remove guardianship rights for those convicted of killing their partners. Each of these answers a real need voiced by real families. We are backing these reforms with resources of almost €80 million under budget 2026 for front-line services.”
“It helps a person who is in a relationship, or considering one, to ascertain whether the person they are involved with has a history of a serious domestic violence conviction. That is information that can save a life. We have built this carefully. This register links, as far as possible, with domestic violence services. Anyone consulting it, whether for themselves or for someone they are worried about, is directed towards real support. Inclusion is at the discretion of the court. Of course, lots of ladies have said here that a register alone is not a solution. It is one part of a broader comprehensive strategy. In that context, it sits within a record of sustained reform since 2020.”
“It establishes a register of judgments, maintained by the Courts Service and made available to the public on a website, for serious domestic violence convictions on indictment. Where a trial of judge deems it appropriate and subject to the victim's consent, a judgment setting out that the conviction and the sentence can be published will be under a clear, findable heading of a domestic violence register of judgments. I will be clear about what this is and what it is not. It is not an additional form of punishment. It supplements the publicity a case already receives through media attendance and reporting on proceedings. What it adds is durability and accessibility because reporting fades but a register endures.”
“I welcome Jason and Joe Poole and David French to the Visitors Gallery. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of this Bill, which is known as Jennie's law. I welcome that at its heart it rests on a simple principle: when a person is convicted of a serious crime in an open court, that conviction is public and the public are entitled to know what it is about. I acknowledge first and above all, Jennifer Poole and her family who turned the most profound grief imaginable into a campaign for change. Jennie was murdered by her ex-partner in 2021. She was a mother, a daughter and a sister. That this law now carries her name is a measure of her family's courage. We owe it to them and to her memory to get it right. Let me set out what this Bill is about. It inserts a new Part, Part 3A, into the Domestic Violence Act 2018.”
“What I would say in relation to the rent cap is we might bring a lot of people in out of the black market. Maybe we should work with our student unions, where we could use an ID to be able to cap a bed. We also need to look at the income tax earned for those beds. Maybe we should look at removing that income tax so we can free up those beds. The reason I talk about those beds in our inner cities and main towns - and I am talking about Galway - is that we want to ensure our students can walk safely to and from college. Finally, stamp duty and capital gains need to be looked, and that is for the Departments of Finance and public expenditure and reform.”
“He needs the help of the Ministers for housing, public expenditure and reform and Finance, who need to come to the table. The Minister needs to convene a round-table consultation on this. While nobody wants to talk about rent pressure zones, I think we should have student pressure zones. We should have student caps. I would go as far as saying that not everybody will be able to afford shiny and new when shiny and new arrives. Shiny and new is costing a minimum of €1,100 to every parent at the moment. That is the starting point, going all the way up to €1,480. I can talk about it. I had three children in college last year so I am living proof of it. My sister is in exactly the same position. We want to give our children the best but it is actually quite expensive to do it.”
“I thank the Minister for being here in the House this evening. I will start by seconding everything Senator Dee Ryan said. She gave a comprehensive overview of the work the Minister has done and I want to put on record my support for that. In the two minutes or one minute and 45 seconds I have left, I will focus on student accommodation. I thank the Minister for responding to me last week when I was in a flurry. The Minister I am talking to is continuously responding, and I want to acknowledge that. While I accept the strategy has developed, I do have concerns about it. I am really worried. Three thousand are in building, 14,000 have planning permissions but there is 42,000 of a need. We need to be bold, ambitious and pragmatic. The Minister is the Minister responsible but I do not think he can do it on his own.”
“I note the work that went into ensuring that our workhouse was given the platform that it required. That was down to a lot of heavy lifting and investment from the OPW. It would a great investment if the OPW were to think about taking over the workhouse in Portumna. It would tell a really good story of rags to riches. When I think of the Taoiseach's speech, it also tells the story of people who were so hungry and starving and the role of the workhouse. There is an opportunity for us to tie it all together in Portumna.”
“She asked that we would do that down at Moran's on the Weir to ensure the ten houses that are where the tide turns would get prioritisation. That is something I have seen done successfully in Galway. When barrier gates are put in front of businesses we protect livelihoods and homes. If that could be done at Moran's on the Weir it would be greatly appreciated. Tom Brennan would certainly appreciate seeing that done. I also compliment the team from the OPW on the work it did on the Famine commemoration in Portumna. The team came and worked with the Famine commemoration committee in Portumna workhouse. It worked with the local authorities to ensure that we were able to put on the show for the commemoration. It was the first time it was on outside of Dublin. It took place last Sunday in Portumna.”
“Accessibility needs to be a key point in that regard. I will not discuss the south Galway floods because I am sure my colleague, Senator P.J. Murphy, will bring it up, but the flooding in Kinvara is still a priority in Galway and ensuring that the project is going at pace. Recently I was out canvassing for young Cillian Keane in Galway. I was down in Moran's on the Weir. I had not been in that area before. The woman talked about when the flood came in about 16 or 18 months ago. She said that they were on the top storey - the second floor - but the water came right above the window level on the ground. It takes the tide a half hour to turn and go out. Her only ask was about the local authority. A funding commitment was given to put in all the gates and the barriers.”
“Perhaps we would be able to put on traditional music sessions and to capture some of the tourists that are coming into Limerick and bring them to Portumna. Perhaps tourists coming from Athlone could come to Portumna as well. We could share it out a bit. It is important that if there are visitors coming through and we have destinations like the castle in Portumna, as the Minister of State has in Athlone, that we can bring them into the Hidden Heartlands. I note the work he and his team do within the Hidden Heartlands and in capturing Ireland's Ancient East and Wild Atlantic Way. The Hidden Heartlands were lost for so many years and now we are putting them on a map as a destination. It it is bringing our rural towns and villages to life because we can bring busloads in to see our built heritage.”
“You cannot go to the second floor, although it is completely restored. We have done the windows and the floors. The pointing has been done on all the stonework but unfortunately, for fire and safety reasons, although we have a stairs, we need to have a second access point. I appeal to the Minister of State and his officials to put in a lift so that we could ensure people of all abilities are able get to the second storey. It is able to accommodate up to 200 people. We do not have a hotel any more in Portumna so it would assist us - not in banqueting or anything else like that - in bringing large conferences to the town if we were able to get that second floor open. It would be greatly appreciated and it would bring in extra availability as well.”
“Those key enablers have ensured that the floodgate in Portumna can get prioritised and get moving. In regard to the floodgate, the N65 goes right through the town, but it is also where Connacht meets Leinster and at one point it also meets Munster. If the road is cut off, there is no accessibility. At the same time, 2,500 people live in the town. If we do not have the floodgate in place we could be cut off but it also means that houses are at risk. I thank the Minister of State for addressing that. I also acknowledge the work done on Portumna Castle and the investment that has gone into it. I look forward to working with the Minister of State during his term in this electoral cycle to ensure that we make the castle in Portumna accessible. We have a beautiful castle but you can only go in on the first floor.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House this evening. I also thank him for his comprehensive introduction. I agree that a lot of work has been done in the last 16 months. I thank him personally on the floor of the House today for the time he has given to me in Portumna and for coming down to the site there. Not only did he look at the castle but he also addressed our flooding concerns. That in itself is greatly appreciated. The Minister of State has shown his ability to bring local authorities to the table when it comes to prioritising both the arterial drainage and the smaller projects that can get moving. The work he has done in the Department since coming back into office is greatly appreciated. The local authorities talk about it locally.”
“I thank him also for coming back to the House to keep us informed and abreast, and to keep us on target to ensure that refuge spaces are being delivered and that the Bills are progressing through the various Stages.”
“We have heard the statistics with regard to every 15 minutes and with regard to one child every hour. There is an obligation on us to keep this conversation alive and keep it very real in our communities. Any one of us who has an office and a phone knows this too well. We have had too many phone calls from women trying to flee the home and to understand what the next steps are like. I thank Senator Comyn for her contribution on where we will move on to and our next steps. We need to have practical solutions for how we can keep people safe in their communities while letting them have the opportunity to live with dignity in their communities, with their children attending their local schools while they continue to be in the workforce. I again thank the Minister for all the work being done in the Department. It is greatly appreciated.”
“I thank the Minister very much for his comprehensive response. It is greatly appreciated. Work is being done on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill and the domestic violence Bill, which will be known as Jennie's law. There are also the plan and the focus for the EU Presidency and the fourth national strategy. It is very welcome to see the work that is ongoing with the Minister and officials in the Department and I recognise it involves not only that Department. We also see the work that needs to be done by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. I thank everybody who has contributed to this afternoon's conversation. It has been really worthwhile. It is important to keep the focus on this and keep it on the agenda at all times.”
“Does it understand that not all communication is verbal and that we must have intermediaries to support children who are non-verbal? Sometimes, we unfortunately forget about children who are non-verbal or children with additional needs going through the courts system. We are trying to support the victims - the mothers – but there are other victims, namely, the children who also carry the trauma for years. How do we ensure that children who are non-verbal in particular recover but also have their voices heard? It is an unusual situation, but it is one that we need to address. I will hand over to Senator Comyn.”
“The programme for Government commits to criminalising those who seek sex in exchange for rent. Senator Comyn will go into the sex trafficking that is also a blight and how people are exploited by this industry. Last week in the audiovisual room, we heard about nail bars and hair salons and what is going on under the radar in this country that people might not be aware of at all. It is shocking. I want to finally focus on ladies leaving a situation, who have children with additional needs, including those who are non-verbal. We need to improve our understanding and how the courts system and health system engage and communicate with a child who is non-verbal. Could the Minister comment on how the judicial system engages with parents who have vulnerable children or young adults who need support?”
“A lot of this is outside the remit of the Department of justice. When we talk about wraparound supports, we are talking about the justice system supporting women and the Department of Education and Youth supporting children and ensuring that they can attend school, but the most important thing is for there to be a safe roof over a person's head. That would give people confidence to flee a situation. The zero-tolerance strategy is very important. It includes a commitment to double the number of refuge spaces in the country by the end of 2026. I look forward to the Minister outlining how we are addressing that and when we are going to get to a stage where every county in this country has a provision for people who choose to take the first step of removing themselves from the family home.”
“We must ensure that they stay in the community, that children can continue to access education and that women can continue to work in a dignified and supported mechanism. We must remove the stigma and ensure employers understand and support such women. It is unfortunate that when women take those next steps, they are hit with barriers they should not encounter, in particular if they own or share a local authority property where both names are concerned. If a woman leaves the family home, she does not have the right to return to it and she must seek accommodation, perhaps in another local authority. In many such cases, in all fairness, women do not feel they are supported. There is a lot of work still to be done at grassroots level within organisations. A bottom-up approach is needed.”
“Any attempt by accommodation providers to exploit their position and prey on vulnerable individuals through a so-called sex-for-rent arrangement is completely unacceptable. In recent months, the Minister was present when legislation and motions in that regard were brought forward. I welcome the work he has done on Valerie's Law. That is very commendable and was much-needed. Going forward we need to work with local authorities to ensure there are wraparound supports and that when a person makes the decision to leave the family home, the next steps are in place. I also welcome the work done by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary, on travel, and the work on rent supplement, but so much more is required for women to leave the family home.”
“Under Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence there has been real, tangible progress across funding, legislation, prevention and victim support. We see that with the work Cuan and Women's Aid are doing. Only last week my good colleague Senator Comyn ensured the audiovisual room was fully packed for a conversation in that regard and on the next steps. I have no doubt she will address all of that. There is a need for at least another 280 refuge spaces across the country by the end of this year. The county council looks to the refuge in Galway city to provide refuge space for those who need it in Galway county. We do not have an independent allocation of refuge spaces within the county, which is unfortunate. As the Minister knows, that is not an isolated case.”
“I thank the Minister. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the motion. I have just come from the justice committee where we also discussed domestic violence, which is fantastic. I thank the Minister and the Department for the work they have put in to ensure that this conversation is front and centre at all times. Unfortunately, it shows the sad state of where we are at but it is important that we have open and transparent conversations on it. The motion recognises that domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a scourge on our society and that we must work collectively to tackle it in our communities, workplaces, political system and in wider society.”
“I move: That Seanad Éireann: recognises that: - domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a scourge on our society; - we must work collectively to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in our communities, workplaces, political system, and in wider society; - under Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (Zero Tolerance strategy), there has been real, tangible progress across funding, legislation, prevention and victim support; agrees that: - there is a need for at least 280 refuge spaces across the country by the end of this year; - any attempt by accommodation providers to exploit their position and prey on vulnerable individuals through so-called 'sex for rent arrangements' is completely unacceptable; - robust protections must apply to the handling of victims’ counselling notes in the context of criminal trials; - the killing of the guardian of a child raises clear concerns for the safety and welfare of that child; - there is a need for greater transparency around serious sexual and violent offences; - pornography is now highly accessible online; - violent pornography is presenting a repulsive and distorted image of the ways boys and young men should behave in relationships; notes that: - the Zero Tolerance strategy includes a commitment to double the number of refuge spaces in the country by the end of 2026; - currently in sexual assault trials, counselling notes are routinely being disclosed, causing distress and re-victimisation for the complainant; - the Programme for Government commits to: criminalising those who seek sex in exchange for rent; - examining proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners or a parent of their child; - working with An Garda Síochána to ensure a person in an intimate relationship can be informed of a serious risk to them where a new partner has a history of domestic violence; - non-fatal strangulation is now a dominant theme in online pornography; - An Garda Síochána has cited non-fatal strangulation as a leading indicator of escalating violence in a relationship and a significant risk factor for homicide in women; acknowledges that: - the Government is committed to the full implementation of the Zero Tolerance strategy and to the actions in its final implementation plan; - this action is supported by unprecedented funding of almost €80 million under Budget 2026; - the Government is accelerating the delivery of safe accommodation; - by the end of 2026, it is envisaged 94 safe homes and 193 refuge units will be completed, bringing total safe accommodation to 287, with 50 further refuge units under construction; - comprehensive legislative reform is in train in areas including: - criminalisation of seeking sex for rent; - disclosure of counselling notes in sexual assault trials; - removing guardianship rights of those convicted of killing partners; - the establishment of a domestic violence register of judgments; - the Government has committed to prioritising the online safety and protection of children during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU; calls for: - the full implementation of the Zero Tolerance strategy; - every county in Ireland to have at least one refuge within the lifetime of the Government; - every county to have a minimum of two safe homes within the lifetime of the Government; - the swift passage of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 through the Houses of the Oireachtas to criminalise those who seek sex for rent and to facilitate the reform of laws around disclosure of counselling notes in sexual offences trials; - the swift passage of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026, known as Valerie’s Law, through the Houses of the Oireachtas; - the swift passage of Criminal Justice (Domestic Violence Register) Bill 2026, known as Jennie’s Law, through the Houses of the Oireachtas; - the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to work with An Garda Síochána to establish a domestic violence register of judgments and related disclosure scheme; - the Government to use the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU to tackle the impact of violent pornography.”
“The Senator's point is very well made in inviting the Minister for Health here to discuss these services. If the Minister were to come in, we would all be looking for all our REOs in relation to capital projects, how they are progressing and whether they are moving at pace for delivery. The final piece the Senator raised was on FND. I did not realise its sufferers had the second-highest number of neurology referrals. There is a question about how they fit within the strategy for community neurorehabilitation and whether there is the right and proper allocation of posts, as well as ring fencing within the community neurorehabilitation strategy. There is a lot of work there for the Minister for Health and the Minister for Transport. I have no doubt it is all noted.”
“We are very proud of our language but we need to ensure the posts are filled and see what we are doing to achieve that. I think the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, might be here later today and he supports this, but we need to know what we are doing comprehensively on this. Senator Dee Ryan raised everything to do with health and the mid-west. Senator Conway is nodding in support of her on that. She raised the 44-acre Raheen site and where we are with that. There are 440,000 people in the mid-west and we need to know what options are being picked. Are we looking at option C? Is it a new model 4 with an accident and emergency department? Senator Ryan also talked about dentistry services and children exiting sixth class and going into first year having missed a critical intervention. That leads on to orthodontics and everything else.”
“I hope the Senator has gone down to the committee to ask some of those questions of Meta directly. I acknowledge the success of the Junk Kouture children from Bailieborough who had great success and are going to the world finals of the competition. The best of luck to them in that. When Senator Mullen was out of the room, I referenced his support for the three bogs in east Galway, along with Senator P. J. Murphy. I also hear very clearly what he is saying about wanting a clear breakdown of how many vacant posts there are, what we are doing on recruitment, whether the Government is aware of it, how we are addressing it and whether we are ready for the EU Presidency so our first official language is covered comprehensively during the length of that, as well at all occasions taking place across the EU.”
“The work that goes into the delivery of the programme is also phenomenal and going there is a good way to show our courtesy to all the people who participate in it. Senator Conway also looked for a debate on low vision and low hearing. I think the Minister would welcome that opportunity because she is doing work with Chime already on the strategy on hearing. I would say she is doing work on vision as well. It would be a great opportunity. She is doing consultation at the moment so it would be great for us to hear where the strategy is going in relation to low vision and low hearing. Senator Sarah O'Reilly brought up the scam ads and referenced Senator Scahill who raised it yesterday on the Order of Business. I hear her point about the fines sometimes not matching what is being taken away.”
“The Senator asked for a letter to go from the House to the Minister. We should issue that letter with our unanimous support. Senator Martin Conway advocated for us all to go to the coffee dock - whenever I stop talking - to support the OWL programme participants who are down there. I saw great cupcakes made and everything else. The OWL programme here in Leinster House is a phenomenal offering.”
“To be quite honest, if people are not dying of homelessness but due to other conditions there is a responsibility to have that intervention. It is important and there is a really good model there. I have no doubt the Minister for Health will address alternative models of delivery of care when she is here. Senator Byrne mentioned it was World Asthma Day on 5 May and said inhalers for two- to 15-year-olds should be free. I agree with her. I thought they were. It is a great suggestion. There is a change in the climate. Members can hear I am sniffling. The sinuses are up as the pollen is up. What must it be like for a child going to school where there are probably fun days and everything else on? This goes back to awareness again. It is about awareness of asthma and that children have access to the services.”
“If the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, were to come here she would tell him exactly how the Government is doing it, but the Senator is looking at a granular level right across that when people want access and intermediary services, we need to know it is there. It is phenomenal work that €36 million has been raised since 2009. Now that the Minister of State has got the Mental Health Bill through she will be delighted to come in to discuss the matter. Senator McCarthy discussed addiction and the other way of delivering services. He mentioned Safetynet Primary Care. That should be happening in all our larger cities and towns around the country. We should bring the services to people. It works really well.”
“No, I do not do the funding side of it. I would say this will be the last day Senator O'Loughlin will allow me in her chair. On Darkness Into Light, I wish all the volunteers across the country the very best. A lot of preparation goes into working with Pieta House but it is the volunteers on the ground who make it happen. They do it on the basis there is a recognition and awareness locally. Maybe it is the one morning where barriers are broken down and that conversation can happen on that walk. However, it is about what happens for the other 364 days of the year. It is great to fundraise on a day but we need to know people are supported, that there is access to services and that there is awareness. As Senator Scahill said, the debate is whether the State is doing enough.”
“Like Senator Lynch, I think greenways are great, but not at the cost of putting businesses at risk. They are great economic drivers for the communities. We really need them locally in order to facilitate kids cycling, active travel and all of that, but this can only be done if we all work together. I agree with the Senator about having a debate on the matter. I have agreed to every debate requested so far.”
“The hill farmers were also there. We had great success with the Waterford and Mayo greenways. However, when it has gone from €20 million to €70 million and when, for farmers, it is nearly a case of brother against brother in terms of discontent - we have it in east Galway - we should not force matters. A greenway should be the subject of permissive access. That is how it was initially introduced in conjunction with the IFA. Nothing should be railroaded through, and greenways should not disrupt productive farmland. There is enough land to find a compromise. At the same time, I would not be in support of the use of CPOs. We need to have a debate on the matter. Different local authorities have different views as to how greenways should be delivered. There is no standard across the country or understanding of how to work within communities.”
“If the Minister has to come before the House to discuss the matter, then that is what needs to happen. Senator Craughwell wants the Minister for Defence to come to the House. To be fair, the Senator is a constant advocate when it comes to security and defence. He wants to discuss the national security strategy. He is right that it is not just cyberattacks; it is also about water, electricity and gas and critical infrastructure. In light of the current geopolitical climate, we need to ensure that we are protected. I support the Senator. If it is okay, we will write to the Minister about the matter. Senator Lynch referred to CPOs and greenways. There was a great delegation here yesterday from areas throughout the country that included members of the IFA and the National Greenway Action Association, which was only formed about a year ago.”
“Senator Mullen referred to the law and how the matter should be addressed. The NPWS had 15 years to find these people a site. Ultimately, one has not been found for them. The payment of compensation has stopped. The sheds are bare and the people of Ardgraigue, Barroughter and Cloonmoylan are wondering what they will do. They have been left in an ambiguous position. There should never be ambiguity when the law is in place. If the NPWS has failed to find an alternative site and if the people involved are not going to be given one, they are left with no option. They cannot be cold for the winter. People have to look after themselves. There is an energy crisis. I do not support breaking any laws, but the NPWS needs to many of the people involved, as do Senators Murphy and Mullen. They are not going to be cold.”
“Senator Murphy O'Mahony spoke about ticket touting and the ticket sales Act. It is hard to believe in the five years since the latter was introduced, there has never been one fine imposed. There must be some gaps in the legislation. As legislators in the Upper House, it is incumbent on us to take that on board and to have a debate on the matter in order to see why fines have not been imposed. We know people are being gouged all the time. It happens, and we need to address that. There is work we could do, with the support of the Minister, to tighten up the legislation. Whatever we need to do to support the Minister, we should do. Senator Murphy, who is from my area of east Galway, raised the issue of turf cutting. He is supported by Senator Mullen and me in that regard.”
“Senator Andrews spoke about the regeneration fund and Oliver Bond flats. I am aware of this matter. I might be a country person, but the regeneration fund is all over social media. The Senator did not just comment on the Oliver Bond complex, he also referred to Pearse House and the former Glass Bottle site. He said that if the Minister cannot meet the residents, he would like him to come here to discuss the inner city, which needs to be the subject of advocacy. His point is well made, particularly as €500 million could be found for the civic buildings but rents are going up. We need to ensure that tenants and people living in the areas in question have their voices heard. I support the Senator in his call for a debate on the matter. Regeneration cannot just be in one area; it has to be in all areas around the country.”
“Her business, Tilting the Lens, has been advocating in the fashion world. Gone are the days when dresses had to be designed for women who were size 4. Now, it is all sizes, shapes, lengths and variations. Ms Burke has advocated. Gucci wants her and Giovanni wants her. She is in all the top fashion houses across Europe. I have to applaud her. She is a proud Navan woman and a proud Irish woman, but, most importantly, she is very proud in advocating for people with additional needs. It is about how we can make design, whether it is the built environment or how a person dresses, accessible in order that everybody feels included. I thank the Senator for her positive contribution. We sometimes forget that there are positive people who are making changes, and we have to acknowledge them.”
“I hope they are being subjected to a great cross-examination in relation to doomscrolling, targeting and algorithms. I have no doubt that our colleagues are putting them under pressure and asking the necessary questions. The Senator asked that the Minister for education come to the House to discuss the strategy for supporting people in education, predominantly teachers, and asked if we have plans to go where Sweden has gone in terms of the removal of a lot of digitalisation. I hope I captured that well for him. Senator Nelson Murray made a brilliant contribution. What a great way to acknowledge Navan lady Sinéad Burke. My God, did she roll it out the other evening on the red carpet. I have never been as proud to say that I know that lady. When she strutted her stuff in black, it was fantastic.”
“The current strategy is finishing, and she inquired about the planning of the next strategy. She requested that the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter. This is about major investment in PET scans, MRIs and CT scans. All of us across the House want to know exactly where the strategy is going. I think there would be unanimous support for inviting the Minister for Health to come here for a debate on the framework. Senator Joe Conway spoke about the book Stolen Focus and how the digital age has captured the minds of many of our young people, in particular those going to school, and had an impact on their attention spans. The Senator referred to Sweden. Representatives from Meta and other digital leaders are before the children's committee this morning.”
“Many Senators made contributions, and there are a lot of responses. Senator Costello referred to her home area of Bohernabreena in the context of fly-tipping and stronger enforcement. It is about respect and protect but we need CCTV brought in. The Senator continued with her advocacy in respect of givinostat. It is great that the young man involved is home after his gene therapy treatment, but I hear what the Senator is saying. The commercial office and manufacturer are discussing price at the moment. The Minister for Health is committed to this and is working closely with the Senator on it. The call this morning is that the HSE national assessment team needs to keep the pressure on and get the job done. The Senator also called for a debate on the cancer strategy.”
“The Order of Business is No. 1, Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 12 noon; and No. 2, statements to mark Europe Day 2026, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. and to conclude at 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes and group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes each, time can be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than seven minutes to reply to the debate.”