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.”
The complete record
Every one of 482 lines we hold for Anne Rabbitte, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 10.
“I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening. I thank my colleague, Senator Casey, for previously raising an issue in relation to the Affordable Housing Act 2021. It generally excludes applicants who have previously owned a property from the first-time buyer allowances and grants. Perhaps we can look at that in the future. The Act recognises certain exemptions under the fresh start principle whereby an applicant may be treated as single for housing purposes if their marriage or civil partnership has legally ended. Specifically, the legislation recognises divorced individuals as single, as well as individuals who have obtained a judicial separation or divorce decree, but a person who becomes a widow or widower is not seen as single. It is an anomaly in the Act but it is also within the Equality Act.”
“I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to reduce restrictions on the power of the Electricity Supply Board to carry out works concerning the levels on the Shannon Lakes (Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Lough Allen), to amend the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1934 and to provide for related matters. I thank the Leader for allowing me to move the Bill this evening. It does not pretend to solve on its own the issues with River Shannon flooding. Rather, it is a practical legislative vehicle to clear out obsolete constraints, update key provisions and signal the intention of the Oireachtas to bring the Shannon regime into the 21st century. It is intended as a concrete first step in aligning the legislative code with how the river is managed in the 21st century.”
“With your indulgence, a Chathaoirligh, I hope to get the support to get the Bill through this evening. This is a Bill I cosponsored with Senator Paul Daly.”
“I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 12 be taken before No. 1", therefore putting the Electricity Supply (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025 before the House. I brought forward this Bill so that, I hope, later in the week we might be able to reach Second Stage. The whole purpose of the Bill is to address the water levels around the River Shannon which have not been changed since 1934 when Ardnacrusha was put in place. I am seeking to bring forward this Bill and to have a robust debate on it. For far too long we have winter flooding, summer flooding and farms at risks. We also have communities cut off. We had summer floods in 2013, 2019 and 2023. I want the ESB to address how it manages and gauges the levels on the Shannon.”
“The Bill also provides for two technical amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 and the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. The Minister has said everything that needs to be said. I do not need to repeat it. It has been clearly demonstrated that the input of the other 24 judges is working really well and we should support this legislation. I thank him.”
“The principal purpose of the Bill is to provide for an increase in the maximum number of judges in the District Courts, the Circuit Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. This is in line with the findings of the judicial planning working group report. We know from research and experience that the impact of additional judges can be extremely positive in improving waiting times and cutting the backlogs that existed in our courts for many years. It is heartening to hear the times outlined by the Minister. It is important that we recognise the reason that we are seeking to appoint more judges is not in order that people can become judges but to facilitate individuals in Ireland who seek access to the administration of justice and who require access to the courts in a timely fashion.”
“I thank the Minister for being in the House this evening and giving of his time and giving us a comprehensive overview as to why we should support this non-contentious legislation. It is important to say Fianna Fáil welcomes the debate and supports the Bill. It is a priority for Fianna Fáil to ensure that our court services are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. It is also important to say that it was a commitment in the programme for Government and we are hopefully fulfilling this with the Minister this evening. A modern courts and legal system is vital for ensuring fair access to justice and enhancing the overall experience of all users.”
“Before we move on, I welcome guests of Senator Aubrey McCarthy. They are local historians from Naas. You are very welcome this evening. I would also like to welcome Councillor Yemi Adenuga, a Fine Gael county councillor. You are very welcome here as well this afternoon while we are having this debate.”
“It is saying it does not have that money. I have no doubt there is a bit of Chinese whispers going on but, in any case, it is not happening. Craughwell could be a very fast-growing town. It is in that centre space between Athenry, Loughrea and Clarinbridge and it could grow if it were enabled to do so. Whatever can be done with previous funding and commitments, where local authorities cannot progress projects due to whatever letter came from Irish Water last June, I ask the Minister of State to look into it and to ensure progress is made. To ensure stability and the regeneration of our towns and villages, in the context of the investment that was made last week, if pressure and pace is put behind it and if we deal with the standardisation, it will be both transformative and a fantastic legacy for the Minister of State to leave.”
“A number of years ago, the then Minister for housing, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, made an announcement regarding Clarinbridge, Craughwell and many other parishes around the country whereby local authorities were to submit their ambition and direction of travel and identify areas where they saw opportunities for growth and development. Clarinbridge and Craughwell were two of the locations identified. Unfortunately, we are still at the site selection stage. The reason we have not really moved beyond that is that the local authority, which is local to me, Senator P.J. Murphy and the Leader, does not have enough funding. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that and I know the Minister of State is aware of it. After getting the money, the council now has to come up with another €3 million to enable the works.”
“I know he and the Minister are doing what is expected, which is to ignite rural communities. As I said, when Irish Water delivers, it does so very well, but, unfortunately, it cannot do it at the scale and speed required. The investment of €12.8 million it put into Athenry just over a year ago has had a phenomenal impact. However, extra capacity was not provided. Enough was put in to address what was there but not enough to allow for extra hundreds of houses. That did not happen. If I am being critical, the shortfall is that Irish Water does not go beyond current need and forecast into the future. However, it reaches gold standard in what it actually does.”
“It should be part of the design process and there must be circulars to local authorities advising them that they must take particular designs on board. The builder who signs up to build 20 or 30 houses needs to know the design standards that must be met. In a village further down the county from me, Abbeyknockmoy, there are four different sites. We could put in the guts of 160 houses there and we could go up then to Monivea in the same parish and put in another 40. That would be 200 houses built in a parish in rural Ireland. If we have the standards, if the local authorities understand what they are and if builders know what they have to build, there will be delivery in local areas. I compliment the Minister of State. He represents a rural area and knows what is required.”
“This is a really welcome opportunity to discuss Irish Water and water services in general. I commend the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy James Browne, on the work they have started and the announcement they made this day last week. I am from a very rural constituency where the largest town has 11, 000 people and it is otherwise all villages. The announcement last week of the wastewater treatment plan is really welcome. I agree with my colleague Senator P.J. Murphy that what we really need is consistent design and a consistent acceptance of that design and of the plan by all the local authorities. None of them should be able to get off the hook by saying something is not up to specification. To be fair to Irish Water, when it does something, it does it very well.”
“They are quite restricted in how they can travel. In the past month, Roscommon Community Sports Park, joined the list. Ladies Beach in Salthill is also on it. I raise this matter because access and inclusion are fundamental human rights. While the guidelines have been printed and a charitable organisation has been set up - I commend it on the work it has done in driving the campaign to where it is today - Ann Healy is still campaigning, along with Aaron Daly, Annette Monaghan and Aisling McNiffe. On a day like today, it is incumbent on us to have a conversation with the Minister, whether it be the Minister for disability, or for housing and local government, as to how we can empower businesses, local authorities and the HSE to make all of their buildings accessible and inclusive for the right of going to the toilet.”
“Today, Wednesday, 19 November, is World Toilet Day. We know just how vital it is that each and every one of us has equal access to clean toilets that are appropriate to our individual needs. Going to the toilet is something all of us have to do. We all need to be able to go to places without worrying about going to the loo. It is natural for most of us to go out and not think about it, but for people with complex disabilities, a lot of thought has to go into it. In 2008, Ann Healy started an Irish campaign for inclusive, accessible toilets. It took from 2008 to 2024 to deliver on universal guidelines for changing places in Ireland. Today, Ireland only has only 34 registered accessible, inclusive toilets, which is hard to believe, for people with additional needs who want to make journeys around the country.”
“Let us ensure farm safety is not just about gates, crushes and PTO covers but also about the safety of the person using them. Let us make sure every adviser, vet, contractor and milker entering the farm door carries not only the checklist for machinery but also an awareness of mental well-being. Let us continue to drive evidence-based supports tailored to and delivered in farming communities at times and places that suit them. I welcome the statements and thank the Minister of State for being here and for giving his time to this very important issue.”
“On supports tailored to a farming context, we already have some promising leads, including farmer-specific awareness programmes, peer group resilience initiatives and supports designed for men working in a male-dominated environment. It is welcome that the Minister, Deputy Butler, again this year has secured enough funding for 300 whole-time equivalent staff, with over €50 million allocated to crisis support and suicide prevention. In total, it is a mental health budget of almost €1.6 billion in 2026. Staff and numbers like that have an impact for our farming families. That means greater access, greater availability and, I hope, greater comfort in reaching out. In the spirit of partnership and action, let us reaffirm that no farmer should ever feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness.”
“I am struck by what Senator Daly said about those 15,000 counselling hours at the kitchen table, at a time that meets the farmer at a time when they have the capacity to attend. Sometimes the first step is the hardest to get that talking going and to break down the barriers. On awareness, I commend the On Firm Ground programme, now in its second phase, which trains advisers, vets, departmental staff and others who engage with farmers to recognise distress, to ask the right questions and to signpost supports. Evaluation shows it has significantly increased in the knowledge and wellness of advisers to support farmers' mental health issues. On treating mental health as an integral part of farm safety, I believe that every farm safety briefing, every advisory visit, every machinery inspection should incorporate a well-being check.”
“Timing is everything, and doing that coming into the winter period, when the days were getting shorter, prices were whatever they were going to be and knowing when next the bills could be paid is really welcome. These are not just statistics we talk about; they are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers and neighbours and friends, members of our rural communities, whose mental health demands urgent attention. We must do three things: raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma in the farming community; ensure mental health is treated as integral to farm safety and farm business viability; and provide accessible supports tailored to the farming context and culture.”
“We all know it was a difficult budget and to secure €3 million on this particular topic is welcome. I know it was hard fought. However, this key safety on farms cannot be looked at in isolation. The mental health of our farmers is deeply important. Farming is not simply a job; it is a lifestyle and way of life often embedded in family land, in the community and in identity. The burdens are many - long hours, lone working, heavy machinery, weather, market-driven, uncertainty, environmental and regulatory pressures, succession issues and isolation. That is why it was welcome at this year's ploughing championships that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, announced the 15,000 additional counselling hours with ring-fenced funding of €2 million.”
“According to the Health and Safety Authority, over the last decade, farming accounted for approximately 38% of all workplace fatalities, despite representing only 11% of the workforce. When we look at fatalities on farms involving vehicles and machinery, the numbers are even more alarming. Nearly half of all fatalities on all farms involve tractors, vehicles or PTO shaft entanglements. This unacceptable risk demands robust action. I welcome the Government's commitment, particularly the announcement under the national farm safety measures in 2025 introduced by the Department, which provides grant aid covering 60% of the cost of up to four PTO shaft covers. I also welcome the Minister of State's allocation in this year's budget of €3 million dedicated to farm safety, health and well-being initiatives in the agricultural sector.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being in the House. Sometimes the sign of something good is when cross-government Ministers are working together. Having both Ministers of State here this afternoon shows two Departments that take farms, farm safety and farm well-being seriously. It also shows collaboration. I thank the Minister of State for being in the House for her opening remarks. It is not often that it happens but it is important to recognise it. We are speaking today to emphasise two interlinked but often overlooked issues facing farm community, farm safety and mental health. The stark fact is agriculture remains one of the most dangerous sectors in our economy.”
“I thank the Minister. Before we report progress, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Grealish. He has a number of the Carnmore hurling team members with him this afternoon. As a Portumna person, we know exactly their strength, and they are very welcome to the House this afternoon.”
“It lays out a whole-of-society response, preventing violence, supporting victims, ensuring justice and driving cultural change. From the roll-out of consent educational skills and the increased number of refuge spaces to the enhanced training of gardaí, we are embedding a systemic response that is long overdue. There is more to do and there always will be, but we are moving in the right direction. In closing, I thank the Senators who brought this Bill forward. The free travel scheme extension has merit. With the Minister's amendment, I believe we can move towards a version that is both workable and effective. I again ask the Senators opposite to accept the amendment.”
“Leaving an abusive home often means leaving behind a roof over one's head. That is not a decision anyone should take lightly. That is why we introduced streamlined access to emergency accommodation alongside local authority discretion for housing allocation in cases of domestic violence. These are targeted, trauma-informed supports designed in collaboration with experts on the ground to ensure survivors are not retraumatised by the very system that is meant to help them. Let me be clear: Fianna Fáil remains fully committed to the implementation of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This strategy is the most ambitious ever undertaken by an Irish Government because it has to be.”
“Budget 2026 contains a ring-fenced allocation of €80 million to support Cuan, the new statutory agency tasked with tackling and co-ordinating responses to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and to expand the range of services survivors rely on. The investment represents not just numbers on a page but also a meaningful expansion of refuge spaces, outreach workers, counselling services, legal assistance and public awareness campaigns. It is a reflection of our belief that survivors deserve a compassionate wraparound support from the moment they seek help. I want to highlight the special provisions now in place for survivors to access short-term housing support. Through cross-departmental collaboration, we are ensuring that survivors are not left in limbo when leaving a dangerous situation.”
“I acknowledge the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary, for engaging with this Bill seriously and respectfully and for proposing a timed amendment that ensures the spirit of the Bill can be realised through a mechanism that is workable and accountable and can be delivered within the broader social protection framework. The amendment will allow for a review and implementation phase to ensure the free travel extension meets its intended outcomes without unintended consequences and is properly targeted at those most in need. While legislation is vital, we know that funding and service delivery are just as important.”
“At its heart, the Bill recognises something that we all must accept as a society: that escaping domestic violence is not just about courage; it is also about access to support, safety and mobility. For too many survivors the cost of transport remains a real barrier to fleeing abuse or attending court, counselling or refuge. This debate is a valuable one, but more than that, it is necessary. Everyone in this House shares a common goal to ensure that survivors of domestic and gender-based violence are supported by a system that is compassionate, responsive and effective. Fianna Fáil in government has made it clear that we are committed to doing everything in our power to support survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. The Bill aligns with that commitment and adds to the suite of supports we are putting in place.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: - "Seanad Éireann resolves that the Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025 be read a second time on this day 12 months, to allow for the issue of travel supports for victims of domestic and gender-based violence be tabled for consideration by the Government." I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025. I commend Senators Stephenson, Cosgrove, Noonan and Harmon on bringing it forward. This serious, thoughtful legislation rightfully highlights the role of mobility, something many of us take for granted, in supporting those fleeing domestic violence.”
“There is no doubt there is a need for a strategy and joined-up thinking on it, but there is also a need for a conversation as to where we are going. Given that we are spending more than €104 million between the two diseases, awareness, prevention and education have a role to play. That is the case in particular for the signs and symptoms for heart attacks in women. I was not aware of all of these. Aside from a heaviness or tightness in the chest, there is fatigue - which we always put down to work - indigestion, shortness of breath, pain in the back, nausea, light-headedness, discomfort in the neck or jaw and sweating. It is not always just a pain in one's chest.”
“If they spend a full week in hospital, the cost is €52 million. The emergency department in Galway has one to two admissions a day that are related to either heart or stroke. The Croí foundation spoke of the need to create a national plan to promote cardiovascular health and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, with a major focus on prevention. A national strategy needs to be in place by 2025, with a review and evaluation taking place. It was amazing to learn also that at the moment in Ireland, 30,000 people are living with the consequences of stroke and 90,000 people are living with the consequences of a heart attack. All those people need access to primary care for physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech and language therapy - proper rehabilitation to get back to the full functionality they previously had.”
“I thank the Leader for being here today. I am going to raise an issue relating to an event that both he and I attended recently in Galway at Croí House. We met with Dr. Niamh Hannon and members of the Croí House about the future of cardiovascular health in Ireland. It was a very informative session that we attended. Among those present were some as young as 22 years of age who have had a stroke. Family members were also there and we heard about the impact on people's lives when somebody has a heart attack or stroke. Clinicians were also present. What people might not be aware of is that there are 7,500 strokes every year in Ireland and 6,500 heart attacks. Out of that, the minimum stay in hospital for any one of those people is five days. The cost for five days for the 7,500 stroke patients is €35 million.”
“We cannot spend ten years on it and leave farmers without payment. That is not good enough. It is not due to the fact that local authority councillors are not working on the ground. Rather, it is the agencies that are tasked to fulfil their duties that are not working. I am sorry, a Chathaoirligh, but I just need to finish this point. We should not force people into arbitration when the process is broken. That is the case when local authorities have not entered a contract or made an offer. It is not right that landowners and other property owners have to use their own funds to secure solicitors, barristers and valuers to take on the State. That is what is eroding democracy at a grassroots level.”
“The Taoiseach has shown not only strong leadership at home but a consistent and principled voice for peace on the world stage. From the beginning, Ireland, under his guidance, has taken a clear, firm stance on key international matters and we have not been silent or slow to act. The Taoiseach has ensured that Ireland's voice is heard, calling for peace, justice and respect in international law. That moral leadership matters. On a domestic matter, I completely agree with Senator McDowell. When we look domestically at the agencies of the State – the HSE, TII, the NTA, CIÉ and local authorities – it is important that they act in good faith. The Taoiseach secured the largest ever national development plan of €275 billion. We cannot leave people behind when we need them to work with us. I am talking about the CPO process.”
“As a west of Ireland Minister of State at the Cabinet table, I have every faith Deputy Canney will ensure that, when that NDP purse is opened, he opens it good and wide for the people of Galway and the west and delivers on his ambition of a railway station in Tuam and in Ballyglunin so that people will be able to access that travel option. There is no pressure whatsoever because I have complete faith he will do it. He has already put in the funding for the regeneration of the platform. It is a shovel-ready project. What we now need to do is ensure that his Department works with him to deliver it.”
“It is not that I mind going to Limerick Junction or anywhere else like that, but there are capacity issues. There is no doubt about that whatsoever. The trains are full, the youth are using them and we need to encourage them to do that. On safe access to our trains, something I am sure the Minister of State read in The Connacht Tribune himself over the past week was an article about bringing animals on the train. It is not that it is not something we would encourage people to do, but certainly, after the fair in Ballinasloe, there were animals brought on the train and it made a lot of the passengers quite uncomfortable. We do need to ensure passengers are safe on our trains, the Luas and the DART.”
“I am not leaving the people of Sligo or Donegal or anywhere else out. We are always one step short in the west because we do not have the railroad. We do not have trains coming in but we have them coming from everywhere. We are leaving the cousins off in Mayo, Donegal and Sligo. From the perspective of the youth, they have changed. They are way ahead of the curve. They are quite happy not to have a car and to use public transport, and it has been made available to them. We have encouraged them over the past number of years. However, one thing is for certain, on a Sunday night, when you have a teenager going back to college in Dublin and they cannot get a ticket, you have to drive to Limerick Junction to put them on a train to Dublin.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is very welcome to the House this evening. I echo his words of good luck to Mr. Jim Meade. He has been a phenomenal CEO and has worked very well with everybody across both Houses. I have every faith in the Minister of State to get that rail line opened from Claremorris to Athenry. He has even converted me, and I was hedging my bets for a long time with the greenway and the blueway and the railway. I am absolutely converted. It is the right thing to do. Covid showed us that. We need it. Our population needs it. We do not have the capacity in Galway to support the young people from a housing perspective, but one thing is for certain, they are getting their education in Galway. They are driving up and filling the buses. If we had a functioning railway line, it certainly would happen.”
“We need energy but maybe we need a conversation about small nuclear reactors. We are bringing in power generated by nuclear power through the interconnector so we need a grown-up conversation about what the solution might be as opposed to killing our countryside. It is clean, green and efficient. I am by no means an advocate for nuclear power but I see how communities are being split, divided and torn apart and this is wrong. Could the Leader facilitate a debate? I have no doubt that, in his area, he has come across a lot of wind turbines as well.”
“East Galway and possibly many other areas around the country are being scourged by the conversation around the regulation of the provision of solar farms. I accept there is a real need for an increase in energy capacity. The issue concerns the conversation around solar farms, the lack of regulation and the review of wind farm guidelines. I am calling for a debate with the Minister with responsibility for regulation and provision. There was a very powerful presentation last week in the audiovisual room on the matter from various groups around the country. I know of developments in Kilconly in north Galway, the solar farm opposed by Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea Against Solar Sprawl, AMASS, and Ryehill. I know of solar farms of 1,000 acres of good arable land. When we do not have regulation, they go rogue. That is the reality.”
“They like to know when it is happening, when it will be in their pocket and when they will feel the benefit. Timelines would be great. A step change is also required from some of the organisations delivering funding to the people on the front line.”
“Drugs funding got an increase of €11 million across a number of different strands. That is welcome but more needs to be invested in the drugs area. In my last 40 seconds I will wear my cynical hat. It is wonderful how the Ministers work so hard to achieve budgets, and we do welcome them, but they are only as good as how they are operationalised. That is the sad reality of it. You are only as good as the team on the ground that will put it in. Unfortunately, in the disability sector, it takes far too long for the funding that has been secured to meet the families. If we want to be very open and transparent with everybody. We need to provide the timelines for when the money will drop. In disability, will it be in June? Will it be March? Will it be next September in childcare? People do not ask much but they like to know the truth.”
“When trying to build and add capacity, €200 million will not go very far. I welcome that the national childcare scheme has been expanded to cover another 35,000 children and there will be another 8,400 children in the ECCE programme. Additional funding is being set aside for that under the AIMs. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler achieved an additional €26 million non-pay for mental health. I understand 300 whole-time equivalent posts have been allocated for mental health services. She has very clearly set out how she plans to spend and invest in it in her submission, placing crisis support nursing in all nine model 4 hospital emergency departments and establishing three new crisis resolution teams for areas with model 3 hospitals as well as Traveller mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.”
“Hopefully the €3.5 billion for ESB Networks and Eirgrid will go some way to addressing our capital infrastructure piece that is badly required. What has been achieved in social protection has been mentioned a few times. It was targeted and it is more sustainable and more permanent rather than the once-off measures. The increase in the weekly child support payment and the family working payment are not once-off. They are permanent, every week and it means families can plan. That was the Government’s intention in putting this budget together. I was a little surprised by Senator Tully's comment on capacity within childcare. I am surprised because I also read the Sinn Féin prebudget submission on childcare. Its capital piece was cut back from €345 million in last year’s election budget to €200 million this year.”
“I was absolutely delighted to see a 27% increase in its budget related to flooding. Coming from where I do in east Galway – and we do not need climate change all the time – back in 2016 we were nearly a constituency under water. The Minister of State, Deputy “Boxer” Moran, with the support of the two senior Ministers, has an increase of 27%. That increase will bring the budget up to about €130 million, which will mean more schemes can be brought onstream. When considering the number of schemes waiting to happen as well as the small minor works that the local authorities are trying to access, that funding is really welcome. Ring-fencing of carbon tax money of €558 million for the SEAI is very welcome. That is another measure to help with energy poverty.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here and giving us the opportunity to speak on yesterday's budget. I welcome and support it. A lot of good work has been done within it, starting with the carers. While I am absolutely not taking away from what Senator Ruane said, I think the Government had good intentions. A positive signal that we are going in the right direction is the increase in the income disregard from €625 to €1,000 for a single person and from €1,250 to €2,000 for a couple. That is really welcome. I totally understand the point about being on an RSS, CE or Tús scheme, that it has to be 20 hours. Someone will not qualify at 18.5 hours. I totally understand where the Senator is going on that and her contribution is very valid. In the little time I have, I will focus on the OPW.”
“Moreover, as a local community, we do not feel that is the right environment. Portumna Forest Park is accessed by all the locals. They want to continue to be able to access it. We do not need an erosion of the natural habitat. We would like Coillte to upgrade the toilet services that are there. The toilets in Portumna Forest Park have been closed for the last three years. They have put in an eco-toilet, but it is not accessible to people with additional needs. It is not accessible to people who have bad hips or are of an older age. They are not going to use it. At the same time, we do not have any sheltered areas for picnics. My ask is that we invite the Minister to come before us to give us a concrete plan for recreational development by Coillte across the country.”
“We saw the value Coillte provided during the Covid-19 pandemic by providing access to such wonderful amenities. We need to ensure those amenities are protected and safe in the event of storms. Coillte has plans for Portumna Forest Park, which it recently put before the people of Portumna and the surrounding areas and before us as elected representatives. Unfortunately, some of the proposals that were put to the people in the surrounding areas are unpalatable. The main aspect that is unpalatable relates to tourist residential accommodation in the middle of the park. It might sound ideal. It might seem very nice that a person would be able to hire a little cottage on the banks of the Shannon, trek through the trees and be cut off from the outside world. However, it is not safe. We saw that with Storm Éowyn and the number of felled trees.”
“I thank the Deputy Leader for the opportunity to raise Portumna Forest Park, which has been raised previously in the Seanad. There are two elements. When Storm Éowyn landed some months back, it did untold destruction. I compliment the work Coillte did to ensure our paths and trails were open all summer. Although they were open, there is still an awful lot of debris from fallen trees. Those fallen trees need addressing. We need them to be properly taken away and harvested. I have no doubt a lot of other trees on the Coillte sites right across the country need addressing. I am asking that we bring in the Minister with responsibility for Coillte before us, so we could have a conversation or a debate to get an understanding of how prepared our semi-State agencies are for the next storm when it comes. These environments are very precious.”
“It is recognised in other jurisdictions right around the world but, unfortunately, we do not have a clinical team designated to such a disorder here in Ireland. It is hard to believe, given we are a nation of good drinkers, that we do not recognise it can have side effects. The report calls for going back to the awareness piece and to creating awareness that if you drink alcohol, whether you are male of female, it can have consequences when you are conceiving. The report clearly demonstrates the number of incidents where the disorder can exist and present. Families do not have any support, or anywhere to seek it. I would like to know which is the relevant Ministry on this issue. I am looking for the relevant Minister to come to the House discuss FASD.”