Aubrey McCarthy
University of Dublin · Independent · Ireland
“I briefly mention what my colleague Senator Andrews mentioned about the accommodation recognition payment, ARP, and its proposed reduction for those who are hosting Ukrainians in Ireland.”
“I have travelled to Ukraine and seen first-hand the resilience and dignity of the people. Many of the people I hosted are from Mariupol and have nothing to go back to. They are not just people receiving support but people who have become part of the community here. We should never forget why they came here in the first place.”
“Just as I was coming in this morning, standing on the lawn at the Merrion side of Leinster House it is hard to ignore the ragwort that is growing on the grass. Under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936, ragwort is a noxious weed.”
“I extend the welcome to Emma and Adam. I first met them through our homeless services at the Lighthouse Homeless Café. They came to access services. Adam is a bright lad. He is studying away. He is a fanatic when it comes to basketball and I hope that one day, he will play for Ireland, if not in the NBA in the US.”
“As someone who has spent over two decades in Tiglin, trying to get people from homelessness, addiction and domestic abuse back into employment and education, I can say that the Mr Price model works very well.”
“I hope we ensure that people such as Adam are given every chance to fulfil their dreams. I wish Emma and Adam every success. I thank Emma for volunteering at the Lighthouse with my manager, Mr. Rob Byrne. It is something special. I welcome the Belgian Ambassador to the House. He is a wonderful representative of his country.”
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“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome that it recognises the importance of surplus renewable energy in shaping a fairer energy future for us all. However, I have to express concern that, without a defined strategy or measurable targets, we risk missing a crucial opportunity and wasting over 7,000 GWh of clean energy while hundreds of households going without heat or affordable bills. I urge the Minister of State to commit to a cross-departmental national strategy that prioritises the needs of those most impacted by fuel poverty. We have the technology, the resources and the mandate from our climate commitments. What is needed now is leadership and urgency. I believe the ambition. Let us turn it into action and ensure that no one goes cold while clean power goes unused.”
“We lose the opportunity to help the people I have mentioned. Such a strategy would incorporate social equality such that everybody would be treated equally on all energy planning nationally. Climate action must be for everyone, not just those who can afford it. The programme for Government promised to explore these solutions but now it is time to act, not with another report but with real policy change. Let us ensure that no family is left in the cold. As an approved housing body in Greystones, Tiglin has accommodation for individuals. We work with EnergyCloud and have set about reusing surplus energy. It has worked amazingly. If that could be put into a national plan, it would be amazing.”
“That is 7,022 GWh of clean wind energy, enough to power billions of hot water tanks which are currently left unused. While families shiver in cold homes, we are turning off clean energy at source. That is not just inefficiency; it is questionable and possibly indefensible. A national strategy is urgently needed, one that champions surplus renewable energy being directly focused towards those experiencing fuel poverty. I am asking the Minister to commit to publishing a strategy with measurable targets for how surplus energy can be deployed to support the vulnerable households I mentioned. From my own experience, it is not abstract or wishful thinking innovation or distant climate goals. It is about justice and compassion and makes total common sense. When we waste energy, we lose more than just efficiency.”
“Cold homes contribute to respiratory illness and poor mental health, and exacerbate the existing vulnerabilities of older people and younger children, and those living with illness. It is not an abstract policy that I am talking about. I have personally witnessed the pain of fuel poverty through the homeless organisation I am connected with, which I founded in 2006. Working in that sector, I have met families trying to keep their children warm in overcrowded accommodation or accommodation that is not suitable. I have seen individuals doing all they can to rebuild their lives from marginalisation but unable to afford basic heat. The stress, shame and all of that would erode dignity. The suffering is made more unacceptable when we consider that Ireland has wasted more than €2.1 billion worth of renewable energy over the past eight years.”
“I am rising to speak about an issue that is pressing but that also has a moral dimension, namely the need for a national comprehensive strategy for the effective utilisation of surplus renewable energy in a manner that prioritises individuals and households experiencing energy poverty. We are seeing in various news reports that families are starting to choose between heating their home and eating. That should not be a reality in modern Ireland in 2025. According to the most recent ESRI report, 550,000 households in the Republic of Ireland had that choice in the last year. Fuel poverty is not just about discomfort; it carries profound health consequences as well.”
“I was brought up in a home where alcohol had a very negative effect. It impacted me for life. There are many people out there in the same situation. Back then, the Eastern Health Board was in operation. Steps could have been taken that would have impacted the likes of myself.”
“Although heroin is a bogeyman and we hear about cocaine and these other awful illicit drugs, alcohol is doing more damage. If we roll alcohol into a wider strategy without dedicated leadership, we will repeat the cycle of what we have done so far, that is, a strategy without delivery. I ask the Minister of State to consider what I have said and to try to give alcohol the equivalent priority that other drugs have taken with regard to funding and the expansion of detoxification services. Anything else will leave the most harmful drug, alcohol, once again in a policy blind spot in Ireland. In her new role, the Minister of State has decisive action to take. This could be a generational change in Ireland’s relationship with alcohol. We need to seize it. I am 53 years of age now.”
“The options are either to keep alcohol very much focused as part of the new strategy, which will avoid duplication, or to come up with a parallel national strategy for alcohol with a dedicated budget and a single accountable lead. Alcohol Action Ireland has a focus on trying to get a 40% reduction in per capita consumption. If we double our detoxification capacities from 120 to 250 beds and ring-fence funding streams, it will have an amazing impact in Ireland in reducing alcohol harm. I have mentioned that alcohol takes up 11% of the entire health budget. Financing detox beds would lead to huge savings and enhance enforcement regarding alcohol harm prevention. Alcohol presents the greatest burden on our hospitals, treatment services and economy. It is a greater burden than heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines combined.”
“One quarter of treatment cases require inpatient detox, which is more than 2,000 people per year. Figures from a reply to a parliamentary question asked in October show there are only 120 publicly funded detox beds in Munster and Leinster, for example. There are long waiting lists. We see that every day through the organisation I am involved in and through working with many others. The HSE would argue that 79 general hospital beds are routinely occupied by people awaiting a dedicated detox. This is costing an estimated €12 million per year. That is for out-of-place services being focused on alcohol. Unless we expand detoxification, clear the gaps and address all the other aspects, such as aftercare, rehab and recovery capital, it will all backlog.”
“It takes approximately 11% of the entire health budget to deal with alcohol each year, and alcohol-related issues cost our country €12 billion annually. It is not a substance to be left on the side. It certainly needs to be a dominant aspect of the strategy because that is where the demand in our health services is going. The annual reports of 2023 and 2024 from my organisation, Tiglin, show that alcohol remains the primary reason for entry into most of the residential programmes, with more than 60% of the admissions being for alcohol. It rose 15% in 2024 among males aged 30 to 55, which even surprised me. Women who come into the centres often cite alcohol as being a leading factor when it comes to presenting with domestic violence and trauma issues. It seems there is a whole issue regarding alcohol and detoxification.”
“There were 8,163 cases in specialist treatment services in 2023, which was nearly as many as all of the other drugs combined, according to a Health Research Board report. An estimated 1,500 acute hospital beds are occupied daily due to alcohol-related illnesses. Up to 30% of emergency department presentations are linked to alcohol use, especially at weekends and during holiday periods. Approximately four people in Ireland die every day due to alcohol-related diseases. We also heard on “Morning Ireland” today about alcohol’s link with cancer. I am involved in a women’s centre for women with addiction. Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder often comes up, which is a lifelong, serious complication. What I am saying is that alcohol causes huge harm.”
“I wish to ensure the emphasis is kept on alcohol because a lot is at stake regarding not only prevention and treatment, but also detoxification services, which I have spoken to the Minister of State about. In order to fully understand the strategy, we need to look at alcohol statistics and the present strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, to look at how that needs to be progressed in the next strategy. I took part in the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use in 2023. It focused more or less entirely on illicit drugs and left alcohol in a sort of blind spot. If one looks at the figures, however, alcohol remains the single most harmful drug in terms of deaths, hospital use and economic cost. There is large-scale harm.”
“I congratulate the Minister of State on her new role. I look forward to working with her. I thank her on behalf of the people of Kildare for opening a new sensory garden, Hope Cottage, last week, which was a fascinating event for family members of people caught in addiction. To bring the Minister of State’s attention to the national drugs strategy, which is about to expire, there is one key issue that comes constantly to my desk. I am the chair of the south western regional drug and alcohol task force. I was also involved in the east coast task force for ten years. We renamed all the task forces as the alcohol and drug task forces, yet it seems alcohol is not being focused on in this strategy.”
“I ask the Leader to call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to engage directly with his diplomatic counterpart in the UAE and advocate for clemency. Mr. Cornelius's wife is from Northern Ireland. It is not merely a legal matter; it is a humanitarian one. Ireland and the UAE share fantastic long-standing diplomatic ties. I trust this appeal will be received in a spirit of goodwill and justice. We should use our diplomatic channels to seek a fair resolution to this. After so long, Ryan Cornelius deserves the chance to return home to recover and be with his loved ones.”
“I rise to bring the attention of the House to the prolonged incarceration of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai. His wife Heather and human rights activist Sir Bill Browder came to meet me here. In 2010, Mr. Cornelius was imprisoned for ten years. In 2018, however, that was extended by a further 20 years, bringing his total sentence to 30 years, which is the equivalent of three life sentences in Ireland. Mr. Cornelius is now in his seventies. I appeal for leniency on humanitarian grounds. His case has drawn international concern. Amnesty International has taken it on board. It is asking urgently for compassion and justice. Reports indicate that his health has deteriorated significantly. The toll on his family was evident when his wife came to meet me here in Leinster House.”
“It seems private capital flow has more or less stopped. The implications are stark. We are not only questioning our housing targets; we are missing them. At the root of this problem, as I have brought up at the housing committee, is a planning system that is riddled with uncertainties and infrastructure that fails to adapt to the urgent reality. We really need to start treating this as an emergency, with local authorities receiving the allocations that were promised on 16 May. We also need immediate intervention in the housing supply pipeline, which should support builders that build 50 units or fewer with not only mentoring but also improved access to capital. The approved housing bodies need to make sure their limited supply of capital is enhanced. That will empower housing delivery. Words and targets are not enough.”
“The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has noted that economic growth is still expected but we feel it is not at the pace the Irish people deserve. Ireland cannot afford to be passive in this. We have to act swiftly and with a sense of togetherness. Tariff uncertainty must not paralyse the policies we already have or were planned. Yesterday, I received a briefing from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. It painted a stark and deeply concerning picture of our housing structure. In 2008, we built 78,000 units of housing, backed by €41 billion in capital. However, today we are managing to build just 38,000 units, backed by €13 billion in capital. Investment in apartment construction has collapsed. I listened to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, on the news on the way in and he admitted that apartments are an area of consideration.”
“I voice concern on behalf of Irish businesses facing complete uncertainty regarding the US Administration revisiting tariffs and potentially imposing tariffs as high as 10%. They are to be imposed on all EU imports within days. From dairy farmers to distillers, vital sectors of the Irish community are bracing themselves for impact without any clarity as to what is coming. The recent Government trade forum regrettably yielded more heat than light. It shows we need actionable diplomacy rather than reactive dialogue. We must ensure that seasoned negotiators, not just diplomats, represent Ireland in these trade agreements. It has been said in this House before that we should focus on what we can control. That is diversifying our export markets, investing in supply chains and supporting the affected industries.”
“They are mothers, carers and survivors of abuse, yet we keep cycling them through a system that punishes trauma and poverty instead of addressing it. Education, mental health supports and rehabilitation within the Prison Service are exactly what is needed. Prison services are overwhelmed, and that can be seen from the statistics. Staff are burnt out, and the costs, both human and financial, are mounting. I call on the Government to commit to immediate reform of the prison system, starting with gender-responsive, community-based alternatives to prison, proper post-release support and policymaking that is shaped by lived experience. Let us end a system that breaks people down. What I have learnt, even with the Tiglin programmes, is that such reform creates a system that builds people up.”
“I rise to bring up a point about the urgent concerns facing women in Irish prisons. As of May, our national prison capacity stood at 131%, but it is women's prisons that are suffering the most. The female prison in Limerick is at 152% of capacity, while the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy is at 127%. These are not just statistics; they are women sleeping on floors, traumatised by overcrowding. Many of them I face in our homeless cafés when they are released, and they are released into homelessness and a housing crisis. It breaches the dignity of what we have signed up to under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Bangkok rules. From my visits to the Dóchas Centre, I can see that most women in custody are non-violent.”
“I urge the Minister for Health to prioritise this issue and allocate funding for free shingles vaccinations for all over-70s, protecting thousands of people from unnecessary suffering and strengthening our healthcare system.”
“The cost can be significantly higher if it requires long-term specialised care. Other countries, such as Australia, have introduced free shingles vaccinations. It has been proven to reduce healthcare costs and it has also improved the quality of life of their citizens. By funding a national shingles vaccination scheme for over-70s, we could ease the burden on our healthcare system and GP practices. Prevention, as we know, is always more cost-effective than treatment. As matters stand, we are going back to the start of the 21st century, where diseases that are easily preventable are only preventable for those who can afford the vaccine.”
“I rise to bring attention to a public health issue, that is, the need for a free shingles vaccine for over-70s in our communities. We know shingles is a debilitating condition that affects thousands of older people every year. It causes severe pain, long-term nerve damage and, in some cases, serious complications regarding visual impairment, etc. As many as one in three people will get shingles in his or her lifetime. While vaccination is available, the cost of it has been debated and it can be a significant barrier. I think the cost is €470 to €520. Many older citizens, particularly those on fixed incomes, have not budgeted this in and it leaves them vulnerable to an illness that is preventable. The cost to treat shingles in a hospital is anything from €2,400 for diagnosis to €4,700 for diagnosis and conservative treatment.”
“It is not about charity; it is about our responsibility to the women of Ireland. They and their children deserve safety not next year or eventually but now.”
“Three years ago, as we have mentioned previously in the House, the nation was shaken by the murder of Ashling Murphy, a woman who had her whole life ahead of her. We all hoped it would be a pivotal moment whereby there would be lasting change in this area. The truth is difficult. Women seem no safer now than they were on the day that Ashling died. We need to act. We need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of male violence against women. Not only that, gardaí need proper and consistent training. Protection orders need to be enforced and women's refuges must be properly funded. The court delays in respect of this sort of violence need to end. We must also talk about the digital world. Abuse seems to continue online and laws need to be introduced in that regard.”
“My colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, mentioned Women's Aid. It is frightening to see the report today that 32,000 women have contacted Women's Aid in the past year. That is the highest number ever, and it seems it is continuing to climb. One in three women was being abused by her ex-partner. Behind the number are terrified and isolated women, lost pregnancies and isolated lives. There are also children growing up afraid. I previously spoke about the issue in the House. It shows that abuse does not always end when a relationship ends. For many women, the fear seems to deepen and they are stalked, threatened and controlled. Over 44% say that the response they got from the Garda was not helpful. That is certainly not a flaw but a failure in the system.”
“However, I have to give credit where it is due. Jason died last week in the care of Naas hospital and the HSE in the solas room. The staff there were tremendous. I cannot overstate the care they gave and the kindness and professionalism they showed. I refer to the nurses, doctors and family support staff. They brought comfort not only to Jason but also to his family in his final hours. While I continue to call for reform of the care sector and area of non-cancer end-of-life care for which the HSE is responsible, I offer special praise in respect of what compassionate healthcare looks like when it works at its best. I sympathise with Jason's wife, Aoife, and his sons, Fiann and Ódhrán. Our deepest sympathies are with them. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
“There are too many committees. I thank the Cathaoirleach. I spoke a few weeks ago about Jason Power, a good friend of mine who had health issues. Unfortunately, Jason sadly passed away last Friday. I was asked to speak at his funeral yesterday and share my thoughts about his life, how I had met him and how he had recovered from a life of addiction and trauma. He turned his life around and had ten years of sobriety, but, unfortunately, his lungs had been damaged and he was dealing with bad health. During all that, he bravely fought the bad health and was in hospital a lot. I have spoken about the gaps in our system. As Jason did not have a cancer diagnosis, palliative care was not available to him. The gap in our care system caused many issues for his family, namely Aoife and his two boys, because he had to be hospitalised.”
“The Bill does not protect those individuals who are trying to put their lives back together and are now facing increased rent. The Minister said there would be serious problems in enforcing any protections for students and others. If this Bill were not being guillotined today, perhaps there would have been more time to explore that issue. I do not believe we have exhausted all the possibilities to provide those protections. Many of my colleagues have put forward solid amendments. I would hope that, at a later point, we could explore ways to protect the people I have mentioned, including those with disabilities and those exiting homelessness, etc. I thank the Minister of State.”
“Another group of people who will be hurt and negatively affected by this legislation are those with disabilities. Many disabled citizens are at greater risk of becoming homeless than those who are able to secure accommodation. They often must deal with the additional costs of their own disability. I know that, on the east coast, there are people with special disability needs on the housing list. My amendment would have provided protection for our disabled citizens. I will speak to an area I know well, which is homelessness. Through my work with Tiglin, I know that many charities are providing homes and accommodation, albeit temporarily, for people who are homeless. The problem is that when they exit that homelessness, they can be subject to frequent moves and getting accommodation can be difficult.”
“I had proposed an amendment to section 3. Why has it been ruled out of order? I would like to say on the record that my intention with the amendment was simply to empower the Minister to introduce regulation. It was not necessarily the case that I wanted it to result in a higher cost to the Exchequer. When the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, said there would no special protection for renters afforded by this Bill, I saw it as a missed opportunity and that was why my amendment came about. Many of the people who voted for me, some of whom may be in Trinity College and other colleges, rely on the private sector for short-term rentals. This Bill, as it stands, means that the rent for those students can increase substantially, year on year. People generally do not stay in rental accommodation for longer than six years.”
“Last week, I addressed the LDA and the Housing Agency and asked where the blockage is. It seems that is in local authorities but when you talk to local authorities they say, "No, the housing numbers have not been given." Is it in the Government? Is it in the national assemblies or the NPF? That is where the blockage is. We need to clear the blockages and all work together. We need to incentivise supply and then protect renters.”
“That will create a further shortage of tourism and will have a side effect on businesses, pubs and restaurants in the local area. It is concerning that the administrative burden is also increasing on smaller landlords and the definition of smaller landlords, etc. Many of these providers will be driven from the market, and that is my concern. I am a member of the housing committee. The witnesses who gave evidence to the committee in recent weeks said the issue here is housing supply and the only way to address what we are dealing with is by increasing that supply. Everything else is a sticking plaster and I think we all know that but I do not see anything in this Bill that will increase supply. The housing numbers are the biggest single obstacle to housing and it seems there is a blockage in the housing supply.”
“As my colleague Senator Fitzpatrick said, we need everybody working together. I deal with a lot of people through my homeless café, the Lighthouse, and I see a generation of younger people at a disadvantage in the housing sector. They are caught in a loop of high rents and a lack of available properties. Now we see students who are going to be disadvantaged by upward rental reviews when they leave at the end of the academic year. That will put further costs and pressures on young people. I am also concerned about the many emails I have received from people saying they have provided accommodation in rural parts of Ireland where local hotels have been turned into IPAS accommodation and they are the only tourist accommodation. That will now fall under this new legislation in the context of the rent pressure zones.”
“The constant changing of laws is perhaps not a good thing as it will not encourage confidence or investment. Today, I heard the Minister on the airwaves and I also read the Central Bank report regarding the lower forecasts for the number of houses to be delivered, with housing completions hitting approximately 32,500 this year, 37,500 next year and 41,500 in 2027. I sit on the housing committee and I am hearing those numbers are way off. I realise there are infrastructure problems, etc., but it is something we need to treat as an emergency in the same way, as I have mentioned here before, that we treated Covid and the Ukraine war. We managed to get it resolved by having a whole-of-society approach. The Government does not have the resources to do this on its own.”
“I am, however, concerned about the way this legislation has been announced in that it is creating a lot of confusion among the public. I do not think ordinary people understand it. The deadline for changes seems very rushed. This was brought up on today's Order of Business by my colleague Senator Boyhan. I know I was up until all hours pulling out the last bit of hair I have on my head due to frustration from looking at the Bill. If we find it overcomplicated, I wonder what the average person out there thinks. Tenants are now concerned about whether their rent will go up. Landlords are wondering if it is worthwhile investing in this market. While what we are discussing today is new temporary legislation until the real legislation kicks in, we urgently need clarity to encourage an increase in supply, and that seems to be the main issue.”
“I thank the Minister for being in the House to address this important legislation. I have been a tenant myself, and also an accommodation provider for many years. I set up an approved housing body called Tiglin, which the Minister is aware of. We have accommodated hundreds of people over the years, including most recently many Ukrainian refugees. I deal with the human element behind the numbers we are dealing with regarding homelessness, housing issues, etc. They are not just numbers or zones on maps. You are dealing with individuals who are coming undone and are perhaps a rent increase away from homelessness. I agree with the Minister that we have a duty to shield these individuals from uncertainty, and I understand the challenges he is facing in his very unenviable position as the housing Minister.”
“I call on the Leader of the House to arrange a debate in the House on the urgency of enforcing the gambling regulation, which has already been suggested, and embedding such prevention into the education in our schools. If we can protect children, as we have done with regard to cigarettes and alcohol, we can and must do the same when it comes to gambling.”
“We were all horrified by cigarette and alcohol advertising aimed at young people, so now we must ask why gambling apps are still allowed to target young people. Working in Tiglin, I have seen at first hand how gambling can silently destroy lives. It starts off as a bit of fun but it is addictive, isolating and destructive for many families. It does start young, but fantastic initiatives like "It Takes a Village" in Greystones target this.. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was supposed to change this landscape but months later, we are still waiting for its enactment. It is not a fringe issue; it is an issue affecting young people, who are tomorrow's adults. Early exposure to gambling is already contributing to debt and anxiety, and family support is very necessary in this area.”
“I reiterate my support for my colleague Senator Crowe regarding cocaine addiction. It is something I know a lot about from my work with Tiglin. I raise another concern regarding addiction, namely, the shocking rise of youth gambling in Ireland. I was recently interviewed by RTÉ about a European report that revealed that more than 29% of young people in Ireland from the age of 15 to 16 have gambled many times in the past year. That is the highest rate in Europe, at almost one in every three of our teenagers. Children are being targeted, not as we were when we were younger, perhaps with a bookmaker's on the corner of the street, but with algorithms and advertising that is embedded in online apps, games and social media.”
“We know that this test, as has been mentioned, is designed to ensure the policies and regulations we are proposing are SME-friendly. It embodies the "think small" first principle. It really considers the SMEs from the very beginning of the policymaking process. We should make Ireland the best country to do business in. I know we have done really well over the years with our corporate tax, etc., and we shine bright, but we could become the best small country to do business in for SMEs. It could create more Irish companies and more opportunity for our young people. The foundation should now be set for the next Collison brothers, who are possibly finishing school this summer somewhere in Ireland. They need to be given the correct supports to start the next Stripe in Ireland.”
“1, which has been seconded by Senator Keogan. I will also second another amendment by Senator O'Reilly. After the last paragraph in the motion, it calls on the Government to "apply the SME test outlined [and mentioned] in the Programme for Government to relevant [organisations] and give special consideration to the role of the Seanad [this House] in applying [that very] test." The amendment is based on what is in the programme for Government, which states that the Government will: Rigorously implement the SME test to scrutinise every new piece of legislation and regulation for its impact on SMEs, ensuring that any obligations that increase business costs are phased in and that there is consideration of the broader implications of any decisions affecting businesses across government.”
“The situation has not got any better since that, and we have fewer supports for start-up businesses, despite reduced banking options after Ulster Bank exited the market. How do we change this? We have a lot of ingredients. Recent figures were published about the number of graduates in Ireland. I think more than 52% of people have a basic degree, which is phenomenal. We have a highly educated workforce. We need to foster an entrepreneurial spirit within the workplace and our society and increase access to research and development funding. We also need incentives to help to staff businesses such as the ones I have mentioned with increased access to credit. I work regularly with the Naas LEO. There are fantastic initiatives there. The likes of those need to be celebrated and we need to support them. I am proposing amendment No.”
“Then there was the Covid situation and the climate situation and all of this leads to huge administrative burdens on SMEs. We have spoken on many occasions in this House about tariffs and the threat and uncertainty they pose. That represents another significant burden on SMEs. It is not just the increased cost of products but also the increased administrative burden on SMEs. It has been disappointing to see that many of Ireland's most successful companies were started abroad. I often think of Stripe, an amazing company started by the Collison brothers in Limerick. They felt they needed to go abroad to Silicon Valley in order to get start-up capital and they were certainly celebrated there. Now they have one of the biggest start-up companies over there and currently employ more than 8,500 people worldwide, 600 of whom are in Ireland.”
“I welcome today's Fianna Fáil motion. It is a very topical one. It is very important given the current climate we face in this country and the challenges we face in the international environment. As Senator Crowe said, Irish SMEs face many challenges. I am involved in SMEs myself. We should be supporting Irish industry and not just putting all of our focus on multinational companies, which seems to have been the case up to now. It has already been mentioned that approximately two thirds - more than 60% - of all jobs in Ireland are within SMEs. That is a sizeable number of jobs. Over the past number of years I know that in my own businesses we faced many challenges. There was the likes of Brexit. I have a transport company and we had to create a whole new department to deal with customs whereas that had not been the case up to then.”
“I move amendment No. 1: After the last paragraph under "calls on the Government to:" to insert the following paragraph: “ - apply the SME test outlined in the Programme for Government to relevant legislation and give special consideration to the role of the Seanad in applying this test.””
“Will the Government address the complicated tax rules regarding these funds? They should be treated in the same way as gains in other stocks are, with the 33% rule and no deemed disposal. Ireland is an outlier on this. If we introduce these changes, it will give ordinary people like me an opportunity to participate and build sustainable and diversified wealth. I mention also the Raise the Roof protest that my colleague, Senator Andrews, spoke about. I am on the housing committee and I think it is vital that all parties work together. Housing has to be a priority. If all parties work together with joined-up thinking, we can make a huge difference here. I hope the protest tonight highlights that and we can all work together.”
“I studied economics and, as a child, I was always fascinated about investments and stocks worked on the Stock Exchange, etc. I remember reading about Warren Buffet and he was asked about what stocks ordinary people should invest in. He said to make sure they were low cost, indexed funds. Yet, I notice in Ireland we penalise such investments with an excessive 41% tax rate and then there is a deemed disposal rule every eight years regardless of whether one wants to sell the investment or not. The result of this is that people in Ireland are hindered and held back from investing in indexed funds. Large numbers of people have cash on deposit in current accounts, etc., and it is not earning anything else. Either that, or there are others who are investing in the Stock Exchange and it is like a lottery.”
“It is not just about supply; it is about taking down the barriers of red tape, silos and all the delays that there are. We are facing a generation of younger people without housing. That there are 4,775 children in emergency accommodation is unforgivable. We need courage and collaboration but, above all, joined-up thinking, which I have called for before. We need a debate in this House and the commission needs to be brought in and for us to discuss the recommendations. Let us start implementing them.”
“Perhaps the most damning reality is that there were amazing experts at the commission, people who offered a game-changer. They had the knowledge and made the recommendations but, unfortunately, we are not working together. That has to change. I wonder if it is a cultural problem rather than a structural problem. When the pandemic hit, we all clicked fingers and got everything done. When 100,000 Ukrainians came to Ireland and needed refuge and accommodation, we clicked our fingers and got it done. When it comes to housing, though. the urgency does not seem to be there. The Leas-Chathaoirleach will know that, in my own work of working with people who come from addiction, homelessness, etc., we have seen amazing things happen with people turning their lives around and going against the very culture they are coming from.”