Barry Heneghan
Dublin Bay North · Independent · Ireland
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an bPáirtí an Lucht Oibre. This highlights what many families are experiencing right now. Many people have been in contact with me. Even today, I met parents who were under enormous pressure because of the cost of uniforms, books, transport and school activities.”
“I refer to the hundreds of vacant spaces over shops in Dublin, the capital city in which I grew up. I welcome the above-the-shop grant but could we re-examine it in terms of microcompanies or SMEs availing of that grant? It can be difficult for them to avail of the above-the-shop grant.”
“They deserve to know how that supplier was selected, whether public procurement guidance has been followed and why students cannot use an equivalent device that they may already own. Technology undoubtedly has an important role in education. I do not dispute that fact. I came through education while the technology was developing.”
“Anois sa choiste fuinnimh táimid ag caint faoi plug-in solar. In 2024 there was a consultation done by the Department in which Bord Gáis Energy said that plug-in solar systems should be mounted on roofs where possible and hardwired into a dedicated circuit.”
“That contradiction leaves parents and students whom I represent caught in a middle ground. On one hand, the Department is saying they are not mandatory and, on the other, schools are telling parents that they must purchase one. I understand that the Minister of State was in north Dublin.”
“My granny drank raw milk and she lived to 98. We need to look into alternative ways to have locally sourced food. In that regard, I will point to what is happening at EU level and how it ties into this.”
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“I refer to the hundreds of vacant spaces over shops in Dublin, the capital city in which I grew up. I welcome the above-the-shop grant but could we re-examine it in terms of microcompanies or SMEs availing of that grant? It can be difficult for them to avail of the above-the-shop grant. The jump between what can be given for the first, the second and the third floors is not acceptable. If we are trying to bring people into the city for passive surveillance and into a liveable city, we need to examine making it easier for people to convert vacant above-the-shop spaces, especially if they are going to do three floors at the same time. It makes more sense. The builder is already there. It is something that should be re-examined.”
“Anois sa choiste fuinnimh táimid ag caint faoi plug-in solar. In 2024 there was a consultation done by the Department in which Bord Gáis Energy said that plug-in solar systems should be mounted on roofs where possible and hardwired into a dedicated circuit. The whole reason for plug-in solar is for people living in apartments who do not have access to rooftops to be able to install a system that costs €500 and has a payback period of two years. If there was a Government grant, it could be less. When a semi-State company gives a submission to a consultation process, does the Department send back a reply if it is misleading the Department, as Bord Gáis Energy did in the 2024 consultation?”
“They deserve to know how that supplier was selected, whether public procurement guidance has been followed and why students cannot use an equivalent device that they may already own. Technology undoubtedly has an important role in education. I do not dispute that fact. I came through education while the technology was developing. However, access to education or a curriculum should never depend on a family's ability to spend several hundreds of euro on a particular device. If the Department's position is that personal devices are not mandatory, then policy should be applied consistently across Ireland, as parents deserve clarity and no young people should feel excluded from education because of the cost of a laptop.”
“That contradiction leaves parents and students whom I represent caught in a middle ground. On one hand, the Department is saying they are not mandatory and, on the other, schools are telling parents that they must purchase one. I understand that the Minister of State was in north Dublin. I thank him for coming out to those schools, but parents need to be fully consulted about any decision and schools should avoid unnecessary costs where possible. Those are sensible principles. They are not always being reflected in practice. Parents are also raising legitimate concerns with me and the Department about where schools require students to purchase devices through a single supplier.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an bPáirtí an Lucht Oibre. This highlights what many families are experiencing right now. Many people have been in contact with me. Even today, I met parents who were under enormous pressure because of the cost of uniforms, books, transport and school activities. Many families are being told that they must now spend hundreds of euro on a Chromebook, laptop or other digital asset, and it is still not something that they can afford. Over recent weeks, one parent told me that their school insisted that these were essential learning tools for every student because of the new leaving certificate curriculum, yet parliamentary questions that I submitted confirmed that there is no departmental requirement for students to have a personal digital device at either junior or leaving certificate level.”
“The Department should listen to healthcare officials who are worried about not being able to provide these vitamins to people in Ireland who need them at a high level.”
“I appreciate that. I look forward to having some tartare and raw milk with the Minister some day. A lot of people these days are getting very sick and very obese. We allow multinationals to come here and sell us cans of carbonated drinks with 40 g of sugar but we do not allow someone to get a glass of raw milk. There is something fundamentally wrong in that sense. I am very grateful for Irish food standards. They are world renowned. I had not known about the increase in value from €10 billion to €20 billion, which the Minister mentioned earlier. There are not many farms in my constituency. The only fields we have are GAA pitches. On the supplements issue, the EU is trying to reduce the maximum levels of vitamin B6 from 25 mg a day to 12 mg and hold vitamin D at 100 µg per day. This is the same regulatory instinct.”
“My granny drank raw milk and she lived to 98. We need to look into alternative ways to have locally sourced food. In that regard, I will point to what is happening at EU level and how it ties into this. Brussels is trying to harmonise the upper limits of food supplements such that parents or adults should be allowed to decide what they have. Individual needs are, as they say, individual. If vitamin D is harmonised, that is unfair to stores in Ireland because someone in the south of Spain will not need as much additional vitamin D as we do. I ask that the Department speak to health and shop staff and nutritional therapists who are preventing people from getting sick. This is the same thing as raw milk. We should regulate the choice of a trusted national product rather than regulate for safety, and let the people decide.”
“On my way into the Dáil today, I walked into my local shop and I could buy an apple-flavoured vape. I could inhale it. I could also buy 20 cigarettes. I cannot, however, go in and buy raw milk easily. I know I am out of my depth as a Dublin TD asking this question, but why is it not possible to get raw milk in a Dublin shop? Why do my constituents sometimes have to travel to the North to get raw milk when adults should be able to make decisions on what we want to consume? I understand that the Minister is going to give me a logical answer about the dangers, but if there is a healthy herd, has the Minister looked at allowing farmers to sell raw milk?”
“A campaign is seeking a pause in demolition until an independent feasibility study or meaningful consultation is carried out and before an irreversible decision is made regarding the hall where U2 performed. This will happen with or without you, a Thaoisigh. Will he intervene and make it a beautiful day for the next generation of musicians?”
“Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin Bay North, my constituency, is more than just a regular school. It is one of Ireland's greatest success stories. U2 began there and the school is synonymous with creativity, culture and opportunity for students. Today, its arts and performance hall is facing demolition as part of redevelopment. Nobody opposes development of the school building or hall, but the concern raised with me by past students and parents is whether the hall can be retained for refurbishment or adapted for reuse. For decades, the hall has given young people a stage to perform, build confidence and discover talent that cannot always be measured in the exam hall. Parents and former students have asked me to raise this issue.”
“She also spoke about the additional pressures faced by many family carers, particularly single mothers, and the physical demands of caring, including manual handling and the impact on their health. There is an enormous strain on parents already providing care around the clock. Families feel they are under pressure. They need a plan and they need certainty. I do believe that the Minister of State will give that to them. I look forward to her announcing this plan and to welcoming that announcement. The families deserve to know that their children will be supported, not only at a time of crisis but throughout their lives.”
“I want to put some of them on the record of the House. I thank the members of the Before We Die campaign and the parents who have been in regular contact with me, including Nora, Una, Bernadette, Caroline, Lynn, Candi, Tony, Suzanne, JJ, Mary and Helen. There are many more such people across the country and they all face the same fear. The current system is incredibly fragmented. I know the Minister of State is working on this issue now, but it is an exhausting process for these parents to navigate. I was speaking to Candi, who is a full-time carer for her daughter. She has shared her experience with me and has highlighted the need for housing that provides continuity, stability and rightful supports so that people with intellectual disabilities can live fulfilling lives.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na Social Democrats as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála. I thank the Minister of State for coming out to my constituency and visiting some of the service users in the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA, and the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, and for the work she has done since in her role. I met many families living with constant uncertainty about what will happen to their sons and daughters. I met a lot of them personally in their kitchens. Looking into the eyes of those parents, you could see they feel this needs to be looked at. I understand why this is 100%. I was speaking to some of them during the week. When I rang them, they were so concerned about their children, which every parent would be, that they needed to come back to me once they processed their thoughts.”
“I ask the Minister of State for an update and whether the Department has sought further clarification that this is not just happening in my constituency. Is the Minister of State satisfied there has been meaningful consultation across constituencies that are losing their sorting offices? The uncertainty that remains is not acceptable to my constituents and this needs to be addressed. I would appreciate if the Department could reach out and give certainty to my constituents.”
“From speaking to residents and local businesses, the level of concern has not gone away. People are now telling me, regarding the public statement I received from the Minister at the time, that they do not believe they have been properly consulted, that deliveries are already under pressure and that local post offices simply do not have the space or capacity to accommodate the significant volumes of missed parcels. If those concerns are accurate then they deserve to be addressed openly and transparently. I want to be clear that I welcome the engagement with An Post but I would appreciate if they would give more clarity to my constituents. It provides an outstanding public service every day and has hardworking men and women but my concern is with the planning of this proposal and the lack of confidence it has created locally.”
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to talk on this. On 18 June 2026, I raised a Topical Issue about the proposed closure and relocation of Harmonstown delivery sorting unit. I welcome the work in the Bill but I would appreciate if the Minister of State could look into this for my constituents. I have started a petition that has over 1,200 signatures online and there are over 800 in relation to post offices and the uncertainty that this has brought to my constituents. I welcome the engagement on this and that the Minister of State recognises the local post office is more than just a post office and is giving that guarantee to elderly people with disabilities so they know they do not have to transport the whole way to Finglas to collect a missed package.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an obair ar fad atá déanta aige agus as an obair a rinne sé le cabhrú liom nuair a bhí mé sa phriosún. This is a very important amendment as it gives that guaranteed timeframe for the implementation of the postcodes and allows people to know it will be done. I have no doubt from speaking to Minister of State that it will be done but it would be great if it could be brought in in order to guarantee that when we bring in this law, it will be implemented and has the desired effect to oppose the genocidal state and current regime in Israel.”
“I urge everyone, at home and in this House, to look at what once was and what we can still protect. We still have a lot of the great species on Dollymount but I look forward to bringing the Irish hare back. This barbaric practice is out of step with all of the EU countries and it is well past time it was ended.”
“It is very sad, and this is a UNESCO heritage site. I thank Deputy Paul Murphy for introducing this Bill, which I support. I am committed to the programme for Government and to financial matters but this is something that I fundamentally believe is wrong. None of this happens on its own. I thank all the campaigners, the National Animal Rights Association, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports and the ISPCA for everything they do. I thank the National Parks and Wildlife Service, everyone who has met and spoken to me, year after year and decade after decade, about a cause that should not have to be argued at all. In other European countries and in Australia we can see how people are changing their outdated laws. We need to protect our wildlife.”
“There is a real opportunity for that reintroduction to happen. For us in the constituency of Dublin Bay North to get out to Dollymount Beach, is tearmann agus éalú í ón saol gnóthach. Bíonn muid i gcónaí ag breathnú ar ár gcuid scáileán ar líne. Nuair a théann daoine amach chuig áit mar sin, áfach, feicfidh siad giorriacha, sionnaigh agus na hainmhithe nádúrtha ar fad. It is something that can get people out of their heads. I will continue to work with the Government to have the Irish hare reintroduced in my constituency. I spoke to my granny before she passed about being a young girl from the area, going down collecting bottles. That was back before we got rid of the bottle deposit scheme, although I know it is back now. She was collecting bottles with her family, and there were thousands of hares. There is not one now.”
“They are crowded together, bringing and spreading disease at a higher rate than they would naturally in the wild. They suffer broken legs and dislocated hips - some of the footage I have seen is quite gut-turning, to be honest. I am a man who has always loved my animals, from growing up. I cannot imagine that being done to one of my pets. This practice is cruelty with a licence. The species, the Irish hare, is one of the few mammals that is uniquely our own, as well as the red squirrel and other native species. It is woven into our culture. I would love to see the Irish hare back in the places in my constituency that it never should have disappeared from. It actually was reintroduced. I only found this out recently. It was reintroduced to Bull Island but, sadly, it was brought out again by illegal lamping.”
“It is good to see that he thinks some of them are good. Tony Gregory was a proud Dubliner, a man who raised this issue back before there was lobbying and an online world, and before the survey was done showing 77% oppose coursing. He also understood the power of being inside the tent, so I recommend that. He was also sadly defeated when he brought this issue up. Some 33 years on, we are still here. I thank Deputy Murphy for raising it, too. We hear Deputies from across the House say we should allow Teachtaí Dála to express their opinion on this matter, this barbaric killing of one of our beautiful native species. Thousands of wild hares are netted, I believe. Am I correct in saying it is 65,000?”
“Is as an gcathair dom. Tá sé sin soiléir. Tráth dá raibh, áfach, bhí giorriacha in Dollymount Beach. When we look back at the hare and how it has evolved on our island since the Ice Age, with the retreat of the ice caps, giorria, fia, the small deer, it is intrinsically linked to our culture. The hare featured on our old currency. It is a beautiful animal but, sadly, there has not been any on Dollymount Beach in my constituency since 2017 or 2018, due to illegal lamping and the illegal use of vicious dogs. The two golf clubs on the island loved the hares, as opposed to the rabbits, because they did not burrow on the golf courses. I thank Deputy Paul Murphy. I fundamentally disagree with him a lot of the time but I do agree with him on this issue. I welcome the fact that he mentioned an Independent TD.”
“Regarding the 2024 consultation with Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis, Energia, the Electricity Association of Ireland and ESB Networks, some of their consultation documents to the Department were very good, and I read every single one of them. The German standard needs to be adopted. The remaining question is: when? We need to change the ISO standard and bring this in immediately. If the worry is the danger, let us bring it in as a pilot scheme for new-build social and affordable housing and apartments delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, and allow people to save money immediately. Again, the issue of home heating oil must be addressed in the budget.”
“Some of the people who commented on my video said that a solar panel on a balcony could fall on your head. So could a flower pot, but a flower pot is not going to save you €260 a year off your electricity bill, is it? Germany has 700,000 of these systems with zero reported incidents. The UK legalised it earlier in the year. I want to acknowledge where there has been movement because progress has been made, and I give credit where credit is due. The ESB has responded and confirms that it wants to look at the 800 W system. It has committed to building a simplified online registration system and adopting the German safe standard. I thank the Department officials who have worked on this.”
“If we allowed Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council to roll these out with a modest investment of €500 million, the payback period would be two years from that investment. If we allowed it in conjunction with batteries, it would be more. Those were calculations that I did on the back of an envelope, so the Minister of State will excuse me if my current calculation is wrong. The average savings in Germany and the UK are estimated at €260 to €300 a year, and the kits cost €500. If the sun keeps shining the way it is, this will help those single mothers in my constituency who want to put money back in their pockets. It will help those children who have just moved out of their parents’ home and bought an apartment, only to be told they cannot get solar panels because they do not have access to the roof.”
“Speaking of my constituents, I have continuously pushed for home heating oil to be addressed in the next budget because of the homes in my constituency that rely on it. They cannot switch, so they are completely exposed to the global oil price volatility Regarding plug-in solar, this is something that we need to do. It is the quickest solution that I have seen. The UK has just done it. I want to explain that it is for everyone. It is for anyone in an apartment who does not have access to the roof. It is for anyone in a heritage building who cannot put solar panels on their property. It is for anyone who wants to buy a kit in their local supermarket for a fraction of the price of the initial investment because, with the current energy price, this will have a payback period of two years.”
“I thank Aontú for bringing forward this motion and giving me the chance to speak on it. I have spoken about the cost of living multiple times, including when speaking to my constituents. I have spoken 41 times in the Dáil and committees about plug-in solar, and I want to bring it up again. As we know, Ireland is one of the most data centre-dense countries. I brought in a Bill three weeks ago regarding the Electricity Regulation Act, and I look forward to working constructively with members of the Opposition and the Government on this. I believe we need to change how we are dealing with energy. It was one of the things I was elected to do, and I will continuously bang the drum of common-sense solutions.”
“The estimated cost is €900 million, but other things were estimated at €900 million previously and ended up costing €2.5 billion. In that context, I ask that we take a good approach and that a cost-benefit analysis be carried out. It could strengthen the case. I might welcome this with more open arms if a cost-benefit analysis were done. I asked about this and was informed yesterday that Annex IV C is the most up-to-date analysis which considers the estimated cost of this Bill in comparison with the alternative mitigation options considered. There was no more detailed cost-benefit analysis publicly available, beyond the one conducted and the preliminary business case. I ask that it is issued to us as legislators as we are making a huge decision on the infrastructure of our country.”
“That is brilliant. Sodium batteries are the best batteries. These will be how we can decentralise our grid. They need to be looked at as part of any cost-benefit analysis. That is not a radical ask, it would hold us to a correct standard. Will this matter be given the serious consideration it deserves? The members of the climate committee deserve to see this information. It was noted that while it will be taken into consideration, it is not relevant to this Bill. I am not opposed to the Bill in principle, but I would urge that we get a cost-benefit analysis because we are being asked to approve a framework that cedes significant planning and environmental disapplication powers worth hundreds of millions of euro.”
“With a €900 million piece of energy infrastructure, we need to know what is in scope and how much could have been done by means of an alternative approach. I am familiar with the argument about energy security and lower cost energy- and the Minister of State can correct me if I am wrong – in the first 24 hours of the Iran-US war, global LNG prices rose by 43%. If we are looking to secure energy, surely having our own low-cost ORE batteries would help. I like the fact that other Deputies mentioned my batteries. I would have loved for all of them to have come to my meeting in the audiovisual room. Some did not attend. Representatives from Energy Storage Ireland were there. They spoke about the difficulties the company is having at the moment. I welcome the announcements by the Department in relation changing the cost of battery chargers.”
“Why not put this into the Bill now in order that we, as legislators, can see a cost-benefit analysis done, particularly as the only publicly available one was done in 2023? In the context of a €900 million investment, it would be of much more benefit if we could see how many more GW or MW might possibly be added at multiple ports. We know Belfast is one of the only ports on the island that can handle large-scale offshore renewable energy, ORE. I urge the Minister of State to bring this to the Department. We have not seen that, so it is difficult for us to go in blindfolded. All the committee members received a letter saying that while the Bill before us will provide an expedited planning consent pathway, the next Bill will, as the Minister of State outlined, set out the operation, use and potential cost.”
“I want to bring the Minister of State back to something specific which matters more than the amendment I tabled. During pre-legislative scrutiny, the joint committee made a recommendation which states: The Minister shall authorise a transparent and publicly available cost-benefit analysis not less than 60 days prior to any decision which shall inform the approval process of the proposed development. It recommended that this analysis should have regard to the adopted carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts, the most recent climate action plan and the Government-approved electrification pathways. I had the backing of the committee on this. The Minister of State indicated that the Bill is just for planning.”
“I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 205, the Seller's Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021, which lapsed on the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil, shall be restored at Order for Committee Stage and notice shall be published pursuant to Standing Order 37, and Deputy Barry Heneghan be designated the member in charge of the Bill.”
“They acknowledge her past work with survivors and believe that she will be willing to bring transparency, learning and accountability. Survivors have asked me to put on the Dáil record their eternal appreciation for the broadcast journalism of Michael Reade. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Without Michael's extraordinary work ethic and his compassion, they believe that we will not be debating this Bill today. I look forward to engaging with this Bill on Committee Stage and subsequent Stages.”
“I understand that these concerns were brought to the attention of Deputy Bacik in 2023 and 2024, including requests that concerns regarding the conduct of certain representatives were to be examined, but no responses were forthcoming. These events occurred in 2023 and are relevant to the forthcoming Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools. If survivors feel unable to secure a hearing from elected representatives today, it is understandable some may be fearful participating in the State process tomorrow. I therefore ask Deputy Bacik to meet these survivors and listen to their experiences. The survivors request that One in Four support them in this meeting. This legislation can mark a new chapter. I commend Deputy Bacik again. Survivors are grateful to her for bringing forward this Bill.”
“Seventeen victims who travelled to Drogheda to meet public representatives, paid for a meeting room, gave nine days' notice and paid for uneaten sandwiches at that meeting were largely ignored by those invited. Most of them did not even have the courtesy to RSVP and the request was very basic. The survivors wanted to be listened to and treated with dignity. I regret to say that most of these experiences involved elected representatives of the Labour Party at local, national and European level. However, it would be wrong to suggest this problem was confined to one political party. This reflected a broader systematic and political failure rather than a series of isolated incidents.”
“There were extremely hurtful personalised attacks and misinformed victim-blaming in local as well as social media, and conflicts of interest resulting in victims of rape being refused the service they were entitled to by a rape crisis centre, for which Cuan, Ireland's statutory agency for tackling sexual violence, was notified. Arguments being made in media that it was the choice of survivors to be subjected to the religious orders' abusive litigation strategies were akin to 1970s and 1980s Ireland. Public representatives revealed and exercised deference to powerful religious leaders whose choices continue to harm victims. Most hurtful of all was that many public representatives ignored or refused to hear the harm which this choice of litigation strategy was causing.”
“This message was difficult to articulate as the freedom recipient was not directly responsible for those acts of primary harm, and some public representatives spread misinformation and many refused to listen and to allow survivors to express their views. Numerous individuals and organisations, including One In Four, publicly supported the campaign and articulated the legitimate concerns underpinning it. In order to engage with public representatives, survivors of childhood abuse, rape, and torture, whom this Bill is designed to support, experienced little empathy or compassion, blanket refusals to engage, abusive text messages directed at supporters, and complicity by some public representatives as lawful motions were removed or interfered with by non-elected actors.”
“They campaigned tirelessly to raise public awareness and provided evidence, examined in the mentioned and award-winning 2023 "RTÉ Investigates" documentary. That programme revealed the litigation strategy, the extent of which we all know now. It brought national attention to the efforts being made by the Christian Brothers order to prevent survivors from pursuing their claims through civil courts. In seeking symbolic justice, survivors also commenced a campaign to rescind the freedom of Drogheda, previously awarded to an individual who, in 2017, presided over the introduction by his order of this litigation strategy.”
“For context, in 2017, the leadership of the Christian Brothers order chose to introduce a litigation strategy that has had the effect of obstructing survivors' access to our civil courts. This is secondary abuse. Survivors speak of years trapped in procedural disputes, unable to progress their cases. They describe being suspended in a legal limbo that delays healing, impedes meaningful engagement with therapy and causes ongoing retraumatisation. Survivors describe the litigation strategy as a continuing exercise of power and control over their lives. For many, it echoes the powerlessness that they experienced as children when they were abused by members of that same order. Survivors are often isolated and initially were not aware that their treatment was part of a broad litigation strategy.”
“Their choices have had a direct and profound adverse impact on victims and survivors, not only in the past but continuing right up to this present day. I welcome again the survivors this afternoon. This Chamber cannot even begin to comprehend how distressing it is for them to have to deal with this order's leadership. In late 2022, this matter was referred to the Law Reform Commission. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could update the House on whether there has been any commission progress to address the legal loophole whereby unincorporated bodies are not obliged to nominate a person to accept service of legal proceedings on behalf of their organisation. Like Deputy O'Rourke, I am not from a legal background.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine a labhair ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. I commend Deputy Bacik on bringing this Bill before the House. I acknowledge those survivors and welcome them to the Chamber. They worked to raise awareness of this issue, often at considerable personal cost, long before it reached the floor of Dáil Éireann. This issue was brought to light because of the litigation strategy adopted by the leadership of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, as mentioned by other Deputies who have spoken before me. While the current leadership may not be directly responsible for the acts or the abuse themselves, they are undoubtedly accountable for how they choose to respond to that legacy.”
“Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss steps to ensure that LGBTQI+ people who are victims of hate-motivated incidents have confidence in reporting offences to An Garda Síochána. Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the proposed reforms of the criminal legal aid system. Deputies Seán Crowe, John Lahart, Paul Murphy and Ciarán Ahern - To discuss the timeline for completion of the Sancta Maria College school building and sports hall project. Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the urgent need to address the deficit of playing pitches, playgrounds and public green space in Meath. The matters raised by Deputies Jen Cummins; Darren O'Rourke; Seán Crowe, John Lahart, Paul Murphy and Ciarán Ahern; and Barry Ward have been selected for discussion”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss delays in reimbursement under the cross-border healthcare directive. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss the arts and humanities Research Ireland funding. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss of staff at a school in Priorswood. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug and implementation of the drug reimbursement system. Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss delivery of a new building for a school in County Kerry. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss actions to reduce the risk to children who require MRI scans under anaesthetic.”
“The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed its consideration of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 and has made no amendments thereto.”
“I can only do what I can do when I am in this House since my election. I ask the Minister and the Department to look at my amendments and consider the discussion I hope to have about the future-proofing of our grid. I will ask once more about plug-in solar. I welcome that we are having discussion on it at the climate and energy committee. It is a quick fix, it is low cost and will save people in the constituency I represent money. I welcome the engagement the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, have had. That only took me eight minutes.”
“I will have two amendments to the Bill which I look forward to discussing. I have said before that Churchill tried before to limit coal coming into Ireland to force de Valera’s hand. The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, resigned recently. Looking at the polls, we do not know who will be in power in UK after the next election. Making our country dependent on an interconnector when we do not control the energy coming from the other side is not energy independence. I know this would but I am talking on the broader scheme. The Bill should be amended to include a clause to re-examine that. I support the principle of the Bill. It is a necessary evil, as Deputy Ward said. A lot of work could have been done by a previous government, when the Green Party was in coalition, to prevent this.”
“If, God forbid, there was an attack on our energy infrastructure, on one of the interconnectors, for example, surely having one large LNG terminal would make it a big bullseye for someone who wants to take out our energy infrastructure. Multiple underground energy storage units would be energy independence and security in my opinion. Maybe the Government is doing that and it just does not want me to say that on the record of the House. On ports, Ireland has only 44 ha of planned offshore renewable energy space. Belfast has a backlog of bookings and is the only port suitable for large scale ORE. We are missing an opportunity. I have welcomed the investment into Cork Port many times and I also welcome the work the Department is doing with port marshalling to allow more investment into port.”