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 heard the Taoiseach mention in the House that we need to stop using infrastructure as a political football, worrying about election cycle thinking. If we are going to reduce the entire project cost by using a different method, politicians need to give the real impact of that to their communities. At the end of the day, it is the public and those local households that are going to be paying higher energy costs by these projects being delayed.”
“The North-South interconnector is now delayed until 2031. By Government estimates, it will cost up to €100 million. To tie back into what I was saying earlier, the semi-State company's own decarbonising strategy is dependent on 80% of renewables. The Taoiseach is aware of CIÉ. I did not get to the end of my contribution. On the North-South interconnector and private wires, these two were complementary to each other. The main thing is about taking the stress and strain off the grid while these interconnectors are waiting for connection. I welcome the developments in the Celtic interconnector. There have been some hurdles but there always are going to be with infrastructure. It is moving a lot quicker than the North-South interconnector.”
“It is no surprise that I am discussing energy costs again. The frustration I have today is that the Climate Change Advisory Council again warned the climate and energy committee that Ireland remained exposed to global fossil fuel shocks because of renewable roll-out. At the same time, I have been contacted regarding a proposed infrastructure crossing charge from an already built solar farm being applied by a semi-State body - an unpublished charging structure of €20,000 per megawatt. It is a ridiculous amount to be giving to a renewable project that goes up to €465,000. That end cost will go to the Irish public. CIÉ needs to be investigated.”
“Will the Government examine a national protocol for weather-triggered beach safety responses in conjunction with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Coast Guard and all the hardworking men and women of our emergency services? If a proactive approach can save even one life, surely we have a responsibility to act.”
“I acknowledge the devastating tragedy on Burrow Beach in north Dublin at the weekend when a 15-year-old teenager sadly lost her life. My thoughts are with her parents, family and friends and the wider community. I want to respect the family's wish for privacy as they grieve their daughter. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis. This tragedy raises a serious public concern that we cannot ignore which is affecting areas in north Dublin and across Ireland. Summer is arriving earlier and lasting longer each year. In that context, the current seasonal pattern on the basis of which lifeguards are provided by councils is not acceptable. The reality is that weather patterns are changing. Beaches are now packed as early as March and as late as October during hot spells.”
“Michael Cullen, a good friend of mine, was on the flotilla yesterday while his peaceful humanitarian boat was shot at. I was on a flotilla and have seen the brutal way the IOF treats people. I ask for an update from the Minister's Department. Michael's sister was watching the live stream when she heard shots being fired and the feed went dark. She did not know where he was. Having seen the treatment of our ambassador when I was in prison, we need to do everything we can and stand up to people who are committing war crimes and genocide. We have an obligation. I welcome the acknowledgement last week on the work that is being done in the Department on the Occupied Territories Bill and I would love an update.”
“If there is a specific peacekeeping mission and genuine humanitarian emergency where the Defence Forces are needed, and the UN Security Council is being vetoed - it has vetoed multiple peacekeeping missions for many reasons under P5 - then we should introduce emergency legislation, make a case and bring a Bill to the House. We have introduced emergency legislation on previous occasions. Right now, there is no clear reason to do this. It is as if we are trying to create a deterrent. That is what we should be doing. It is not acceptable. If we are going to do this and are confident that the Irish people want this, we should have a referendum. The Minister will give me lenience to bring her attention to the Global Sumud Flotilla.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le gach Ball a labhair ar an rún seo. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Gibney as an leasú a chuir sí chun tosaigh. Nuair atá muid ag éisteacht leis an bpobal, tá sé sin thar a bheith important. Successive polls have shown a consistent majority in favour of neutrality. When we are discussing the triple lock, we need to be clear what it entails. I agree with an Teachta Callaghan about listening to the Defence Forces, but from my own research – the Minister can correct me if I am wrong – I understand one cannot survey current Defence Forces personnel on their opinion on removing legislation. Perhaps their spouses and children could be surveyed to see what they think.”
“The policy needs to catch up to that reality and I am asking for that to happen. I swayed away from the original question, so I appreciate the leniency.”
“If we are trying to increase supply, the grant should be more beneficial when more units are being built. I was a councillor in Dublin city. I understand that the vacant and derelict register need to be updated. I am asking for an urgent review. Regarding the company ownership restriction on the vacant above the shop grant, the Minister acknowledged, which I welcome, that passive surveillance by people living above shops reduces antisocial behaviour. That would be very beneficial. People I represent are waiting for these homes. They are my generation. It would be especially good if we could put in, in conjunction with the regulations, encouragements for people in critical jobs such as those working in Beaumont Hospital, gardaí and nurses because those places above the shops across my constituency could house them.”
“It would be fantastic if we could and I hope we can. The housing crisis needs this. The RTB’s own data is telling us about the small landlords, those with one or two properties, who are leaving the market at an accelerating rate. To touch on the [ vacant above the shop grant ], I welcome the scheme and the work that has been done but I wish to ask a question about it because it does need to be re-examined. I know from speaking to the Department that it is currently being introduced and there may be amendments to it. The provision of €95,000 for one unit, €115,000 for two units and €135,000 for three or more units is meaningful, but I would love it to be re-examined for more than three units. It needs to be raised. If we are trying to increase supply, the jump should not be so small.”
“Has the Department commissioned an analysis of trends in landlord exits, reductions in rental listings or changes in small landlord participation following the introduction of rent regulation measures? I am cautiously optimistic that this will be a blip. Will the Minister provide details of available findings or regional trends where available?”
“Red squirrels can get to branches that the grey squirrel cannot, and red squirrels have grown up with the pine martens. This is something that should be looked at as a nature-based solution. As a beekeeper, I also want to speak about the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill. I welcome the contribution from the previous Deputy. My parliamentary assistant, Tracy, was working when the legislation was introduced in the Seanad. She did a lot of work on it. I actually spoke at the agriculture committee, possibly the first time ever for a Dub, supporting the Bill. I love being a beekeeper. I have been stung worse in politics. It was mentioned that there are 98 or 99 species of bee; it depends on who you asg. The honey bee is being well looked after but it is a solo bee. It is the bumblebee that we need to protect.”
“The Irish language and the Irish hare have been hand in hand since we have been growing on this island, and it is sad to see the hares gone from Bull Island. I remember seeing the hares when I was growing up. Hares are actually good for golf clubs because they do not burrow. They do not mess up the courses and loads of golf clubs actually love them. I also want to talk about the red squirrels. I have only seen two in my entire life, in the Dublin Mountains. We need to look at the example of other countries. Research from the University of Galway has shown that the recovery of pine marten populations can cause grey squirrel populations to collapse. Just as the Irish native hare population grew on the island, so too did the red squirrels.”
“Bhí mé ag éisteacht le gach duine agus aontaím le go leor rud a dúradh. I will start with the area I represent, Dublin Bay North. I have mentioned previously that Bull Island, in my constituency and a part of the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere, is one of the best places to go to clear the head. Sadly, we have lost the native Irish hare on the island. The last time it was seen was in 2016. The golf club on the island, St. Annes, still has the hare on its crest. I was talking to the club's greenskeeper recently. The Irish hare should be returned there and I am asking for a funded reintroduction programme. I have spoken in the climate and energy committee about this issue. It would be brilliant. Even when we look at the etymology of the Irish word for the hare, giorria, from gearrfhia, it means a small deer.”
“Will the Government work with EirGrid and industry regulators to accelerate the required grid upgrades and code changes, ensure fair treatment for renewable generators and provide confidence to foreign companies and the Irish market so we can continue expanding renewable generation while maintaining grid stability, along with enacting the private wires Bill and facilitating plug-in solar?”
“Is ait an rud é seo dom mar gurb é seo an príomhrud toisc gur innealtóir mé. We have made huge progress in renewable energy generation, but there is growing concern that parts of our grid infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep up with that pace. Since August 2025, renewable generators have been reportedly dispatched down and curtailed, with some operators saying they are receiving no compensation despite supplying clean energy. At the same time, there are delays in implementing grid code reforms by EirGrid, and this is creating uncertainty for Irish-owned renewable developers.”
“To the Israeli families who want peace and who have reached out to me, we hear you; the people of Ireland hear you and we want peace. To the Palestinian families, to Milad's mother, we are watching. I hope Milad is watching now. Ireland's strength has never been its size, but our courage. The Minister of State has heard this a thousand times, but the same people who brutally abused our ancestors went over and did the same there. That regime is still in place. We have an international obligation to act when we know what is happening. The Geneva Convention did not fall out of the sky. It is time to be brave. It is time to do something and allow a free vote on this Bill.”
“With everything he has been through, he still has a smile on his face and is still proud of his country in the way he speaks and the photos he has shown me, but they are clinging to rubble now. To the people who say sanctions will not make a difference, doing nothing will not make a difference but sanctions will. Ireland's voice matters. When a group of small nations take a stand, history has shown that the big ones will follow. Regarding the Bill and the emails I have been getting saying it is antisemitic and that I am antisemitic, I am not antisemitic. I am anti-starvation and anti using famine as a war tool. I am anti breaking every international law, and I am anti illegally abducting Irish citizens off the coast of an EU country and beating them.”
“It does not break ties or shut down dialogue or diplomacy. What it does is very simple: it says that Ireland will not allow our money, our trade or what our country generates to fuel something the world knows is wrong. How many UN reports and independent reports have shown that this has been happening? We have been here before. I welcome the contribution by Deputy Gibney about what we did on apartheid in South Africa. We were ahead then. We are behind now, but it is not too late for us to catch up and run with the other people who are taking a stand. I spoke to Farid, a Palestinian refugee, on the phone last night and asked him about it. I told him to watch this tonight, and he said I should come in here and tell the Government to do it. Now, he does not understand. He is a lot more eager than I would be. He is an amazing man.”
“I welcome the work that has been done at an EU level in getting the coalition of like-minded countries, but looking at Spain, Slovenia and the countries that have brought in legislative changes that we were talking to in those negotiations in the EU, why can we not take a leaf out of their books? While I was on the flotilla, Eleanor Lanigan, who was there because she was working for me as my PA, came to the initial call when she had stage 4 cancer. She wanted to get on the flotilla and said, "Feck it, I am dying anyway". I said that, no, she had to go back. These men and women who are constantly campaigning, of all ages, genders and walks of life, are showing us up in here. We have seen the reports and the International Court of Justice. It is clear that we cannot pretend we do not have a role here. That is why I support this Bill.”
“A friend of mine named Mikey Cullen is currently on the flotilla bringing aid and food and trying to break that illegal siege on Gaza. I have spoken on FaceTime while on one of those flotillas to young children who were delighted to see that the West is listening to them, only for us to be illegally abducted and brutalised. I saw one of my colleagues on the boat getting rammed, thrown on the ground and spat at by Israelis. This Bill is not anti-Israel. It not anti-Jewish. We had Israelis on the flotilla with us who were not happy with what the regime was doing. This Bill is anti-genocide and anti-bombing of children. It is showing them that we are standing up to them and doing everything we can. Ireland's power has not been its size or great military.”
“Even if it does not, do we not have that guts to show it and send it because the point is that we are doing everything we can? I wish that the Minister had not left. There is a Palestinian in my constituency named Amir whose family is still in Gaza. I met him here. I have met him multiple times. How could I look him in the eye and say that I am not doing everything that I can? He is gorgeous man and his family are gorgeous. I have spoken to them. I have spoken to those in the foster house in which he lives. As for the Palestinian groups across Ireland, we have a clear mandate. I want to thank all the Palestinian advocacy groups and everyone who has relentlessly pushed and pushed but we have to give them something. I recognise the investments in care and State aid that we have given but we need to do this now.”
“Continue to oppose and condemn Hamas and other groups which bring terror [...]. Support UNRWA and advocate within Europe for increased support. Work with partners in the EU to introduce further sanctions against [Israeli] settler activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. That is what we signed up to but that is not the case and I do believe that there is clearly a delay. We need to pass the occupied territories Bill in respect of goods and services on which Senator Frances Black has been working with her team. I have met her team and got the legal advice that it would withstand a challenge. When this Bill is being pushed down, we are constantly told that it would not. People, including lawyers and other professionals, came into our audiovisual room and said that it would withstand scrutiny.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine a bhí ag caint inniu ar son an Bhille seo, agus i gcomparáid leis sin, gach duine a bhí ag labhairt faoi na rudaí atáimid tar éis a dhéanamh ar son na Palaistínigh. Tá mise ag iarraidh labhairt chun a bheith cinnte go dtuigeann an tAire nach bhfuil an méid ama atá caite againn ag déanamh athruithe don Bhille atá an Seanadóir Black tar éis obair na gcapall a dhéanamh air maith go leor. I am supporting this Government as an independent. I said multiple times that it is how I believe I can be as effective as possible. The programme for Government that I signed up to stated that it would: Progress legislation prohibiting goods from Occupied Palestinian Territories following the July 2024 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion.”
“Gardaí need to be given the proper resources to correctly implement it. That is why it matters and gives us the framework for enforcement by gardaí in the context of people who run red lights, the misuse of bus lanes and, crucially, public safety. Nobody wants a surveillance state. We do not want a Big Brother Ireland, but we do want to stop children’s playgrounds in north Dublin being burnt down. We want to stop vans driving to Dollymount beach - a nature reserve - at 2 a.m. and dumping refuse. We also want to protect drivers and stop people recklessly driving on the roads while they are on their phones. I do welcome that. We deserve better safety and better deterrence. I welcome the moves in that regard. I will continue to push constructively and to work with the Minister of State.”
“It makes no sense. In Coolock, we fought for a camera to be installed. In the Howth area, we got one installed. This is all in the past 12 months. In St. Anne’s Park, public toilets were put in for young girls. Within two days, they were burnt down. That is inexcusable. CCTV, in conjunction with the national strategy, will be of benefit. When I have written about having cameras installed around clothes banks or areas where there is heavy traffic and risk to pedestrians, the GDPR is used as an excuse. I emailed about this in relation to CCTV and the Garda and received a reply to say that the GDPR does not prohibit the use of CCTV. I welcome the work that is being done. My father was a traffic policeman for 35 years. I spoke to him about how it will help. He does respect that.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. I want to bring it down to what matters for north Dublin. The strategy is listed in the programme for Government. It sits at the centre of the road safety plan. It is fundamental and will protect lives. It is about the drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and families who have lost loved ones in the constituency I represent and nationally. In recent months, Dublin Bay North has seen arson attack after arson attack. I would love for some of the CCTV footage to be used by Dublin City Council and gardaí to protect the amenities that have been attacked. We fought for them. I would also welcome CCTV cameras outside schools. They help to protect children, but it is also about protecting the amenities for children. Two nights ago, a playground was attacked. Why are people attacking the communities?”
“Dublin Bay North, which is my constituency, had over 500 campaigners and the largest turnout and delivery of "Yes" votes in the country. We won by a three-to-one result in favour of repeal. To all the campaigners, I say, "Go raibh maith agaibh."”
“Also, there are the people who are financially unable to leave the country. We are just punishing them. The reflection period can push women further along medical timelines and reduce the options available for procedures of care. I welcome the Bill's decriminalisation of healthcare workers who are helping these women. We must remember that every one of these circumstances is different. Some of them might be facing huge stress or in abusive relationships where they are forced into an act that they do not want to do. Do we trust women or not? The only person who can fully understand the woman is the woman herself. We should welcome this Bill and the opportunity it presents to bring in enactments and change, as we said during the referendum.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. In my opinion, there is one simple choice. Do we trust women? This is a very personal decision, it is a healthcare decision and women must be placed at the centre of it. An abortion is not something any woman or any couple enters into lightly, and by the time that decision has been reached, there has already been reflection, and there has already been discussion, fear, emotion and heartbreak. This is why the mandatory three-day waiting period is wrong. For many women in my constituency, this was a huge issue that they spoke to me about on the doorsteps. The reflection has already happened, so this requirement can feel infantalising. It can feel like a judgment on them for coming to a decision about their body. For many women, those three days occur during an incredibly painful time.”
“I believe the Critical Infrastructure Bill in conjunction with the private wires Bill will help. This means acting faster on these so Ireland becomes more resilient and secure.”
“So many studies out there show that accelerating these renewable connections, reducing curtailment and decentralising our grid will allow energy to be used more efficiently where the bottlenecks already exist. I have heard multiple people mention it in the Chamber today. When we bring in the private wires Bill I would love to see them support it and engage with it to make sure it is done for the betterment of the Irish people. If we are to bring in a private wires Bill that will be used by large-scale energy, there should be a proportionate community benefit fund that is directly linked to the savings associated with that private wires Bill. Anything we do in this House should benefit the Irish people. That is what the public needs and that is one of the solutions. We need delivery and we need to lower bills.”
“It makes no sense to ordinary people struggling with bills why we have not acted on this. We should be examining practical ideas that could directly help households. Renters and social tenants I represent constantly contact my office. I recognise we have different wiring standards and safety requirements than other countries. That should not stop us from examining a safe framework that could be developed. We should not be afraid of innovation in this sense, and I welcome the engagement I have had on this with the Department. I understand it is examining multiple things but the goal with regard to private wires should not be to replace the national grid or create an uncontrolled private system. The goal should be reducing pressure on constrained parts of the grid.”
“I am blue in the face. We cannot just keep relying on temporary financial supports. We need to continue examining more reductions for home heating oil. However, subsidies alone are not good enough for a long-term energy strategy. The only long-term solution is reducing the cost of energy and moving from being a petrostate to an electrostate. That means accelerating renewable roll-out. Members have already spoken about battery storage and long-duration energy storage and whatever means, grid upgrades and local energy infrastructure. We already know the current system is under pressure. That is why the investment the Government gave for ESB, and the grid infrastructure announced under the programme for Government, were welcome, but we need delivery and we need it quickly. That is one more reason for plug-in solar - it would be done quickly.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. People across Ireland are exhausted. They are exhausted by constant worry about bills. I welcome engagement with the Department, but it is not happening fast enough. I submitted a parliamentary question on the October 2024 consultation on EU Directive (EU) 2024/1711. There were five submissions from the ESB, Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Éireann, Energia and the Electricity Association of Ireland regarding plug-in solar. Can what they said about plug-in solar be made available to the House so we, as legislators, can have a debate on plug-in solar? It is important that the people of Ireland understand what was said to the Department and why we have not acted on this. The UK and German governments are doing it. We have seen there is war and instability in global energy markets.”
“I welcome the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill’s visit to the hospital and what she has implemented, as well as the brilliant work of the new CEO of Beaumont Hospital, but we need to give workers safe staffing levels, fair pay and conditions, investments in training and improved hospital capacity. Speaking as someone from a younger generation – this was mentioned across the House today - a lot of my friends who studied nursing, midwifery and a lot of other occupations are feeling the financial pressure, especially those living in Dublin. It is more financially viable for them to leave or emigrate. We need to encourage them back, and I know there is work being done on that. One thing I have raised is the need to have financial packages for those critical workers in high-cost areas, particularly at the beginning of their careers.”
“Like many families I represent across north Dublin, I know personally the difference they can make. As they support us, we too need to support them. Since I have been elected, I have raised on the floor of the Dáil nearly 16 times the current accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital. The nurses, healthcare workers and all the hardworking men and women in Beaumont Hospital are under enormous pressure. I welcome the €27 million that was announced at the start of this year for the initial works and improvements in Beaumont Hospital but these hardworking men and women are the ones dealing with the burnout and rise in demand. When the infrastructure in the hospital they are working in is not sufficient, they are the ones who bear the cost.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le gach Ball a labhair inniu. I welcome the opportunity to speak on International Nurses Day. I welcome all those in the Public Gallery. I sincerely thank all the nurses, midwives and my relations, both those in north Dublin and across Ireland, for the extraordinary work they do every single day. It is not just a profession for them; it is a profession built on compassion and skill. We have all seen, either through our experience or that of our family members, the brilliant work they do. They care for us when we are sick and they care for the vulnerable. I especially acknowledge the staff in Beaumont Hospital who cared for me when I fell sick as a teenager. They showed professionalism and kindness, bringing me chocolate and cheering me up when I was down. It definitely helped me get through it.”
“I echo the urgency for the occupied territories Bill to be passed. I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee’s confirmation in the Dáil last week that it is to be introduced soon. It is not quick enough, however. Regarding the Taoiseach’s statement on EU engagement he had in March, what other engagement has happened between Ireland and the German Government on how its plug-in solar scheme was adapted? It is a quick investment. The savings would be seen in customers' bills. I did my own calculations. Some €150 million to €250 million - if we are being optimistic – would be saved by apartment dwellers immediately from a modest investment of €250 million.”
“I welcome the recent discussion about nuclear power but, economically, would it not be more viable for us to decentralise our grid with the private wires Bill and bring in long-duration energy storage and alternative energy storage abilities, be it gravity, green hydrogen or any of the newest things that are coming to the market? We saw how much the UK project went over its budget and I would love to see the cost-benefit analysis of nuclear compared with renewables.”
“The Critical Infrastructure Bill and the private wires Bill in conjunction will speed up the gridlock and reduce costs. The slowing down of electrification is putting pressure on our households. While we hold the EU Presidency, we need to push for those things that we always stood for, including smarter energy systems and a shift towards cheaper electricity. I look forward to working constructively with the Minister of State. I hope this war ends soon and there will not be a need to bring in more financial measures. If we do have to, however, when we are knocking on doors in my constituency, please God may members of the Opposition be able to say how financial measures were brought in without a functioning government.”
“We need to have open discussions about technologies and I will discuss and debate nuclear power but I would love a cost-benefit analysis of nuclear and a timeframe for when it could be implemented compared to using the renewables that are here right now. Hinkley Point in the UK is showing the costs have doubled, timelines have gone over and delivery is complex. Currently, universities in Ireland are not teaching enough courses for nuclear physicists. They are not teaching enough courses for the technicians or labourers who would be working on these systems. If we do not have the workforce, we have to bring them in. While I agree with the key aspects of the development of small modular reactors, SMRs, we need to focus on what we can deliver right now. We currently have renewable projects waiting for grid connection.”
“We need to support local and direct energy infrastructure so that energy can be used where it is generated, thereby reducing pressure on systems and lowering costs. We need to electrify because we are a petro-state and we need to become an electro-state. Transport, heating and industry are how we should reduce our dependence on imported fuels. It is not just in Ireland; there are so many countries in the EU we can follow and this being Europe Day, we should be doing so. This is about getting electric buses, which can be put in more easily with private wires, on the roads. It is about powering homes with cheaper energy, supporting workers, creating jobs and making Ireland more competitive. We all heard the recent pronouncements on nuclear power.”
“We are delaying projects due to grid constraints. Why are we importing electricity when we can produce it ourselves? That is not just inefficient; it is costing the Irish people money. We need to accelerate renewable deployment and storage. The climate and energy committee, which some of the Deputies present are members of, is working constructively on that but we need action. We need to upgrade and modernise our grid. I welcome the Government announcement of funding for grid developments. However, in conjunction with that, the private wires Bill would work in parallel and create a better system. By using smarter solutions like long duration, battery energy storage systems, BESS, and demand products, we would help the cost of living, directly.”
“For cost-of-living reasons, we need to be less dependent on global fuel markets. This is where we have an opportunity to lead. As I have said before, the price of LNG rose by 23% in 24 hours. If we are looking for energy security, we need to look at what is already on our island and we can benefit from. We will not see the sun go any time because of a war in the Middle East that was not even started by our country. It was started by one of the most destructive regimes we have seen. If we rely on sources of energy that are here and will benefit the Irish people, that will make us independent. When, during the Second World War, Churchill tried to force de Valera's hand, we were energy dependent. If we were energy independent, we would become the creators and guiders of our country. We are generating renewable energy and then turning it off.”
“A private wire that is installed must be proven to not have a negative effect on the domestic cost per kilowatt hour for Irish citizens. There should be a community benefit fund that is directly linked to the proportion of savings made from a private company installing the wire to the local community. There should be clear systems in place to give private households that want to install a private wire a timeline for when it can be done. This will save people money. It will bring in foreign direct investment and create jobs in Ireland. If we had a set timeline for FDI, it would be a boost for electricians, labourers, engineers and administrative staff. I understand there are people who will be critical of my Bill, on which I look forward to constructively working when it comes to the House.”
“I commend all of the Department staff who have been engaging with me because we need to move fast on this. The UK, Germany and the US are doing it and other EU countries have done it. We need to act on it. That is one of the solutions. The clearing house in the Taoiseach's Department for offshore renewable energy is welcome. However, having spoken to developers of wind energy and long duration energy storage, the people who will help us to decentralise our grid, these stakeholders need to see action. In regard to the private wires Bill, I have my own Bill which is separate from the Government's Bill. It was a huge priority for me that my Bill be considered ahead of the Government Bill because key aspects of it need to be taken into consideration for members of the public.”
“While I welcome the SEAI grants, the return on cost and instant relief plug-in solar would deliver, particularly for people in social and affordable housing, are much bigger. I understand there are long-term returns from rooftop solar and that it is a more durable system. However, in my constituency, apartment dwellers would like to see an immediate reduction in their energy bills. If the Government invested in a giant scheme in which these systems were bought in bulk at a reduced rate, there would be energy savings. If it also gave grants to people to buy these systems, we would see an immediate reduction in bills. I will continue to work with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I welcome the Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Buttimer, who complimented me on my work on this and are working with me constructively on it.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. If there was a general election in three or four weeks, due to the count and the formation of Government, there would be a long period when nothing could be passed. Is this performative? I want to show solutions. The Government has provided €775 million but it could introduce more supports. In respect of the 2024 plug-in solar report, in a response to a parliamentary question I submitted, six key stakeholders took a negative view of plug-in solar. I have requested the consultation responses and I want to see why those stakeholders would be against a system that could be bought in a supermarket such as IKEA, Lidl or Aldi and installed at home in conjunction with an inverter battery. This would benefit people.”