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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“The other Deputies and the Senators on the committee were talking about the cheaper countries, Sweden and Finland, and the most expensive, the UK, but who is coming in near second only Ireland? The conclusion is unavoidable. If that gap continues, business people are the people who are struggling but we can protect them. As I always say, I do not like to come in here and give out; I like to offer a few solutions. We all know there have been some changes to port marshalling where now we can invest in ports. I, again, welcome the investment in Cork Port that has allowed for possible more ORE to be developed but I know from replies to my recent parliamentary questions that other ports are being examined. This needs to be done. Belfast has a backlog of free bookings for its ORE for another country.”
“They would be a producer of green hydrogen. They would use gravity storage. They would be use everything and benefit their people as much as possible. What happened to the majority of our oil and gas? We gave it to a foreign country to benefit their people. There are people in these countries who were benefiting from Irish oil and gas. We still are not building quick enough. I welcome some of the developments from ESB in respect of ORE but it is not being done fast enough. Ireland is reliant on foreign direct investment, FDI, and if it leaves us exposed, it is not good. We cannot build an energy system based on dependence. At a meeting of the climate and energy committee earlier, I was reading the recent data comparing energy prices across Europe. We had representatives of Engineering Ireland before us. It was a great discussion.”
“I welcome some of the work that ESB and EirGrid have been doing and I welcome that there was a huge amount of work done on the system before they started. There are amazing engineers working there who I have met. It is just not happening fast enough. The Government's proposed private wires Bill will speed up the process and I hope that my Bill will get drafted before it passes. I mentioned the Laffan facility, one of the most important LNG hubs, previously and how it has driven up the price across the globe. Through higher bills, higher costs for businesses and a loss in competitiveness, we are importing the vast majority of our energy. However, if other European countries had the potential that we have on our seabed, with offshore renewable energy, ORE, and with wind, they would be grabbing it and supplying it.”
“Ultimately, this is the truth for the Irish people and for Irish businesses. We have seen that in the past few days. We are debating oil reserves. We are continuously discussing the LNG terminal proposal at the climate and energy committee. We saw, in 24 hours, a sharp rise of nearly 23% in the global cost of LNG. Does this show that this proposal to add energy security is not doing that at all? Would we be putting it into a decentralised grid? If adding one more point of failure to add energy security is what we are proposing, adding multiple points of failure is what we should be doing. Let us consider what the Germans are doing. They are moving from a petrostate to an electrostate. This is happening across Europe but it seems that we are not acting fast enough.”
“The Bill is about security and I am blue in the face screaming and asking for quick changes to this. I also concur with Deputy Byrne about the possibility of using nuclear power, particularly for its efficiency. I propose that we put it in his constituency, because the problem with most issues in this country is the Nimbyism. No one wants it in their own constituency, even though it would benefit the Irish people. I also concur that we are importing from France and we are going to make ourselves more dependent. I have said before and will say again that during the world war Churchill tried to limit the amount of coal coming to Ireland to force Dev's hand and end our neutrality and one of the worst things a country can be is energy dependent and to not have security of supply and security of infrastructure.”
“If we do not address this, we will see more struggles with recruitment, retention and building trust in the community. There are issues and gaps but we need targeted investments, a fair allocation of resources and practical supports for An Garda Síochána. I commend An Garda Síochána on its work across communities in Dublin Bay North over the weekend of St. Patrick's Day. Its work involving all the parades was brilliant and I thank it for that.”
“With the recent announcements of extra gardaí, people in my constituency can see it and would love to feel it. We would love to see more gardaí on the beat but to get more gardaí, we need more people to apply for the job. We need more support for all critical workers, for example by exploring housing supports, rental assistance or something similar to what has been done for public servants in London. If we brought in essential workers such as teachers, gardaí and nurses and gave them financial supports, particularly at the beginning of their career, it would help. Outside the Dáil today, we see another group of essential workers - Northside Home Care Services - on strike. They do not have pay parity and that needs to be looked at as well.”
“My father was a Garda, as were my grandfather and my great-grandfather. I will not be supporting the motion, not because I do not think there are real issues but because I believe they need to be looked at by An Garda Síochána itself and I believe a lot of good things have happened in An Garda Síochána since the formation of this Government. I acknowledge the gardaí themselves; the men and women who put themselves on the line day in, day out. The vast majority of gardaí are dedicated professionals who are deeply committed to the communities they serve. As other Deputies have mentioned, they need more support. Support has been growing but we need to do it faster. I know from speaking to gardaí and members of the public in Dublin Bay North that there is a clear imbalance between areas in north Dublin and other parts of the city.”
“I suppose that no one in this House can say that they have not been touched by cancer. If anyone has gone through it, cancer is a really horrific way to go. We need to provide every type of support for people who have cancer. I welcome much of what the Deputies from every party and none have said during this debate. Behind the numbers there are people, families and friends. This should not just be about highlighting problems. We all know what we need to do. I read the Government amendment, but I suppose it is more about action. A lot of the time when we come into this House, we are just here to talk. We need to get out there and do it.”
“I am grateful to the Irish Cancer Society for all the great work it is doing and all the details it gave us at the recent briefing, particularly in respect of my constituency. When I was writing this speech, I rang a constituent, Jennifer Murphy, whose case I have been working on, and she gave me permission to mention her. Jennifer outlined how she was initially told that she would be waiting over 12 months for a non-urgent colonoscopy. It was only after she went back to her GP and following interventions by me, my office and other public representatives that her case was reclassified as urgent and she was given an appointment. That should not be how the system works. People should not have to fight to have their cases reclassified as urgent. They should not be left in limbo, particularly when we know early diagnosis is critical.”
“Táim an-bhuíoch as an deis chun caint ar an ábhar seo. Gabhaim buíochas le Páirtí Shinn Féin as an deis seo. I will start by saying "Go raibh míle maith agat" leis na daoine atá ag déanamh obair na gcapall sna hospidéil agus i ngach uile áit inár health service. It is commendable. Three weeks ago, sadly, I lost my best friend, Eleanor Lanigan, to cancer. The men and women in St. Vincent's Hospital were there to the end working to make her as comfortable as possible. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam. In recent weeks, I have been contacted by a number of constituents in Dublin who are deeply worried about diagnosis, delays and uncertainty. I commend Deputy O'Gorman and everyone who has served on the Oireachtas committee to do with cancer. I have been working on it since I came into this House.”
“I am representing people in my constituency who want answers for what happened to them when they were young. I would love to see accountability and answers from St. John Ambulance for the people that I represent. They do not want this pushed back or kicked down the road. They want accountability for when the system failed and they want the people who abused the system to be punished rightfully.”
“If we are serious about solving this, we need to focus on what will make a difference. I have raised in the House a matter brought to me by a constituent, Mick Finnegan who has seen this through his work in relation to St. John Ambulance and how safeguarding concerns persist without an independent verification. It is not acceptable that children and young adults who were abused by members of St. John Ambulance are still waiting for answers. I would love the Minister to look into the case of Mick Finnegan and St. John Ambulance. This is the fourth time I have raised this matter in the House. I have followed up with the Department and it feels like it is not moving at a pace that is quick enough for the survivors. This is not political point scoring and I know the Minister of State will definitely chase this up.”
“I was trying to contact one in particular but I do not have their permission so I will not mention their name. Their confidence was shaken when they went back to re-examine the case. It shows reform is needed. What I really want is delivery. Who is accountable? Who can be challenged? Who can act quickly enough when a child is at risk? I want to raise a specific case I have raised in this House three times. I would love for the Minister of State to take it on board. It relates to Tusla but it also relates to children, the State and the past as well. If something was not working in the past and has not been changed or explained we need to reform it. We need to reform it. We need stronger accountability and greater oversight. Reports are not worth anything if no one is going to implement them.”
“People have reached out to my office ahead of the debate. They have been trying to get answers and to navigate a system which they feel is stretched and difficult to get answers from. I commend the Minister of State on her work on this. Over her entire career she has definitely been on the right side. I read replies to parliamentary questions prior to the debate and saw that Tusla received thousands of child-protection referrals. There were 22,000 open cases of which over one quarter waiting to be allocated. They are real children and families we all represent just waiting. Children do not need more bureaucracy or motions but implementation on the ground. The motion is pushing for that. When the system cannot respond in time, the consequences are serious. Multiple people have contacted my office.”
“Bhí mé ag éisteacht leis na Teachtaí go léir agus bhí mé ag scríobh agus iad ag caint. Aontaím le go leor de na rudaí atá ráite agus leis an méid a dúirt an Teachta Farrelly faoi Tusla agus an obair ar fad atá déanta ann. We have done all the work in that sense and completely demolishing it would be counterproductive. I commend Deputy O’Flynn. The motion goes to the heart of the most serious responsibilities the State has and that we all have as public representatives, which is the protection of children. The motion is not coming out of nowhere. Across the House, even in my own constituency, we have heard the continuous warnings and about the years of pressure on the system, with reports and families that I represent feeling unheard. I will refer later to a particular incident. It is real and I feel it in the areas I represent.”
“For people to watch a match in a controlled, safe and regulated manner, it would make sense for them to stay in a regulated setting rather go to unregulated house parties to watch the match.”
“I am looking for an update on the action on the night-time economy. I raised this previously in a parliamentary question and raised it with the Taoiseach twice following recent announcements by Helen McEntee. Will the Tánaiste meet representatives of the Give Us the Night campaign who have highlighted the scale of the crisis? We have seen an 84% collapse in nightclubs since 2000, from over 500 to just 80 today, alongside the loss of more than 2,100 pubs, one in four, since 2005. We have a very good chance of qualifying for the World Cup when matches will be played late into the night. Will the Tánaiste accept that the current system is not fit for purpose?”
“The cost of the LNG terminal is extortionate and it needs to be put in a cost-benefit analysis to compare what we would get benefit-wise if we instead invested in our grid or long-duration energy storage battery packs and everything like that. They are moving too fast and the solutions are not there. I am blue in the face saying in this Chamber that we have to enable private wires to connect renewable energies, invest in long-duration energy storage and accelerate other storage systems like green hydrogen, particularly alongside offshore renewable energy. We cannot have curtailment and dispatch down.”
“During the Second World War, Churchill reduced the supply of coal to Ireland to try to force de Valera’s hand to end our neutrality. That is what we do when we do not allow our country to have its own energy independence and security. Speaking of LNG, when I was in the committee, I asked why we were doing this. They said it added to our energy security. Surely if there was – and please God, there never will be – a foreign power that wanted to attack the gas or energy supply to our country, adding one single other point of failure would not add to energy security or independence. Surely adding multiple long-duration energy storage green hydrogen gravity pumps, with the private wires Bill I am looking forward to working with the Minister on, would be a much better way.”
“As it is the first time I have addressed the House since the passing of my best friend and the person who got me involved in politics, I hope the House will allow me to say of Ellie: ar dheis Dé go raibh h-anam. Of the woman who wanted to get on the boat when I went to Palestine even though she had stage 4 cancer, I want to say: Ellie, thank you for believing in me and getting me into this House. I will keep you close to my heart. Condolences to Justin, Sean, DJ, Richard and Kate. I appreciate that leeway from the Minister. The reality is that Ireland remains too exposed. Yesterday, the Taoiseach was in the White House. I commend him for diplomatically saying about Churchill that Ireland had a different perspective in regard to its own War of Independence and that Churchill had created a bit of difficulty for us.”
“I like that the Bill recognises the particular circumstances of young adults, particularly from my constituency of north Dublin, who are often still developing and making mistakes early in life. We should not permanently close doors for young men and women in this country. At its core, the legislation is about recognising rehabilitation, especially when someone has demonstrated over time that they have stayed out of trouble and positively contributed. I thank Deputy Gannon for reintroducing it and commend Senator Ruane. She is ferocious with her work. This Bill is unbelievable and it needs to be done. This is a sensible and balanced reform that supports rehabilitation, strengthens communities and will really help the people of north Dublin and the people of Ireland as a whole.”
“Convictions remain on record but it limits when they can be disclosed. It recognises that people who have stayed out of trouble for a sustained period should be able to move forward. I do believe that. I thank Deputy Gannon for speaking to me and showing me his insight and knowledge. There is a fair and balanced approach. I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan's proposal not to oppose the Bill on Second Stage. Looking at evidence is what we should base all of our actions on, whether it be in respect of climate, energy, housing or our justice system. We know from evidence that when people can access employment, education and stable housing, they are far less likely to reoffend. It is just logic. This is not just about fairness to individuals. It is also about building safer communities and a better society as a whole.”
“In many cases these barriers make it much harder for someone to move forward and contribute positively to society, which contradicts the very essence of our criminal justice system in respect of rehabilitation. The Bill recognises that reality. The proposals for the broadening of access to the spent convictions regime really does create a fairer society where people who have demonstrated rehabilitation over time can move on past their mistakes. We have all made mistakes. I would also like to join an Teachta Ward, who is gone now, regarding the football Senator Ruane is involved in. I went into Mountjoy and we played football. I could not hit snow off a rope; I think we lost eight-nil. I am more of a rugby man. The Bill proposes to broaden access to spent convictions. It does not erase a person's history.”
“I have met a lot of constituents who have served sentences and stayed out of trouble, started a life, started a family and demonstrated that they have moved on with their life. We should allow them the opportunity to rebuild that life. That is what the Bill really should lean into. Aontaím le go leor rudaí is a bhí an Teachta Ward ag rá. Tá mé ag tnúth go mór leis an gcomhrá ar fad agus gach duine sa Teach seo ag cur gach rud le chéile. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeimid ag labhairt faoin Bhille agus go dtiocfaidh sé isteach chomh luath agus is féidir. A criminal conviction can follow a person for many years. After a sentence is served, it can affect a person's ability to get a job, find housing or access education.”
“Aontaím le go leor rudaí is a bhí an Teachta Ward ag rá. Ar dtús, gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Ruane as go leor rudaí. Tá sí an-chairdiúil agus gach rud mar sin. Tá sí tar éis á lán oibre a chur isteach sa Bhille seo. Ní féidir é sin a rá faoi go leor daoine. Tá sí tar éis obair na gcapall a dhéanamh. I commend her on that. I also thank Deputy Gannon for continuing the push to support an issue to move forward in the House, and for his continuous work in this matter. The Bill is ultimately about something very simple. It is about second chances. We all recognise that when someone commits a crime, there must be consequences. That is how our justice system works and how the majority of justice systems work in well-run countries. We also have to recognise that there is another reality.”
“It says there were a huge amount of leaflets dropped. When I asked what streets they were delivered to, on what date and to what houses, it did not tell me because it does not want us to know how few it dropped. It talks about updates every two weeks. I counted - I have sent it about 40 or 50 emails. There is a generic reply to every TD and councillor. The Minister of State knows this. It undermines the entire democracy when a holder of one of the highest seats we can be elected to in this country cannot get a simple photo of a path for a child who has learned the route of their commute to college. I would love if the Department could request that meeting on behalf of the other TDs and the councillors in north Dublin. The northside cannot be treated this way. I have said it before: it would not happen on the other side of the Liffey.”
“I said maybe it was because I represented people with additional needs who needed to know which path they could go down. Maybe it was because people were wondering if the entirety of the St. Assam's and Foxfield roads was going to be chock-a-block, which it was last week. Businesses need to know if they have to reduce staff because they are going to lose access to the traffic flow. I appreciate the Minister of State's statement, but what I am really asking him for, as any Deputies or councillors from Dublin Bay North or the specific area would if they were here, is an immediate meeting with Uisce Éireann and the GMC Utilities team. It is not acceptable for them to make these decisions without any public information. I am trying to read the gobbledegook Uisce Éireann gave to the Minister of State.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I know how things work. I am in here 15 months. The Department gave this question to Uisce Éireann and Uisce Éireann has given its reply to the Minister of State. I understand that the Minister of State is very busy and I welcome all the work he has done on other issues. Uisce Éireann gave us a briefing on 22 January. A week later, it had a briefing for the public and the week after that the project commenced. Two weeks' notice for public representatives to give feedback on a major project that is going to close up the entire main road in north Dublin is not long enough. After I raised it with the Taoiseach, I had a private meeting with Uisce Éireann and the contractor and they asked me why I wanted to know which path was to close. I was honestly shocked.”
“If it did that, traffic would be reduced. I was informed that the reason for not having a stop-go was for the health and safety of the company's workers. I have a video from today of a stop-go system being used by Uisce Éireann's team and the public because it was needed to allow a contractor to bring in stones, rocks and everything else for the project. The company is being hypocritical. I know people in north Dublin whose areas are completely congested. That is not acceptable. I am sharing the frustration of the hundreds of people who have been in contact with me. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could get back to me on this matter.”
“I met with the project team after raising this matter with the Taoiseach. I raised several issues on behalf of residents. I apologise if the email went to my spam folder, but I was in my office five minutes ago looking for it and there was no sign of it. My job is to represent north Dublin - the job of everyone in this House is to represent their constituencies – but we cannot do that if semi-State bodies or agencies are not giving us the key answers we need. There are practical solutions to this. At the moment, the Coast Road is one-way all day, even at weekends when there is no one working. I emailed Uisce Éireann and suggested that between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. when the majority of people are going into town, it could allow the flow of traffic to move towards the city and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. have it flowing outward.”
“Residents on James Larkin Road received leaflets, but the full closure of the road affects traffic across all of north Dublin and has huge implications for public transport. The H2, H3 and 6 bus routes are already subject to delays and cancellations due to congestion. The lack of proper planning and communication risks making the problems being experienced by thousands of my constituents significantly worse. I attended the public consultation meeting. People in my constituency thought I was organising the meeting because there was no information sent to houses across the area. I asked Uisce Éireann how many leaflets were dropped and on what roads. It is still to get back to me. People wanted to see the drawings. I told the Taoiseach how I asked at a meeting I attended if I could take a photo of the drawings and was told “No”.”
“Furthermore, he knows how bad it looks when someone who represents north Dublin asks for detailed drawings to be provided and they are not provided. That is not acceptable. What is the point of holding local or general elections if you cannot get a simple drawing of which paths will be inaccessible? People with accessibility issues want to know if they can go down a certain path next week or if they will be able to get a bus from a particular area. Some of the employees of and contractors working with Uisce Éireann have engaged with me, but the majority have not. As the Minister of State knows, when you email Uisce Éireann, you get a reference number. That is generally the end of it. A constituent wrote to outline the frustration felt across the community.”
“I welcome the opportunity to raise this matter. I finally got it accepted. It relates to the north city arterial main, NCAM, project and issues along the Howth Road and James Larkin Road and in surrounding areas. Hundreds of my constituents have been contacting my office every day. I have been trying to get access to information from Uisce Éireann and the contractor, but to no avail. As a public representative, the Minister of State can understand how frustrating that can be. The residents of north Dublin understand that this is necessary work, but what they do not understand is why communication has been so lacking and how the project is being managed. The Minister of State knows how hard it is to get elected to the council and to the Dáil. He also knows how much trust people put in you.”
“There are four clubs in the Kilmore, Coolock and Darndale areas. Children in these areas who want to play sport cannot do so because they do not have the facilities. I understand that work is being done by Dublin City Council, which I welcome, to improve all-weather pitches. Something needs to be done on this issue. It needs to be looked into. Will the FAI take responsibility for its role?”
“I appreciate that and I understand the remit the Minister of State's Department holds but I would love if he could chase up how the FAI allowed a grassroots facility serving thousands of young players I represent to be handed over to a club without committee approval. Why was one person allowed to execute the transfer of the site? What checks are in place to prevent this from happening? What role did the FAI play in facilitating a deal that removed community access for north Dublin children who are directly benefiting from this facility? Why was the site sold for a fraction of its value? I understand the Minister of State said he is bound by certain things but the Minister for sport must address these questions. What steps were taken to assess the community impact of this sale?”
“It appears the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, was eager to cash in on the sale, which allowed the organisation to recoup investment. In turn, a professional club secured a permanent academy base but blocked out local clubs I represent.”
“I understand and appreciate that but when I raised this with the Tánaiste months ago, I asked how many Troy Parrotts or Denise O'Sullivans there would be. We just saw the Irish women's team lose two to one to France. North Dublin has a proud history of providing some, if not the best, footballers to the Irish football team. Now, these young men and young women in the area I represent are effectively being blocked out. I have parents, teenagers and children sending me messages to say they cannot train or play the sport they love. This was sold for €500,000 despite an evaluation of €4.25 million. I have no problem with any professional club, and this is not because I support other professional clubs. I represent an area and the children in this area deserve to play the sport.”
“Today, I raise an issue I have raised multiple times in this House and that is the issue of north Dublin's grassroots clubs being effectively blocked out of a centre. The Oscar Traynor centre was sold for €500,000, despite its 2022 evaluation of €4.25 million. I have no problem with a professional club getting a good value-for-money deal. However, I do have an issue with young women and young boys in an area I represent being effectively blocked out from playing football. Could the Minister of State give me an explanation or evaluation? I would appreciate that.”
“An Bille a bhfuil Pádraig ag obair air, is rud beag is é sin gur féidir linn a dhéanamh mar Rialtas with a big outcome. Sa programme for Government a cuireadh le chéile nuair a bhí mé ag dul isteach, bhí mé an-sásta le CEFR. Tá sé sa chlár, ach nílimid á dhéanamh. Bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr má tá dalta ag teacht ó naíonra go Gaelscoil agus Gaelcholáiste agus go mbeadh grád ann, B2 nó B3, like the European common network. As the Minister of State can see and has heard from everyone who spoke here today, tá an grá agus an paisean ann. Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.”
“Is brionglóid agam dá mbeadh árasáin Gaeltachta i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh - a new apartment build in north Dublin that was a designated Gaeltacht. Tá cairde agam tar éis Gaeilge a dhéanamh dá saoil ar fad, agus anois tá siad i ngach áit. Dá mbeadh árasáin Gaeltachta i mBaile Átha Cliath, bheadh sé iontach don Ghaeilge. Ní bheidh daoine sa Ghaeltacht sásta go ndeirim seo, ach tá an méid i mó daoine le Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath faoi láthair. B’fhéidir nach bhfuil an leibhéal Gaeilge atá acu i gcomparáid leis an leibhéal atá ag daoine ón nGaeltacht, ach bogann daoine ón nGaeltacht go Baile Átha Cliath an t-am ar fad. Níl saol na Gaeilge ann dóibh go minic. Níl an saol oíche ná an community ann. Tá go leor perfect examples that we can copy.”
“The solutions are there. The two Bills, including the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the future Bill coming from the Government, need to have a fire put under them. We need to meet people from the Gaeltacht. Even in Baile Átha Cliath thuaidh, tá a lán daoine ann ag iarraidh Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a dhéanamh sa bhunscoil, sa mheánscoil agus sa choláiste ar an tríú leibhéal, ach níl an seans ann. Bhí Teachta eile ag smaoineamh faoi chúrsaí tithíochta agus cúrsaí uisce sa Ghaeltacht. Tá brón orm, níl an t-eolas chomh láidir agam is atá aige. Bhí sé ag caint faoin mBreatain Bheag agus an chaoi a bhfuil an Rialtas sa Bhreatain Bheag ag déanamh an méid is mó don Ghaeltacht gur féidir faoi ráta cánach for short-term lettings and for initiatives.”
“It is sad but unless I become like my sister and much more intelligent when it comes to linguistics, I will never reach the level of Irish they have but the acceptance they have of my Irish is pure love and pure passion. I hear many people apologise for their level of Irish here. No one wants to hear them apologise. They want to hear people use it. One of the first things that these gentlemen outlined in their demonstration of what we can do as Teachtaí Dála was ár gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid chomh minic agus gur féidir linn. I really like to see Members of this House use it and always try to do it at the start and end of my speeches. That is all it is. It is the cúpla focal an t-am ar fad because that has an avalanche effect. I will get back to the cúrsaí tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht, bhí mé ag smaoineamh faoi go leor rudaí ansin.”
“Muna raibh an seans sin agam, ní bheadh aon Ghaeilge agam. Bhí mé i scoil lánBhéarla don mheánscoil. Rinne mé an coláiste trí Bhéarla. Táim ag obair ar Bhille le Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh agus le Gaeloideachas. Tá mé díreach ag cur ceiste ar an Rialtas. Ba chóir don Aire Stáit na daoine a bhunaigh an Stát seo a shamhlú - na fir agus na mná. Dá mbeadh siad ag smaoineamh níos mó ná 100 bliain níos déanaí go mbeadh laghdú ar líon na ndaoine atá ag déanamh oideachas trí Ghaeilge, they would be turning in their graves. Is í an Ghaeilge páirt dár gcultúr agus de shaol na ndaoine sa Ghaeltacht. I always have the analogy for any event in Irish, of the purebreds in the Harry Potter world, who would be the people from the Gaeltacht, and then these mudbloods like me who learned Irish.”
“Nach bhfuil an t-ádh dearg orm a bheith ag caint ag deireadh an chomhrá seo. Bhí mé ag éisteacht le go leor daoine a bhí ag caint sa Teach seo. Aontaím le go leor rudaí a bhí le rá acu. Is gá dom buíochas a gabháil leis na lads a bhí san audiovisual room inniu. Bhí siad go hiontach. Tá brón orm nach raibh mé ann don rud ar fad - bhí mé sa choiste. Gabhaim buíochas le Pádraig as a chabhrú. Táim i ngrúpa WhatsApp darb ainm “Gaeilge Policy” le Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, Julian de Spáinn agus Aodhán Ó Deá. Dá mbeadh leath den bhród agus fuinnimh atá ag na leaids sin sa Rialtas, bheadh gach duine ag labhairt Gaeilge sa tír seo. Nílim ag rá aon rud seafóideach ansin. Le bheith ionraic, tá an t-ádh orm. Is file í mo dheirfiúr. Nuair a bhí mé 15 bliana d’aois, dúirt sí liom nach labhróimid i mBéarla.”
“Is gá dom mo buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire as ucht an mhéid atá déanta aige go dtí seo ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Bhí mé in éineacht leis i gcúpla cruinniú trasna na tíre. Labhair sé le gach duine. Is soiléir go bhfuil go leor rudaí eile le déanamh againn, áfach. Má tá muid i ndáiríre faoin Ghaeilge, caithfidh muid an t-airgead a chur isteach i ngach uile chaoi ar féidir linn.”
“Is iad na príomhrudaí ná labhairt le Teachtaí Dála eile i nGaeilge; cúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta a bhrú chun cinn taobh istigh de na páirtithe polaitíochta nó go neamhspleách; tacaíocht a thabhairt don Bhille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú), 2024 agus leis an mBille maidir le cíos gearrthéarmach; agus ceisteanna Dála a bhaineann le tithíocht, pleanáil teanga agus Gaeloideachas a ardú. Tá sé sa chlár Rialtais go bhfuil muid dáiríre faoin Ghaeilge, faoin bhfráma tagartha comónta Eorpach, agus faoi go leor rudaí eile mar sin. D’fhreastail mé ar bunscoil agus meánscoil lán-Bhéarla ach d’fhoghlaim mé mo chuid Gaeilge ó mo dheirfiúr. Is file í. Tá mé iontach buíoch le Ciara Ní É as sin. Ní bheinn i mo Theachtaí Dála mura mbeadh Gaeilge agam. Tá mé ag iarraidh go mbeidh níos mó infheistíochta ann.”
“Táim an-sásta a bheith ag caint i nGaeilge arís. Ar dtús, gabhaim buíochas le hAodhán Ó Deá, Julian de Spáinn agus Pádraig Mac Brádaigh as an obair ar fad atá déanta ag an triúr acu. Tá grúpa WhatsApp againn agus táim i gcónaí ag cur ceisteanna isteach ionas go mbeidh an ceart agam sna rudaí atá á rá agam. Bhí cúpla ceist agam don Aire cúpla seachtain ó shin. Táim lánsásta le Gaelcholáiste Reachrann i nDomhnach Míde i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh. Bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr dá mbeadh níos mó eolais ag teacht amach, ach táim lánsásta go bhfuil sé tar éis dul go tender. Bhí na daoine ag fanacht ar fhoirgneamh buan le 24 bliana. Bhí sé mar phríomhrud domsa agus mé ag rith sa toghchán. Bhí mé san audiovisual room inniu ag caint le go leor daoine. Bhí siad ag rá cúpla rud faoi cad is féidir linn a dhéanamh mar Theachtaí Dála.”
“Nuair a bhí na horduithe dianghlasála i bhfeidhm, bhí faic le déanamh i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh agus bhí go leor daoine ag snámh san fharraige. Tá sé sin an-mhaith don intinn agus don tsláinte. Maidir le well-being, will the Department commit to more funding for north Dublin's swimming areas? Regarding Bá Bhaile Átha Cliath, tá an méid pollution atá ann uafásach. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil a lán airgid ag dul isteach sa Ringsend centre but for the Dollymount Dames, Blue Balls Ireland, and the swimmers at Dollymount beach and Howth and in all the coastal areas that I represent, getting into the water is an escape. Will that be prioritised in wellbeing?”
“Táim tar éis é seo a rá sa Teach seo cúpla uair anois. Nuair a thosaíonn daoine le míchumas ag obair, tá seans go gcaillfear an pas saor in aisce don taisteal. Níl sé sin féaráilte ar chor ar bith. Níl sé cothrom. Má táimid ag iarraidh go mbeidh an méid is mó daoine le míchumas gur féidir leo a bheith san fhórsa oibre páirteach ann, bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr mura raibh siad chun an pas sin a chailliúint. Le bheith ionraic, má táimid ag iarraidh é sin a chinntiú – bhí mé ag caint leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, agus dúirt sé go raibh seans ann – caithfimid an brú is mó gur féidir linn a chur ar an Roinn chun é sin a cheadú. Níl sé cothrom go dtarlaíonn sé sin nuair a théann daoine ar ais go dtí an obair. Níl sé féaráilte.”