Brendan Smith
Cavan-Monaghan · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I welcome the Taoiseach's engagement over recent months with his counterparts in relation to Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. I am glad that he discussed with the Spanish Prime Minister the multi-annual financial framework.”
“There are many challenges for our farming sector, for our food sector and also for our rural communities, and there will be huge challenges ahead as well. Under no circumstances can Ireland tolerate or countenance a reduction in CAP funding.”
“I renew my appeal in relation to the urgent need to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan. The social housing income baseline is €30,000 in both counties. This is totally inadequate in view of the costs today for people buying or building a home.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. I must say that members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, across all jurisdictions, were very strong in their praise of the Minister’s contribution at our plenary meeting in Surrey, where he spoke about the opportunities for all-Ireland developments and also east-west developments.”
“As the Minister is aware, we are very anxious to progress the Cavan college of the future. I sincerely hope there will be further developments on that over the summer months.”
“The Minister will have heard me many times in this House, at committees and at meetings of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party advocating for closer collaboration on the delivery of education on an all-Ireland basis. There is fantastic potential, especially in the further and higher education sector.”
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“In November 2021, I warmly welcomed the decision by the Minister, Deputy Foley, to issue the initial project approval, as I had supported Breifne College and Cavan-Monaghan ETB in submitting the application. The project is a major one and is to be welcomed. It will be provided under the additional school accommodation scheme. Among the additional accommodation to be provided are a number of general classrooms, special education teaching rooms, special educational needs classrooms, science laboratories, engineering rooms, technology rooms, graphics rooms, an art room, a textiles room and other ancillary accommodation as well. From my detailed knowledge of the school, this accommodation is much needed and as urgently as possible. In June 2024 Cavan-Monaghan ETB submitted all documentation for stage 2A, which is detailed design stage.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this important subject matter this morning. In November 2021, the then Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, gave the initial project approval for the provision of additional permanent accommodation at Breifne College in Cavan town. This major building project, which will enhance considerably the level of permanent accommodation at the school, is much needed due to increased enrolments at Breifne College in recent years. The level of enrolment continues to grow. I compliment Cavan-Monaghan Education and Training Board and Breifne College on submitting this successful application. The growth in population in the wider Cavan town area has led to a substantial and consistent increase in enrolments.”
“I do not believe that the further ends of that Garda division will get the attention, personnel or resources they deserve. Over the years, an issue I have kept putting on the agenda is the need to ensure that the unique policing demands of a Border area are always resourced adequately.”
“An issue I raised in the past was the reconfiguration of Garda divisions a number of years ago under the Commissioner, Mr. Drew Harris. I believe that the structures that were made and put in place were wrong. Traditionally, since the foundation of the State, Cavan-Monaghan was one Garda division. Now we are in with County Louth. You have a Garda division stretching from outside Dublin to the far end of west Cavan, which is quite near Sligo, Bundoran and Donegal. It has a very long land border with a neighbouring jurisdiction. We are all well aware that borders do not deter criminality. Unfortunately, we have cross-Border criminality. The chief superintendent for the Louth-Cavan-Monaghan Garda division is based in Drogheda, which is outside Dublin.”
“Those children also have less chance of attending the same school as their siblings, which adds to the challenges their families face. I am also very conscious that a large percentage of primary schools under the patronage of the smaller churches, the Protestant churches, have small enrolments and should not be disadvantaged in the approval and establishment of special classes.”
“I welcome the approval of more special classes for the coming school year. I recognise the commitment of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to build further on the progress made to date. We still need more investment in special education. One particular aspect of the approval of special classes that I wish to see reviewed is class size. The present threshold for pupil enrolment for such classes at primary level is six. This militates against smaller rural schools, where the threshold of six pupils with additional needs may be difficult to achieve. Children with additional needs who need a place in a special class should not have to travel unduly long distances for an appropriate class.”
“We very much welcome the great progress that is being made with the shared island initiative and the very substantial level of investment. A few weeks ago, while attending the Cork-Cavan national league game, the Taoiseach will have seen the very fine facilities we have in Kingspan Breffni Park. He will also be aware of the plans we have for a regional sports complex. In that context, we should have a stream in respect of sports funding on an all-Ireland basis through the shared island fund. This could allow for sister complexes, North and South.”
“I again raise the issue of the need for the British Government to repeal and replace the legacy legislation. This deplorable legislation gives murderers and terrorists the opportunity to absolve themselves of the most heinous of crimes regardless of whether they worked for British state forces or for paramilitary organisations. We need to see progress in replacing that legislation. We are days away from the 51st anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, an awful day when 34 people were killed on our island. We have seen a lack of co-operation from the British Government in responding to requests unanimously made by this Oireachtas on a number of occasions to give an eminent independent international legal person access to all papers and files pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. We need progress on that.”
“I saw the challenges with currency fluctuations and the movement of trade that devastated our local economy over many years. We should be prepared for turbulence in the economy that may arise but that nobody can readily predict. It is one area where we need to do more research and be prepared.”
“However, the central Border region of Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh is vulnerable because it is highly dependent on a small number of particular sectors, such as food, farming, construction products and tourism. We saw the threat that existed with Brexit. We now see the challenges that may arise in the context of tariffs being imposed on the European Union, maybe at a different rate from those that will be imposed on Britain. While we all sincerely hope that does not happen, we have to be prepared for it. I have asked repeatedly, through the Office of the Taoiseach and in various parliamentary questions, if NESC would undertake a study on the challenges facing the central Border region, North and South, and also the opportunities for further economic development. I have been a representative there for some time.”
“I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. NESC is doing comprehensive studies in very important areas. I want to again mention an issue that I flagged with the Taoiseach's predecessor, and with the Taoiseach when he held the office previously. Will NESC carry out an assessment of the all-Ireland economy, particularly in the context of cross-Border trade, where there has been development and growth to the benefit of all of our country? Representing two of the southern Ulster counties, I see at first hand the value and importance of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and what it has done from so many points of view, including the economic. We have one economy now, the all-Ireland economy.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I will ask just one further supplementary question, given that other Members are waiting to ask questions also. The Tánaiste will be aware of another issue of interest to Defence Forces' organisations, which is the finding of the defence sector arbitration board on 18 November. It upheld a ruling that the terms and conditions the director of military prosecutions should be amended to remove the prohibition on that officeholder holding membership of a representative association. I believe this issue may have not yet come to the Tánaiste's attention. I do not believe that person should be barred from holding membership of a representative organisation if he or she so wishes.”
“I ask this question on behalf of Deputy O'Meara. As the Tánaiste will know, Uachtarán na hÉireann today paid tribute to members of the Civil Defence. Ireland's Civil Defence has been in existence for 75 years. I am sure we all compliment them on the great work they do in our local communities. I welcome the Tánaiste's announcement during the week regarding instructor allowances for officers in the Defence Forces. The announcement of instructor payments for officer members who are heavily relied on to plan, supervise and deliver crucial training along with their non-commissioned instructor colleagues is a vital measure in recruitment and retention, which we spoke about earlier. Will the Tánaiste let us know when this particular measure will be implemented?”
“The Tánaiste will have the opportunity to talk to some of the people who would have served in the Border areas during the bad days. Unfortunately, that went on for many decades. I knew many Army personnel at all levels who I lived among and who I came across in my daily activities because their presence was needed in our communities. They will give the Tánaiste a clear and positive message about the importance of the Reserve Defence Forces and what they could do in the future, not going back to the work that they did in the past but as a recruitment process to strengthen the Permanent Defence Force as well as carrying out their own important work.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his further response. I genuinely believe that if we had a stronger Reserve Defence Forces, it would be a great conduit for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force. I represented two Border constituencies during many bad years on this island. I saw the importance of the Reserve Defence Forces along the Border working in the communities that I have the privilege of representing and living in. Over the years the Reserve Defence Forces recruited many young people who may have been vulnerable to other unsavoury groups. Many of those young people went on to have star careers in the Permanent Defence Force. We should have a strengthened Reserve Defence Forces. It can be an extra welcome ingredient in getting more people enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force.”
“Far too often, I have seen very young people leave the Defence Forces with the ludicrous situation a few years ago where some people had to leave after 20 years' service. There were young women and men in their early forties who were forced to retire. It made no sense whatsoever. Most of them have gone on to other careers. I made representations on behalf of many of them but they could not be kept on because of the contract they went in under. I sincerely hope that no organ of the State will ever introduce such a type of recruitment and terms of employment in the future.”
“It is good to know there is stabilisation. Hopefully, stabilisation and an increase in enlistment would give more momentum to recruitment and obviously to the important retention aspect as well. The programme for Government has a welcome commitment to build on improvements in the recruitment process, including a nationwide programme for transition year and third level students and better representation of women at all levels of the Defence Forces. Are there particular measures being implemented this year to implement those commitments? Also, there is a commitment to examine incentives and structural changes to make a military career accessible to a wider range of candidates and to encourage existing personnel to extend their military careers.”
“I understand that at the end of February there were in excess of 7,500 personnel enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force. This is just over 4,000 short of the ambition outlined in the programme for Government. We need to increase enlistment by 50%, which is a substantial target to achieve. Would the Tánaiste have any indication at this stage when he would hope to at least get the enlistment above the 8,000 figure because it is important that we get back to a critical enlistment across all aspects of the Permanent Defence Force?”
“The blocking of RTÉ in Northern Ireland and the BBC in our State has to be in breach of the Good Friday Agreement, and particularly in breach of the memorandum of understanding of 2010.”
“It was clearly stated at that time that the MOU provided for the widespread availability of TG4 in Northern Ireland and BBC services in our State. The MOU underpinned the key role played by public service broadcasting throughout our island. The BBC now proposes to block its audio streaming service to listeners outside the UK, which, if implemented, would be a huge loss for audiences in our State. Turning off BBC Sounds in Ireland is not acceptable. Many of us living in south Ulster will no longer be able to listen to BBC Radio Ulster in our own province. Some of us, over many years, have advocated for closer and more intense co-operation on a North-South basis in all facets of daily life. These broadcasting decisions fly in the face of such positive developments.”
“The geoblocking of RTÉ and TG4 programmes in Northern Ireland where many television and mobile app viewers cannot access RTÉ coverage of Irish sporting events must be stopped. The unavailability of RTÉ programming, including the broadcasting of GAA and other sporting fixtures, is the cause of much annoyance and frustration for many people throughout Northern Ireland. Last Saturday evening and Sunday, I had calls from people North of the Border who could not get coverage of the Division Two National Football League Final between Monaghan and Roscommon. This is totally unacceptable. In 2010, the then-Minister for communications, Eamon Ryan, signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, on digital television with the British Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.”
“There are many elderly people living on their own who depend on that button that they can press if they are in any difficulty. That emergency call system does not work if they do not have a landline or broadband. This is extremely urgent. There must be major Government investment along with the public utilities in ensuring that those grids, be it the energy grid or the telecommunications grid, are up to standard to literally weather any future storms.”
“I agree with colleagues who have spoken about the need to prepare for the next storm or the next major weather event. For a number of years I have been highlighting the dangers posed by falling trees every year. My west Cavan area, along with Deputy Eamon Scanlon's area in south Leitrim, have for many years annually suffered due to trees falling and interfering with and damaging ESB transmission lines. We need a robust approach to proper maintenance of forests, be they in public ownership or of private landowners. We also want to ensure that the electricity grid is upgraded and more resilient. Allied to that, we need to ensure that the grid of our telecommunications networks is resilient as well. I have had constituents on to me today from both Monaghan and Cavan who have no landlines and no broadband.”
“International corporations trading in e-commerce and selling products online pose particular difficulties for small- and medium-sized Irish businesses trading online too. Government-imposed costs on retail need to be reduced and the Government needs to prioritise the retail sector for support. It is a sector that contributes much to employment in every parish in our country.”
“As the Taoiseach knows there are huge cost pressures on small- and medium-sized businesses. Irish retailers support more than 370,000 jobs in every part of our country. Many retailers I have spoken to are concerned about the medium- and long-term viability of their businesses. Our retailers provide a great service to their customers and to our local communities. The landscape of the Irish high street as we knew it has changed dramatically, and unfortunately for the worse. Walk down a principal street in any town today, and if there are businesses, they are principally in the services area and not the traditional shops selling drapery, groceries, gift items, hardware or household items.”
“We need to resource the advocacy groups who are working with parents and with victims of the use of drugs. I know people who have recovered who are in gainful employment today, rearing their families and contributing to society. Thankfully, we have those instances where people with adequate supports can recover. We want to ensure in all policies that we do not lose sight of the fact that people can recover with adequate supports. At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the fact that criminal gangs and the people I mentioned earlier who are peddling death and destruction in every community in our country must be dealt with through a severe criminal justice system.”
“I thank the Minister of State and again welcome his emphasis on the need for intensified cross-Border co-operation because we know these evil criminals who are peddling drugs across borders. There should be no tolerance for people who are peddling drugs and passing around cannabis or a line of cocaine, whatever social stratum they come from. We have all listened to presentations where professionals working in this area outline the horrors inflicted on people through the use of drugs. We need to get that message out very clearly. I fully appreciate that we need to support people who unfortunately become addicted through different facets of their existence and of their lives. I have helped some of those people, alongside local support groups, in my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan and across the north east.”
“We also need more awareness campaigns, and not just for teenagers or young adults. Based on what I hear in weekly conversations, we need campaigns for every age group in the country. We are hearing daily of the prevalence of drugs in places we never thought they would be present. The Government has an obligation to provide safer communities for all and the one thing we hear about nowadays is that drugs are everywhere.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I look forward to more youth justice projects being rolled out. They are a great investment in our young people and a great investment in communities where there is particular disadvantage. As the Minister of State will be aware, this issue needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency. It is really heartbreaking to listen to parents, siblings and family members who have lost loved ones through the use of drugs. They are victims of the people who are peddling drugs and causing untold hardship in every community. I recalled in this House previously that I listened to a mother who lost her son and husband. She outlined very clearly the role drugs played in their deaths. They were two young people. It is absolutely appalling.”
“I wish the Minister and Ministers of State well in their new roles. I compliment An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners and other statutory agencies on the work being done locally and nationally to deal with the scourge of drugs. As we all know, drug addiction and drug abuse are very complex issues and we need a multifaceted approach that includes health services rehabilitation as well as the criminal justice system. I ask the Minister to outline any additional measures that will be implemented locally and nationally to deal with what is a growing and very concerning epidemic at present throughout rural and urban Ireland.”
“I recall very well that prior to the Good Friday Agreement and the political atmosphere and environment we have today, local authorities were doing work on a cross-Border basis, to their credit. There is great corporate knowledge within local authorities, and worthwhile projects. I am particularly anxious that a proposal I put forward some time ago relating to development of enterprise units - local innovation centres - on a cross-Border, all-Ireland basis, particularly for the Border region, should be prioritised.”
“I welcome the additional substantial funding being provided for the shared island unit. There is a particular need in the less developed areas of the central border region, including my counties of Cavan and Monaghan, as well as counties Tyrone, Fermanagh and Armagh, as they do not have the critical mass of a major population. The programme for Government refers to developing the full potential of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor. I think that will develop itself. We need to prioritise resources for the less-developed areas and I sincerely hope we will do so. The programme for Government also refers to mandating each Government Department to come forward with projects. That is worthwhile, but I am glad the potential and role of local authorities is also recognised in that document.”
“I would like an assurance that those issues were raised in all discussions with the British Government, the British Prime Minister and other members of that Government as well.”
“I think on four occasions this House made unanimous calls on the British Government to give access to an independent international legal person to all papers and files pertaining to those tragedies on that day both in my own constituency and in Dublin city. As the Taoiseach knows, I have always referred to other atrocities in my own constituency, and particularly the Belturbet bombing of December 1972 when young, innocent teenagers were killed. In all of the discussions with the British Government, whether with us at parliamentary level or at Government level, and at Head of Government level in particular, the need to address legacy and reconciliation must be to the forefront in all discussions.”
“I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I sincerely hope that in any discussions with the British Government, Prime Minister or members of the British Government, regardless of the agenda, that the British Government’s despicable and deplorable legacy legislation is discussed. Many times in this House and within meetings of parliamentary parties and Oireachtas committees, we have unanimously called for the repeal of that legislation. No amendment by the British Government of that legislation will ever make it acceptable to the victims and the families of victims who have suffered so much for many decades now. I also sincerely hope that the Taoiseach raised the ongoing issue of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974.”
“A successful and early roll-out of a national therapy service for schools is essential and delays will no longer be acceptable. Those children have waited far too long for basic and essential supports.”
“There are welcome proposals in the programme for Government on the very urgent need to improve services and supports for children with additional needs. Every day I talk to parents who are utterly frustrated and very concerned about the lack of timely interventions through appropriate therapies. We need a common application system and enough special classes to enable children attend schools in their local community. Proposals are not enough. We need urgency attached to a comprehensive implementation plan for such measures. We need a national therapy service in education with therapists providing therapies in schools. This service can be built quickly on the newly sanctioned educational therapy support service of the NCSE.”
“I want to pay tribute to the people in our statutory agencies who worked extremely hard and to the many sporting and voluntary organisations that are continuing to provide much-needed support to people who unfortunately are still without electricity, water supplies and connectivity in their homes.”
“A protocol must be put in place to ensure our statutory agencies- the HSE, our local authorities, An Post or the ESB - work together to ensure there is a knowledge of all people who are vulnerable. I know from engaging with officials at local level there is a reluctance at times to disclose information because of GDPR. I appreciate that but there must be a protocol to ensure that when an emergency arises, the statutory agencies know who may be vulnerable and who needs to be contacted to ensure they are safe and well. That can be addressed at national level. We should not be leaving it until the next storm. We should be addressing those issues now.”
“In my county and neighbouring counties, a main source of problems has been falling trees damaging and breaking ESB transmission lines. There has been blanket forestry in place and that is not acceptable. This Government must tackle that by ensuring that there is an even spread of forestry plantations throughout the country and that some communities are not under siege, which is what is happening in some areas due to the growth of more and more forestry plantations. It can be done. There can be an even spread of plantations throughout the country but that must be addressed as urgently as possible. One thing that always concerns me - it concerned me in the many debates we had here during Covid - is the need for us to ensure we reach the vulnerable and hard-to-reach people.”
“I take this opportunity to compliment all the front-line workers, the ESB and local authority workers, the fire services, the Civil Defence and the many people in our sporting and voluntary organisations who really rose to the challenge of helping people, particularly people who are vulnerable and those who were without power, connectivity or a water supply in their homes. There is a lesson for the ESB at corporate level, at board level, and at chief executive and senior management level regarding what is being done about more and more investment in the grid over the years. I mentioned yesterday - I raised this on plenty of occasions in this House previously - the need to ensure the transmission line corridors are free of obstacles. That has not been done. Forests and plantations have not been maintained to a proper standard.”
“These issues need to be addressed now. If a small-scale livestock farmer slightly erred in their farming practices, they would have inspections and penalties imposed. Why is it not the same for large-scale forestry plantation owners? I compliment the ESB workers and all the other front-line workers on their efforts.”
“Large numbers of my constituents in Cavan–Monaghan are still without their electricity supply. Most of those people have difficulties with their telephone and broadband connectivity. Life is extremely difficult for people with health ailments and dependent on medical devices. The major cause of the power outage in our area has been trees falling on ESB transmission lines. It is clear that the corridors for ESB lines are not being maintained to the proper standard. If they were, we would not have such problems with trees falling and with other overgrown vegetation. Over the years, through parliamentary questions, I have repeatedly asked that a vigorous inspection programme be put in place to ensure plantations owned by Coillte and private landowners are properly maintained. Very regrettably, this has not happened.”