Carol Nolan
Offaly · Independent · Ireland
“Despite this, her mother - who is utterly heartbroken and distressed as we can all imagine - is fiercely protective of her child and determined to protect her at all costs.”
“It is a form of cruelty beyond all description to force families to endure circumstances such as these. Many of us in this House are parents. What would we not do to help our teenage children? What is happening in Offaly is not an isolated case. I know there are cases around the country as well.”
“The Tánaiste will share my profound horror at the recent brutal murder of Jamey Carney, the absconding of her so-called partner to Jordan and the wider pattern of escalating violence against women that was raised earlier.”
“The schools are out, summer is well and truly upon us, and for most families this will be an opportunity to enjoy spending time with their children or grandchildren. Others will watch the kids being able to spend more time with their friends.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his response and assistance. I directly informed the HSE about this situation, and I received an acknowledgement, but I will reach out to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and, with the consent of the parent, will pass on all details.”
“Will he therefore commit to a review of the relevant legislative and operational frameworks to ensure that, regardless of current statutory provisions, no chilling effect is being caused or created that might discourage or inhibit the reporting or public identification of suspects who are also international protection applicants, where su…”
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“It is just not fair on the therapists who are there or on the many parents and indeed teachers who are frustrated over the delays to children being able to access basic services such as speech therapy and occupational therapy. I visited the Offaly School of Special Education and made representation. Indeed, I organised a briefing in Leinster House last year to have this issue addressed. It needs to be addressed.”
“With respect to public services and infrastructure, I am quite fed up hearing the aspirational rhetoric around investment in rural public transport infrastructure, including road and rail connectivity across this island. I give the example of the N52 Durrow project in my own constituency of Offaly. That has been left without funding for years now. We need the N52 link road in Durrow prioritised, and more importantly, delivered by Government before we have fatalities along that road. I appeal to Government to please prioritise that particular road. We also have a situation with a lack of therapists for children. The situation in Offaly is particularly acute. We have a small number of therapists who are trying to do their level best but they are trying to hold a broken system together.”
“Regarding some of the supports for Uisce Éireann to deliver strategic water projects crucial for housing development, that too is welcome. However, I have expressed major concerns around the proposed pipeline from Parteen Weir to Dublin. I really fear this has all the characteristics of turning into another National Children's Hospital debacle in terms of the costs and the delays. Regarding the reduction of VAT for food and catering services to 9%, that cut was certainly long overdue but why the delay? Why can that not be implemented straight away? The businesses are really struggling to keep the doors open and their bills cannot wait until the next budget.”
“Tá áthas orm an deis seo a fháil labhairt ar an gclár Rialtais inniu. Whether we agree or disagree with the contents of the programme for Government, the fact remains that we need a programme for Government that truly addresses the chronic level of need that exists across so many areas and indeed so many sectors. For example, while I welcome the Government's commitments to increase supply of housing by ramping up construction to meet demand, aiming for 300,000 new homes by 2030, the fact remains that going on past practice this is almost farcically ambitious without a major revolution in how we address the problem. I issued a statement only yesterday calling for a more focused level of debate around the link between supply and demand and the impact soaring immigration is having on housing. We cannot be afraid to have that conversation.”
“I call on the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, to intervene with Eir and to ensure we get a more efficient response so that people who are vulnerable, like pensioners living in remote areas, get a response.”
“This was certainly very welcome and a very pragmatic and generous gesture. We saw the farming community again stepping up to the mark and helping throughout the country. This was very welcome. There were lots of supports and positives. I want to raise serious concerns, however. We have a semi-State company called Eir and I am just baffled and dumbfounded by its lack of efficiency, the lack of professionalism, and indeed the lack of response to urgent situations. I have contacted it about a pensioner living in a very remote area who depends on the phone line and on an alarm system, and still there has been no follow-up. A couple of weeks now after the storm and there has been no follow-up whatsoever. I have first-hand experience of Eir as my constituency office still has no phone line despite the company being contacted a number of times.”
“I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on this matter. I will start by commending the workers in local authorities and the ESB workers. I pay particular tribute to those workers who were out in dire conditions and who certainly are still doing their level best to get power restored to all areas of the State. It was concerning, however, to see a lack of planning, particularly concerning people with medical conditions. I was contacted by the families of many people with special needs and pensioners who were on oxygen. There was concern over having no power and that the oxygen units were going to run out. We need to plan for this and we need to make sure we have support systems backed up should such a situation ever arise again. We saw communities pulling together and community centres using their resources and facilities.”
“I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of rural GPs and the shortage of GPs in many rural areas. In my constituency of Offaly, in 2024 there were 81 applications from people looking for access to a GP. I have been contacted by many residents in Daingean, County Offaly. This is just an example of one town. It is a common problem across this State, but in my own county it is particularly acute. I want to acknowledge the fantastic work our GPs do, but unfortunately they are at full capacity and there is a shortage that must be addressed. What actions will be taken by the Government to address the chronic shortage of GPs in rural areas?”