Catherine Connolly
Galway West · Ireland
“We must zone in on the smaller businesses because that was the problem; the smaller companies and businesses could never avail of the research and development tax credit. This morning, I had the privilege of listening to the organisation, ALONE. It pointed out that older people living alone are €300 worse off compared to last year.”
“Those patients are human beings and they are being left on trolleys. There are some good things in this budget, which I welcome. I welcome the increase in social welfare, but when it is matched with the increase in the cost of living, it is worth absolutely nothing. I welcome that the money for artists has been extended.”
“Maybe the hint for what has happened with this budget is captured in the words of the Minister, Paschal Donohoe, who said, "Our schools, our hospitals and our public services are responsible for so much good in society." They certainly are, but that is not their function.”
“We have given a reduction in VAT down to 9% for developers with absolutely no evidence that this will help in any way and no context given. Today I attended a presentation in Buswells in relation to derelict properties all done on a voluntary basis.”
“There is 2% less funding at a time when we need balanced rural and regional development more than ever. I welcome the commitment to diversifying our economy. It should have happened years ago. Again, it is lacking in detail.”
“I preface my remarks by using a few seconds to talk about the four people who are outside here on the 18th day of their hunger strike. We have passed a budget in one of the richest economies in the world and we have four people who have been 18 days on hunger strike outside. They have survived the industrial schools.”
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“I welcome the opportunity, and I will use my three minutes to the best of my ability, to focus on what is happening in the world. The speeches from the Minister, Peter Burke, and the Tánaiste were examples of how to mislead and be disingenuous. We had 3,000 words from Simon Harris. There was one mention of Israel in those 3,000 words, when he said: "The Israeli strikes on Gaza this week must be utterly condemned". Otherwise, there was no mention of Israel. Gaza is mentioned as one word, along with Syria, Lebanon and the Middle East. In contrast, there are two pages on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which is rightly condemned, but there is absolutely no recognition that international law and peace is greatly threatened by Netanyahu's behaviour, and by the Israeli Government and army, along with Trump.”
“This issue concerns a Palestinian couple. The man came here last May and was joined by his wife and their two children in June. She is currently 12 weeks pregnant. Inhumanely, yesterday they received a letter telling them they had to move from their accommodation in Galway. The wife is pregnant and the two children are in the local school within walking distance. I wrote in desperation to IPAS and I also wrote to the Minister. Other than an acknowledgement that they were looking at it, nothing happened. On the ground, however, something happened and the family had to move from their roots in Galway up to Dublin. There was no acknowledgement from the Government that this is inhumane or of the trauma we have described this afternoon. They managed to get some type of peace and to settle in Galway and then they were moved like a product.”
“The interruptions by all of the Government Members are a measure of their absolute absence of realisation of what is happening on the ground. It is easier to join in with a Tánaiste who is utterly failing to answer the questions. Can he please go back to the committee that the Taoiseach met when he was in America-----”
“The Tánaiste has refused to condemn the genocide. He has refused to condemn Trump and the American Government for fully backing genocide. We have called out Russia for its illegal invasion. We have supported the Tánaiste on that, and he has utterly failed to call out what Israel is doing. They are ignoring all international law. They are committing genocide in our name while he talks about silly words-----”
“They could stop the trade agreement that Europe has with Israel. They could end the Central Bank issuing war bonds, and the Tánaiste might explain about the American Jewish committee that the Taoiseach met in America about the next steps of agreement. Please clarify that.”
“What we could do is end the military use of Shannon Airport. At the very least use the legislative powers that are there to stop the transit of arms being reported on a regular basis by The Ditch . During the previous Government, Eamon Ryan told us there would be an inspection regime. I understand that is gone by the way. The leader of the Labour Party has welcomed the occupied territories Bill. I also welcome it, but I do not trust the Government parties. I absolutely do not trust them on the occupied territories Bill.”
“I know it is difficult for the Tánaiste to hear this and I ask him to please not waste his reply, if he could, in telling me how grateful the Palestinian people are to us. I know that he is going to tell me that because I have been told it repeatedly. Of course they are grateful and of course we should be proud that we recognise Palestine. That is the bare minimum we should be doing faced with a genocide.”
“We are not seeing that but an escalation in the violence and the genocide and we are openly informed that they are back to finish the job, back to ensure that no Palestinians will be left on Palestinian land. The people who are there are surviving among the dead bodies of their families and their people. There is no water, no energy, no hospitals and they are being starved to death, and we talk. What is Ireland doing? Along with our sweet words, we are actively colluding with genocide and with the slaughter of innocent people.”
“This is a body of international law that was developed to ensure that the very slaughter we are witnessing would never happen again, yet we are seeing scenes of horror and destruction in Palestine that were described by the UN rapporteur this morning and by an Irish doctor yesterday. In the past three days, we have seen the ceasefire ended unilaterally by Israel and an invasion by air and land. There are bombs dropping on defenceless civilians. We do not know the figure, but it is ranging up to 1,000 persons, 70% of whom are women and children. Of course, we have been told by the UN rapporteur that that is the ratio since the day Israel started its genocide. This is despite Israel being under a legal obligation by the highest court in the world to dismantle the occupation by the end of this year.”
“Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Táim ag díriú isteach, a Thánaiste, ar an gcinedhíothú atá ag tarlú. Agus muidne i mbun cainte, tá cinedhíothú ar mhuintir na Palaistíne ar siúl. Táimid ag fáil na mílte aighneachtaí, gach Teachta Dála anseo, ag cur brú orainne ceannaireacht a thaispeáint agus rud a dhéanamh de réir ár mbriathar. There are many things I would like to engage with the Tánaiste on today but the ongoing genocide is uppermost in my mind, our colleagues' minds and, more importantly, in the thousands of emails that we are getting imploring us to do something in addition to our sweet words. There is total disregard of international law by Netanyahu, the Israeli Government and its army.”
“There are no properties available under the HAP scheme. The Simon report has told us about the situation in respect of every quarter of every year for several years now, even when it looks under the discretionary schemes. Homeless services, therefore, are at capacity, no properties are available under HAP and now the Government is doing this with a scheme. Tá sé dochreidte agus ní féidir glacadh leis. Arís, gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as ucht an deis a thabhairt dúinn soiléiriú a fháil ar a laghad. An féidir leis an Rialtas a rá liom, i dtaobh na dtithe a bhí i mbaol ó thaobh an scéim a bheith curtha ar fionraí, an bhfuil na tithe sin anois i seilbh na comhairle i nGaillimh? Tá sé ardaithe go mion minic agam agus ba mhaith liom soiléiriú.”
“It is like all the schemes brought in by the Government in that they have become necessary. They are, though, all pieces without an overall picture. What the Government has done is it has brought in a scheme. The officials in the council got the work ready. The Government just cut it and then told us it did not. It played absolutely silly games in relation to where the truth lay. Across every party, contributors have raised questions in this regard. How did that happen if what I said is not accurate? How were clear guidelines not given in relation to this matter or news issued of a proper review being carried out, by whom and within what length of time? In the meantime, the Government's new restrictions are appalling. This is what is going to happen. Our homeless services are at full capacity in Galway city.”
“It is also acknowledged that targets are not being achieved. When it comes to the tenant in situ scheme, then, on page 3 of the minutes, it is stated that in regard to the scheme, as an official from the Department advised, that it was introduced, as was outlined, in 2023 as a temporary measure and so on, and was then renewed. The minutes go on to state the Department has consistently indicated the limit to the local authorities but the figure concerned has been exceeded, and this scheme should be a scheme of last resort. I share concerns regarding the scheme and value for money but I place the blame firmly on the shoulders of the Government for not monitoring this scheme and for not having the figures at its fingertips as to whether it is providing value for money. At the moment, it is a necessary scheme.”
“Some 11 of those units had sitting tenants. I have a letter here, as does every other TD, telling me the council is not answering the landlord in relation to the wish to sell the house under the tenant in situ scheme. There was no reply from the council. Another letter I have concerns a similar situation. Let me look at the task force in Galway that has been sitting now since 2018 because the situation is so crucial there and such is the emergency. Do you know what the new chairperson of that commission told us back in November? We have had no minutes since then. We get no feeling there is urgency here, except in the words of the chairperson, who said we must massively scale up our delivery of social housing. It is acknowledged by both local authorities that the targets have not been met.”
“I am thankful to Fine Gael, no, I am sorry, to Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. It is interesting that I had a slip of the tongue in relation to Fine Gael because quite a number of Government backbenchers raised questions in relation to this issue over and over. The former Ceann Comhairle was one, such was the uncertainty regarding this scheme. The city council in Galway was informed this scheme was suspended. I raised this issue in every manner I could, including during Questions on Policy or Legislation, as a Topical Issue matter and during questions with other TDs, but absolutely no clarity was given to me concerning the scheme. I was told it was not suspended, yet the city council told me there were 16 units in the middle of a contract about which there was no certainty or about whether they were going to be lost.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála agus an deis againn a bheith páirteach sa díospóireacht seo. Chuir an Rialtas an scéim seo ar fionraí, agus tá bréag á hinsint ag an Rialtas maidir leis an scéal. Cuirfidh mé mar sin é. Táimid i dtír na mbréag arís ó thaobh cad atá ag tarlú anseo. Tá litir anseo agam ag cur in iúl dom go ndúirt an Roinn go raibh an scéim seo curtha ar fionraí roimh an Nollaig. D'ardaigh mé, cosúil le gach Teachta Dála eile, é anseo arís agus arís. D'ardaigh mé é mar cheist ar sonraíodh uain di, mar Shaincheist Thráthúil agus ar urlár na Dála, agus ní raibh mé in ann aon soiléireacht a fháil. Bhí an Taoiseach ag caint as dhá thaobh a bhéil maidir leis an scéim seo, ag rá nár cuireadh ar fionraí í agus go mbeadh scéim nua i gceist.”
“Tá neart talaimh ag an údarás. Chomh maith leis sin, tháinig seacht gcóras áitiúil os ár gcomhair ar an gcoiste ó na Gaeltachtaí uilig agus bhí sé damanta soiléir nach raibh aon eolas acu faoi na dualgais a bhí orthu ó thaobh ceantair Ghaeltachta de. Bhí easpa tuisceana iomlán i gceist. Ní féidir a bheith ag caint i ndáiríre faoin nGaeilge gan chaint faoi chúrsaí tithíochta agus gan an plean ó thaobh oideachais taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht, oideachas trí Ghaeilge agus oideachas lánGhaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Táimid fós ag fanacht ar an dréachtpholasaí. Tá deireadh á chur leis an polasaí thar a bheith dearfach don oideachas laistigh den Ghaeltacht agus níl tásc nó tuairisc ar cad a tharlóidh amach anseo. Mar fhocal scoir, tá éiginnteacht amach is amach i gceist ó thaobh an chórais pleanála teanga.”
“Is é an teachtaireacht chumhachtach a tháinig as ná go bhfuil géarchéim thithíochta náisiúnta ann agus tá an ghéarchéim sin ina géarchéim pobail agus teanga sa Ghaeltacht. Tá ceithre mholadh ann agus ní dóigh liom gur féidir le haon Teachta Dála anseo easaontú leis na moltaí sin. Tá siad thar a bheith praiticiúil. Is é an rud atá ar bharr an liosta ná go mbeadh na treoirlínte pleanála foilsithe. Is é an dara rud nó go mbeadh cumhacht ag Údarás na Gaeltachta dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim thithíochta, i measc moltaí eile. Níl tada déanta go dtí seo. Maidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus an Bille, beidh sé againn go luath, dár leis an Aire ina óráid. Arís, cén tseachtain, cén mhí nó cén bhliain? Tá gá práinneach chun toghchán a thabhairt ar ais ach, níos práinní fós, go mbeadh cumhacht ag an údarás ó thaobh tithe de.”
“Go hiontach. Rud eile praiticiúil ná na ranganna a éascú do gach leibhéal den fhoireann sa Dáil, na Teachtaí Dála, na Seanadóirí ach, go háirithe, an fhoireann ar an talamh agus sa bhialann, go mbeadh na ranganna seo feiliúnach dóibh agus ansin, tar éis sé mhí, go mbeadh togra píolótach ann le go mbeadh deis ag na daoine sin freastal saor in aisce ar chúrsa Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Níor tharla sé sin ach an oiread. D'oibríomar traspháirtí agus chuireamar moltaí praiticiúla le chéile agus níor tharla sé sin. Tá beagáinín frustrachais orm go bhfuilimid fós i mbun ráiteas seachas beart a dhéanamh de réir ár mbriathar. Chomh maith leis sin, luaigh an Teachta Murphy BÁNÚ. Bhí cruinniú poiblí againn an Domhnach seo caite agus bhí sé plódaithe.”
“Faraor géar, níl a fhios agam cad a tharla don tuarascáil sin ach bhí moltaí praiticiúla ann. Bhain ceann dóibh le ceisteanna chuig Airí, go mbeadh an chéad cheist de na Ceisteanna Eile i nGaeilge,go mbeadh deis ag gach Teachta Dála cur isteach ar an bpróiseas sin agus, ar a laghad, gach lá ar an Máirt, an Céadaoin agus an Déardaoin, go mbeadh ceist i nGaeilge. Níor tharla sé sin, ach b'fhéidir go mbeidh tionchar ag an Aire Stáit ar an gceist sin. Is rud praiticiúil é sin. Bhí rudaí eile i gceist freisin ó thaobh-----”
“Ar ndóigh, cuireann sé gliondar ar mo chroí agus tugann sé ardú meanman dom an méid Comhaltaí, an Teachta Murphy san áireamh, atá sásta an Ghaeilge a úsáid inniu agus páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht seo. Tá éacht déanta aige agus ag na Teachtaí Dála eile freisin. Ag an am céanna, tá ráitis i gceist arís agus ráitis ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Chuile bhliain bíonn ráitis againn ó thaobh na Gaeilge de agus tá sé ag coinneáil na Gaeilge ar imeall seachas an Ghaeilge a bheith fite fuaite ar chlár oibre na Dála. Chun an sprioc nó an cuspóir sin a bhaint amach bhí mise páirteach i bhfochoiste, nuair a d'fheidhmigh mé mar Chathaoirleach air, agus d'oibríomar go léir traspháirtí chun tuarascáil ghearr a chur le chéile le moltaí praiticiúla chun an cumas in úsáid na Gaeilge a mhéadú i líon na dTeachtaí Dála agus na foirne.”
“I say that with the greatest of respect for gardaí on the ground. I am asking for more gardaí on the ground. I believe they make us safer. However, I tremble at this technology and facial recognition. I note the concerns of human rights organisations that repeatedly go to great trouble to educate us in a very practical way. Here we are making more statements. I will go to Galway and watch out to see gardaí walking around or on bikes. I am thrilled when I do. That is one practical way to make words mean something.”
“In my experience in the Dáil, the ushers on the ground are absolutely fantastic in providing security by watching exactly what is happening in the Dáil. It is similar with gardaí on the ground who are part of the community. I do not like the word "embedded". A liaison or community garda whom you can call makes us all feel much safer. The Ceann Comhairle will know well that is being dismantled and is not to be seen on the ground despite all the wonderful words and that Act, which has not been implemented. All of the time, the push is towards technology to make us safer. It will not make us safer but it will certainly go a long way towards undermining social cohesion. We are going back to the Garda having enormous power, as it had in the past, and this power being unchecked, unsupervised and unmonitored.”
“In theory, we all want to see more gardaí on the ground. I say that as someone whose introduction to the Garda was reading the O'Higgins report on Sergeant McCabe. That certainly opened my eyes to what was happening at a very high level in An Garda Síochána, which then filtered down. It is the same thing with the Morris tribunal, the Smithwick tribunal and others, the reports of which I read in my first few years in the Dáil. Notwithstanding that, it is a testament to the people of Ireland and the good gardaí on the ground that we actually want more of them. We feel safer having them but we have never got them. Under the guise of community safety, we are talking about facial recognition. I absolutely tremble at the thought of this being pushed to make communities safer.”
“I welcome this opportunity although I share the frustration of the previous speakers that we are again having statements on this issue. We have had statements over and over and no progress has been made. On the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, I spent a short while on the justice committee and I had serious concerns about the Act. I put them aside because we were absolutely assured that community would form the major part of it and that we would have gardaí on the ground. That has not happened. It has not even been implemented, although we have been given a reason or two for that. It is worrying. I come from Galway and I believe there should be more gardaí in the city, although I acknowledge Deputy Coppinger's concerns about the interaction between gardaí on the ground and people from certain backgrounds.”
“The extended roll-out of the hot meals programme to schools has been welcomed, I think, by all schools. There might be questions about the quality on occasions but that is for another day. Baineann an cheist atá á cur os comhair na Dála agam inniu leis na costais bhreise atá i gceist chun na béilí a chur chuig na hoileáin. I understand that a school on the Aran Islands has incurred an extra cost of more than €100 per month - I understand it may be as much as €120 - because of transport and freight costs. It has written to the Department of Social Protection, but there has been no move yet to deal with the matter. I know that the Government's policy is to roll out this programme so that all schools have it, but I do not think it was envisaged that island schools would incur extra costs in order to benefit from the scheme.”
“I thank the Minister of State for mentioning it and looking on it as a possibility. It has taken a very long time. The Minister of State is behind the western rail corridor and I fully support him on that. These are all sustainable solutions that will allow us to comply with our climate obligations.”
“The Minister of State knows my views on the N6 project. There are sustainable solutions to the traffic congestion in Galway. We are under an obligation. The Minister of State may have listened to the radio interview this morning regarding the billions we are going to pay in fines for failure to comply with our obligations. Galway is one of five cities that is destined to grow. We have no park-and-ride facilities even though it was put into the city development plan and became law on 1 February 2005. I have to keep repeating this because the people of Galway, through the councillors, put forward suggestions but they were never implemented. You have to ask yourself why this park-and-ride proposal was never implemented over those 20 years. I know exactly how long the light rail feasibility study took.”
“While it will not be reached tonight, I have a question further down the question paper on park-and-ride facilities. The sustainable solutions in Galway have never been rolled out. A park-and-ride facility still remains up in the clouds even though it was enshrined in the city development plan on 1 February 20 years ago. Will the Minister of State give me some dates in respect of the promised metropolitan area plan?”
“I think the Minister of State would agree that transport could not get any worse in Galway with traffic congestion. I welcome that there is going to be a plan, but I will tell the Minister of State about my experience. The transport plan that became law in 2016 was already dated and outmoded in light of the increase in the population, the promised increase in the population and our obligations under climate change legislation. With a small team on the streets of Galway - we did not take one signature online - I gathered 24,000 signatures in 2018 from people crying out for a feasibility study. That was eventually done by the previous Government. I welcomed that. It was finally published and it indicated that this was eminently doable.”
“Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit nua. Guím gach rath orthu ina róil nua. Baineann mo cheist go sonrach le córas iarnród éadrom do chathair na Gaillimhe. Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta? I congratulate the new Minister and Minister of State and I wish them the best of luck. My specific question is about what progress has been made relating to the roll-out of light rail in Galway, as one essential part of the solution to traffic congestion in Galway.”
“Tá siad ag brath ar fhoirgneamh réamhdhéanta, seachas aitheantas a bheith tugtha dóibh ar an éacht atá déanta agus iad a threorú i dtreo na ndeontas agus an airgid atá ag teastáil. Tiocfaidh mé ar ais chuig an Aire faoi sin. Is fiú cuairt a thabhairt ar an naíonra sin.”
“B'fhéidir go mbeidh an tAire in ann a rá cén uair a bheidh an dréachtpholasaí á fhoilsiú agus b'fhéidir go mbeidh sí in ann a rá cén uair a bheidh polasaí nua do scoileanna laistigh den Ghaeltacht. Táim beagnach críochnaithe. Ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh do Naíonra Chamuis. Is iontach an naíonra é agus is é an chéad naíonra, de réir mar a thuigim, níl a fhios agam sa tír ach in aon Ghaeltacht, atá ag feidhmiú go huile is go hiomlán taobh amuigh. D'fhoghlaim sé ceacht ó tíortha eile. Tá an naíonra seo ag feidhmiú go huile is go hiomlán faoin aer taobh amuigh. Éacht atá déanta acu agus bhí sé de phribhléid agam agus ag Teachtaí Dála eile freastal ar ócáid leo. Ach arís is arís eile, tá siad ag brath ar airgead a bhailiú sa bhaile beag.”
“Is é an rud a bhí ag teastáil uainne agus ó na saineolaithe ná go mbeadh dréachtpholasaí i gceist, mar is gnách, agus go mbeadh cumarsáid dháiríre fhírinneach idir na daoine ar an talamh agus an Roinn Oideachais chun muinín a chothú agus go mbeidís in ann obair as lámh a chéile ar son na Gaeilge, ar son cearta agus ar son roghanna a thabhairt do thuismitheoirí agus do chlanna ar an talamh. Faraor, ní hé sin atá tarlaithe ach tá deis ann fós dréachtpholasaí a fhoilsiú bunaithe ar na rudaí atá foghlamtha againn agus an bealach ceart chun rudaí a dhéanamh ó thaobh cúrsaí oideachais. Ag eascairt as anocht, b'fhéidir go mbeidh an tAire in ann a dheimhniú gurb é sin atá i gceist ag an Rialtas anois, is é sin go mbeidh dréachtpholasaí d’oideachais lánGhaeilge taobh amuigh de na Gaeltachtaí.”
“Déanann an tuarascáil tagairt, agus i bhfad níos mó ná tagairt, don phráinn atá le polasaí don oideachas sna luathbhlianta. Tá sé go léir anseo. Ba mhaith liom í a léamh amach ach níl an t-am agam. Baineann SEALBHÚ agus an tuarascáil úsáid as eiseamláirí i dtíortha eile, go háirithe i dTír na mBascach. Tá sé seo déanta ina lán tíortha eile agus ba chóir dúinn breathnú air sin agus beart a dhéanamh de réir ár mbriathar. Bunaithe air seo, rinne an Rialtas creatpholasaí, ní dréachtpholasaí ach creat don pholasaí, fráma nó framework nó skeleton, a chur le chéile. Laistigh den pholasaí sin, níl spriocamanna nó cuspóirí agus - cén chaoi is féidir liom é a chur? - níl aon rud foghlamtha acu ón dea-pholasaí eile ó thaobh oideachais sna Gaeltachtaí. Ní nach ionadh go raibh daoine ar an talamh buartha faoi na rudaí nach bhfuil sa chreatpholasaí.”
“B'iad Pádraig Ó Duibhir, Aisling Ní Dhiorbháin agus daoine eile a dúirt é sin ar an 29 Meán Fómhair 2023. Bliain go leith níos déanaí a d'fhoilsíomar achoimre na tuarascála seo. Is é an rud a léimeann amach ná an chonclúid. Is í an teachtaireacht shoiléir a tháinig tríd an gcomhairliúchán ná nach bhfuil go leor suíomhanna lánGhaeilge ann chun freastal ar éileamh an phobail. Is í an phríomhsprioc in aon pholasaí nua ná cur go mór le líon na suíomhanna lánGhaeilge agus araile. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil an tuarascáil sin léite ag na hAirí ach is fiú é a léamh. I measc na moltaí áirithe, tá sé ráite gur éiligh go leor rannpháirtithe go n-íocfaí an liúntas do mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge do gach múinteoir san earnáil lánGhaeilge mar aitheantas ar an obair sa bhreis a bhíonn le déanamh acu.”
“Tá an Rialtas ar tí polasaí oideachais do scoileanna taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht a chur ar fáil, ach níl na gealltanais shollúnta atá faighte againn luaite. Níl sé luaite go bhfuil an tréimhse ama don pholasaí thar a bheith dearfach atá ann don oideachas laistigh den Ghaeltacht imithe, agus go bhfuil an polasaí sin críochnaithe. Chuaigh mé tríd, agus níl focal ná tagairt do pholasaí nua do na scoileanna laistigh den Ghaeltacht. B'fhéidir go bhfuil an locht orm ach tar éis póirseáil ar shé leathanach, ní fhaca mé aon tagairt don pholasaí atá geallta. Nuair a d'fhoilsíomar ar an gcoiste an tuarascáil sin, bhí sé bunaithe ar na dreamanna agus na saineolaithe a tháinig os ár gcomhair, SEALBHÚ ina measc. Ní mór dom breathnú ar obair na gcapall a rinne SEALBHÚ chun a chur in iúl dúinn arís na fadhbanna ar an talamh ach na réitigh freisin.”
“Cloisim daoine ag rá nach mór dúinn an Ghaeilge a shimpliú agus gan bac le litríocht agus leis seo. Ní ghlacaim leis sin a bheag nó a mhór. Is ábhar ann féin í an Ghaeilge. Is í ár dteanga dhúchais agus náisiúnta atá againn agus tá daoine i dteideal oideachas lánGhaeilge a fháil. I mo thuairim, tá na cearta sin bunaithe ar reachtaíocht: an tAcht Oideachais. Ceapaim go bhfuil na cearta leagtha amach ansin. Mura bhfuil, tá an rún nó tá an tuarascáil ag rá mura bhfuil an reachtaíocht láidir go leor, go bhfuil gá le reachtaíocht chun a chinntiú go bhfuil roghanna ag tuismitheoirí agus ag clanna oideachas a fháil trí Ghaeilge nó trí Bhéarla. Molaim an tAire Oideachais ós rud é go bhfuil sí sásta an Ghaeilge a úsáid. Rinne sí sár-iarracht agus tá sí ar thuras freisin, ach is cúis díomá dom amach is amach an polasaí atá geallta.”
“Laistigh de na sé mholadh sin, féachfaimid ar mholadh a sé: Molann an Comhchoiste go gcuirfidh an Rialtas agus an tAire Oideachais plean cuimsitheach le chéile ina leagfar amach spriocanna intomhaiste, critéir shoiléire agus amlínte dochta lena chinntiú go mbeidh bunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna lánGhaeilge sna bailte móra timpeall na tíre a bhfuil an t-éileamh ann le haghaidh iarbhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge. Tá cúig mholadh eile sa tuarascáil. Má tá an Rialtas ag glacadh leis an rún, tá gá go nglacfar leis an tuarascáil freisin a dhíríonn solas isteach ar na bearnaí ollmhóra atá ar an talamh, ach ní hamháin an solas a dhíriú isteach ar na fadhbanna mar tá na réitigh ann freisin. Is é sin an rud is tábhachtaí inniu. Ní bhreathnaím ar an nGaeilge mar fhadhb.”
“Is scéal thar a bheith dearfach é ar lámh amháin - tá éileamh ollmhór ann - ach ar an lámh eile níl an t-éileamh seo á shásamh ag aon rialtas nó an Rialtas seo. D'fhoilsíomar an tuarascáil seo cúpla mí ó shin. Tá sé gearr agus is fiú é a léamh. Níl mórán leathanach - 46 - ann i ndáiríre. Níl i gceist ach sé cinn de mholtaí agus níl mé chun iad a léamh amach ach is fiú iad a léamh. Foilsíodh an tuarascáil seo tar éis próiseas comhairliúcháin. Tháinig a lán dreamanna os ár gcomhair, ina measc Gaeloideachas agus An Foras Pátrúnachta, le cur in iúl dúinn chomh mór is atá an t-éileamh ar an talamh ó thaobh oideachais trí Ghaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht agus nach bhfuil an t-éileamh sin á shásamh.”
“Is scéal dearfach é go bhfuil an Rialtas ag admháil go bhfuil teipthe air ó thaobh polasaí oideachais don Ghaeilge taobh amuigh de na Gaeltachtaí. B'fhéidir go mbeidh ar an Aire a sheiceáil má tá an Rialtas ag glacadh leis an rún nó nach bhfuil. Bhí de phribhléid agam - uaireanta níor cheap mé gur phribhléid é, mar bhí orainn a lán rudaí a léamh trí Ghaeilge, agus de réir a chéile bhí sé i bhfad níos éasca dúinn - a bheith ar an gcomhchoiste Gaeilge le hAengus mar Chathaoirleach. D'fhoilsíomar a lán tuarascálacha agus d'fhoilsigh muid an ceann seo: Comhchoiste na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta agus Phobal labhartha na Gaeilge: An tÉileamh ar an Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge ag Leibhéal na hIar-Bhunscoile nach bhfuil á shásamh ag an Stát.”
“Go n-éirí leis an gCeann Comhairle ina turas ó thaobh na teanga de. Táimid go léir taobh thiar di agus táimid go léir ar an turas céanna. Gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála. Clúdaíonn an rún a lán réimsí. Beidh mise ag díriú ar cheann amháin: an ceart chun an oideachais lán-Ghaeilge agus an riachtanas atá ann. An bhfuil an Rialtas ag glacadh leis an rún?”
“When I go to my office, I am faced with more and more notices to quit and people appealing to all TDs in relation to those notices. I have ten seconds left. I ask that this go down for further debate. I know it is continuing into next week but we need a debate. Will the recommendations be implemented?”
“That is an increase of almost 300% in ten years and it is a direct consequence of the Government parties' policies, and they refuse to change those policies. I have repeatedly stated that what the Government has done amounts to a jigsaw of pieces, with no overall vision and no recognition that a house is a home. In a report they compiled, the Simon Communities state that we need to enshrine the right to housing in the Constitution. The Minister has conveniently ignored that. I hope that today people will start to recognise that the policies the Government parties have pursued were directly responsible for creating the housing crisis, turning homes into commodities and leaving people with no security of tenure and obliged to ask every day what is going to happen tomorrow. I am facing tomorrow.”
“This task force was set up in 2018 because of the crisis, and yet it is trundling on. All that has changed is that there is a new chairperson and new personnel. There is no end report to tell us the analysis, although the task force is beginning its work in that regard now. What has happened in Galway in the context of housing and why is the emergency accommodation there is always at full capacity? There is no place for homeless people to go. This report tells us that the figures relating to homelessness are not the actual figures. The Simon Communities wrote to us all today and outlined the figures. As of the end of December, 14,864 persons, including 4,500 children, were living in emergency accommodation.”
“It recognises the complete failure of the policies of successive Governments up to now. The commission stated that we need a radical reset and a policy change, and the Government has waited until today to put it on in an afternoon's discussion. I have not heard if the Government will have a policy change and recognise that he housing crisis is a direct consequence of policy, not the other way around. The task force in Galway, which has been sitting since 2018, has a new chairperson. He has recorded his frustration. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, will remember the task force, and now we have them here. The chairperson has outlined his utter frustration at the failure, notwithstanding people's best efforts, to deal with resourcing and many other issues, including an inability to meet targets.”
“Ireland has one of the highest levels of public expenditure and some of the poorest outcomes. The other interesting thing the Commission did, besides making its 83 recommendations, was refer to: "the negative impacts of the housing crisis on overall quality of life in Ireland; 74% of respondents indicated that their housing situation had negatively affected their quality of life." We all know that, but it is there in black and white in the report for the Government to read. The report also states: "Account must be taken in housing policy of the full economic and social costs associated with not meeting Ireland's housing requirements." The report refers to the need for data. It talks about the need for a range of housing types and about the need to address the deficit.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Housing Commission's report. The commission commenced its work in January 2023 and published its report in May 2024. It has taken this long for the Government, under pressure, to put it on the clár oibre agus díospóireacht a bheith againn faoin tuarascáil thábhachtach sin. The commission had 14 members, five sub-committees and six working groups. It held 200 meetings and made 83 recommendations. I do not think I could disagree with any of its recommendations. It held a public consultation that attracted 897 responses which told those of us in opposition what we already new, namely that there is a serious housing crisis. The commission did not put a tooth in it. Many issues jump out at me. I have read the whole report.”
“It is one thing to break it on land and another thing to break the mentality of the colonised. We should build on that history and our strength as an independent sovereign nation to call out truth to power, no matter where that is, certainly in relation to Russia and Putin but also in relation to America and all those in countries, including Britain, which has just decided to increase its defence spending while reducing its aid abroad. As we talk about the displaced Ukrainians, with the greatest of respect, they are part of 120 million people displaced, the highest ever number fleeing from war, catastrophe and violence. We should use our voice on that as well.”
“That is our friend and we do not seem to see any contradiction in calling out Russia - rightly so - but not calling out America or any of the other major powers. I have a huge problem with that. I have a huge problem with the EU, which has lost its direction. It talks about a strategic compass but does not talk about a moral compass. The head of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said she stands shoulder to shoulder with Netanyahu. I have serious difficulties with that, as should all of us here in the seat of democracy in Ireland given our history of colonisation. We owe it to the people of Ukraine to stand with them given that we know what it is like to be colonised. We know how long it has taken to break away from that colonisation. We have taken a long time to break it in our minds as well.”