Conor D McGuinness
Waterford · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Vincent de Paul, both of whom, to be fair, are stepping up but that is not the way it should be. I have also spoken to principals who are told to stretch their ICT budgets, and, in fact, that is the response I got from the Minister of State’s colleague, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, when I queried this. Those budgets have been cut.”
“Every July and August, families steel themselves for the cost of children going back to school, including uniforms, books, and shoes, and, as the Minister of State well knows, school transport. Now, for thousands of parents, there is another bill waiting on the kitchen table. It is one for hundreds of euro for a digital device.”
“It is simply passing responsibility on to families and calling it policy. A child's education should never depend on his or her parents' ability to buy a digital device, and no student should be disadvantaged because they cannot afford the device his or her school requires.”
“I dtaobh chúrsaí Gaeltachta, ní aontaím leis an Aire in aon chor go bhfuil dearcadh nó aighneachtaí na ndreamanna éagsúla atá ag obair sa spás seo iniata leis an gcáipéis seo. Is léir go ndearna an Roinn agus an bheirt Airí sa Roinn tithíochta neamhaird air sin.”
“Today is a very important day because the State has finally and formally apologised to the survivors of Bill Kenneally's abuse. Those who should have been protected were instead failed in the most profound and devastating way. No apology can undo the harm that was done.”
“It is a recognition of the persistence and bravery of you men who are here in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery and those who are not here today. Those of you who refused to give up in your pursuit of truth and justice, I thank you for what you have done. I thank you for your courage and for your power.”
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“It is simply passing responsibility on to families and calling it policy. A child's education should never depend on his or her parents' ability to buy a digital device, and no student should be disadvantaged because they cannot afford the device his or her school requires. If the Government is serious about reducing back-to-school costs and about equality and access, it must properly fund schools' digital infrastructure and stop expecting families to bridge the gap. Níor cheart go mbeadh todhchaí aon pháiste ag brath ar acmhainní airgid a theaghlach. Caithfidh an Rialtas infheistíocht cheart a dhéanamh inár scoileanna agus deireadh a chur leis an ualach atá á cur isteach ar thuismitheoirí.”
“Vincent de Paul, both of whom, to be fair, are stepping up but that is not the way it should be. I have also spoken to principals who are told to stretch their ICT budgets, and, in fact, that is the response I got from the Minister of State’s colleague, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, when I queried this. Those budgets have been cut. They are threadbare. They are already covering administrative software networks, cyber security, classroom technology, and audiovisual equipment for schools. The truth is that the Government talks about equal opportunity but too often it delivers unequal access. It celebrates digital education while expecting parents to bankroll it. It tells schools to prepare children for the future but refuses to provide the resources needed to do so. That is not the leadership required here.”
“Every July and August, families steel themselves for the cost of children going back to school, including uniforms, books, and shoes, and, as the Minister of State well knows, school transport. Now, for thousands of parents, there is another bill waiting on the kitchen table. It is one for hundreds of euro for a digital device. The latest research from the University of Limerick and the ESRI confirms what families and schools have been saying for months now that the Government's hands-off approach to digital education is widening inequality instead of closing it. I have heard directly from parents across County Waterford who simply cannot absorb another €600, €800 or €1,000 in expenses. When they go to their child’s school, they are often referred to the credit union or the Society of St.”
“Cé nach bhfuil an Bille, inár dtuairim, foirfe i dtaobh an méid daonlathais - bhíomar ag súil le níos mó - táimid ag iarraidh an Acht mar atá sé a bhaint amach chomh tapa agus is féidir ionas gur féidir leis na pobail seilbh a ghlacadh arís ar threoir Údarás na Gaeltachta.”
“Nach suimiúil é sin mar fhíric go raibh baint ag an Uachtarán sa Bhille seo. Níor glacadh leis na leasuithe faraor ach chuir sí leasuithe isteach ar thaobh amháin agus shínigh sí an Bille ag an deireadh. Impím ar an Aire gan tuilleadh moille a chur leis an bpróiseas seo, agus pé rud gur féidir a dhéanamh chun tacú leis na toghcháin seo a dhéanamh. Tá muintir na Gaeltachta agus na pobail Ghaeltachta ag fanacht le fada an lá i gcomhair na toghcháin seo teacht thar n-ais. Mar a dúramar ar an dtaobh seo den Teach le linn na ndíospóireachtaí ar Bhille Údarás na Gaeltachta, tá géarghá le tuilleadh daonlathais istigh san údarás.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Tuigim go bhfuil leasuithe le déanamh ar na hAchtanna sin a luaigh sé, is iad sin an Acht Toghcháin, 1992; an Acht Toghcháin, 1997; agus na hAchtanna eile maidir le bruscair, truailliú agus cosaint sonraí. An bhfuil amlíne i gceist i gcomhair na leasuithe nó an bhfuil sé sin le baint amach i mbliana? An bhfuil buile faoi thuairim ann i dtaobh amlíne do na toghcháin? An bhfuil muid ag caint ar iad a bheith ar siúl roimh dheireadh na bliana seo nó i samhradh na bliana seo chugainn? An mbeidh sé faoin Roinn tithíochta na toghcháin sin a rith nó an mbeidh siad á rith i Roinn an Aire féin?”
“Beidh an Aire agus an Aire Stáit bréan dom ag an tráth seo. Baineann an cheist seo le toghchán do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Mar is eol don Aire, bhí an-chuid plé againn sa Seomra Dála seo mar gheall ar Bhille Údarás na Gaeltachta agus na toghcháin. Cé nach rabhamar ag aontú lena chéile ró-mhinic, glacaim anois go bhfuil an Bille rite agus go mbeidh toghcháin ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Cad é an plean? Cathain a mbeidh siad? An féidir aon léargas a thabhairt ar cén cur chuige a bheadh i gceist?”
“That could be a blessing in disguise in some ways because the metric is not there to qualify but, on the other hand, it means that those community groups that are facing some of the same challenges do not qualify. It is something that maybe we can come back to and have a look at some time in the future and maybe keep that expansion going, maybe not year on year but over time, in order that more and more areas would begin to qualify.”
“I wish the Minister luck in those negotiations and discussions ahead of budget 2027. Those of us who represent CLÁR areas and rural areas will be watching. The addition of those townlands - Glenwilliam, Tallow, Lismore and other areas the Minister mentioned - is really welcome and will facilitate groups on the ground there accessing funding. Not every area, unfortunately, can be included in CLÁR funding, but that is something we might revisit and have a discussion about at some stage. I know a threshold or a line has to be drawn somewhere, but I note that in the Comeragh area of County Waterford - the Portlaw-Kilmacthomas local electoral area - there were no new areas designated for CLÁR funding.”
“There are so many issues facing rural areas, particularly those more isolated and less well-off rural areas, and the CLÁR funding is really valuable. I encourage the Minister to do what he can to make that argument in his budgetary discussions this year.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as sin. On the ground, in rural areas, particularly those deprived rural areas, we see the advantage of CLÁR. It is relatively small money. There are small amounts that are provided, but that money goes really far in these areas and it is very much appreciated. It is possibly not transformative but it really helps to keep those communities' heads above the water. We have spoken here about the challenges communities are facing in terms of housing and demographics. The last time the three of us were in this Chamber discussing these matters, we were talking about isolation and loneliness. There are so many challenges. We could talk about rural policing. We could talk about access to public services.”
“This relates to the CLÁR programme in light of the recent expansion of the scheme's eligibility. I really welcome the expansion of the CLÁR scheme. It is something that I think all of us representing rural areas and, indeed, many councillors from all parties and none have been seeking for a long time. It is something about which, as the Minister probably knows, I have put in several written questions over recent weeks. I am talking here about not just an increase in funding to keep pace with inflation but a substantial increase to take into account of the increased number of areas covered.”
“Tá daoine feargach mar gheall air seo. An rud a bhí ag eascairt as seo ná nach bhfuil sé chun cabhrú le daoine as na ceantair sin atá ag iarraidh maireachtáil sa Ghaeltacht agus clann a thógáil trí mheán na Gaelainne tithe a thógaint. Ní fheictear go bhfuil sé sin ann. Molaim don Aire comhairliúchán poiblí a dhéanamh - ceann gairid ach an comhairliúchán sin a dhéanamh agus brú a chur ar an Aire tithíochta a leithéid a dhéanamh mar níl sé maith go leor a chluasa a dhúnadh agus gan éisteacht a thabhairt don phobal.”
“I dtaobh chúrsaí Gaeltachta, ní aontaím leis an Aire in aon chor go bhfuil dearcadh nó aighneachtaí na ndreamanna éagsúla atá ag obair sa spás seo iniata leis an gcáipéis seo. Is léir go ndearna an Roinn agus an bheirt Airí sa Roinn tithíochta neamhaird air sin. Iarrfaidh mé ar an Aire féachaint air seo, gur úsáideadh staitisticí ó dhaonáireamh 2016 sa cháipéis chun an argóint seo a chruthú mar gheall ar líon na gcainteoirí Gaelainne in ionad na staitisticí is déanaí. Molaim don Aire féachaint siar air. Dá mba rud é go raibh siad ag éisteacht leis an Aire nó lena Roinn, ní dóigh liom go dtarlódh a leithéid de rud. Tá an-chuid fadhbanna. Bhí cruinniú agam in Indreabhán i gConamara oíche aréir. Tá daoine an-fheargach mar gheall air seo. Ní fhéadfainn a rá go bhfuil sé mar gheall ar cúpla sonra a athrú anseo agus ansiúd.”
“I feel it was a rushed job by the Department of housing - the Minister may disagree; he may not be at liberty to agree with me publicly – which did not take into account the good work and fair policies the Minister’s Department has been promulgating over the past while. On rural housing, as part of our analysis we spoke to analysts, engineers, architects, planners, merchants, builders and auctioneers and they do not see this would dramatically increase the delivery of housing and they do not think this would lead to a liberalisation of policy. They just do not see that happening. That leaves many communities in the lurch and facing the demographic crises that have been mentioned in this House already this evening.”
“When the document was published last week, we were all taken aback. Commentators, Opposition politicians and campaign groups and people working in the space were disappointed both on the rural housing piece and that of Gaeltacht housing. Not only was it underwhelming and the cúrsaí Gaeltachta deeply disappointing but it looked like something that had been utterly rushed and that had been put together very quickly without a lot of thought. It has taken very little from the consultation, submissions and recommendations of various Oireachtas committees and discussions here in this House.”
“I put this question in English but tá roinnt de a bhaineann le cúrsaí Gaeltachta. Is féidir an dá theanga a úsáid, má tá an tAire sásta leis sin. It is about the role the Minister’s Department will play in amending and finalising the recently published draft national planning statement for rural and Gaeltacht housing. I know this has been discussed several times here this evening and the Minister and I have discussed it as well. This is a document that relates to the core mission of the Minister’s Department so I want to know precisely what role his Department will play in those aspects.”
“While there absolutely has been progress on Local Link, for many people living in Grange to access Local Link and other transport modes and most public services, they have to get to Dungarvan or Youghal and that is not available to them anymore.”
“That is well and good but the community had a service for many years and it was removed because of a deterioration in road quality due to a lack of investment in road structures. This is on the N25, a road I have mentioned many times to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and to the Department of Transport. Due to the lack of investment - the lack of money available to local authorities to do safety works and put in infrastructure around bus stops - Bus Éireann and Waterford City and County Council had to take a decision, which they did not want to take, to remove the bus stop. A whole community has been left without connection to Dungarvan, Youghal and Waterford city and onward routes.”
“Transport policy and funding for most transport modes rests with the Department of Transport but I specifically put this question to the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, because the onus is on Deputy Calleary's Department to advocate for rural communities with every Government Department to ensure the voices and needs of rural communities are heard and met. That is why I put the question in this context. I will briefly tell the story of Grange in west Waterford. It is a rural community with a significant population which is spread out. A Bus Éireann intercity service that has served the community for a long time no longer serves it because the bus stop was taken away due to road safety concerns.”
“The days of impunity, silence and cover-up must never be allowed to return. I really hope that today's apology and this recognition and acknowledgement bring some measure of light after decades of trauma and anguish. I hope it brings vindication, and that you can begin to leave this long fight behind and look forward to the future”
“It has been a long and difficult road for the men who fought for justice. Their bravery and determination deserves to be recognised by this House today. Their families and friends also deserve enormous credit for standing beside them throughout this search for justice. Bill Kenneally died in prison, where he belonged, last month, serving a 19-year sentence for his crimes against children in Waterford. However, he lived a long life free from the consequences of his crimes before the walls finally closed in on him. I encourage anyone who has suffered abuse to come forward. You deserve to be heard; you deserve justice. No longer can this State or our society allow perpetrators to hide in the shadows. The days of deference to the powerful and well-connected must be over.”
“It is a recognition of the persistence and bravery of you men who are here in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery and those who are not here today. Those of you who refused to give up in your pursuit of truth and justice, I thank you for what you have done. I thank you for your courage and for your power. I also want to acknowledge your families and those who have supported you on this journey. We must ensure, as legislators in this place and as a society more broadly, that no individual or institution is ever regarded as untouchable again and that no child or vulnerable person will ever be failed in this way again. I particularly welcome the acknowledgement in the State apology that the response in terms of the investigation by An Garda Síochána was wholly inadequate.”
“Today is a very important day because the State has finally and formally apologised to the survivors of Bill Kenneally's abuse. Those who should have been protected were instead failed in the most profound and devastating way. No apology can undo the harm that was done. I pay tribute to the extraordinary courage of the survivors and their families, whose determination made this day possible. You do not need me to tell you, but today is a day of vindication for those abused by this vile, calculating, predatory paedophile who was protected by people who knew better and by institutions whose duty it was to protect children. Instead, they acted to shield a predator and a political dynasty. This full and formal State apology to the survivors of Bill Kenneally has been a long time coming.”
“It is important to note that the sector never came looking for anything from the State aside from fair access to our waters. Now, when it does come looking it is told to wait for a second report, after which the Government might make a case to Europe. As I said, if this were any other primary producing sector, the Minister of State would be in Brussels now making the case for derogation. That needs to happen.”
“I also note the publication of the Mulvey report this week. It is underwhelming and there is not an expectation in the sector that the Berkery report will move this on much further, but that remains to be seen. My call to the Minister of State is that he and this Government accept that the inshore sector is facing an emergency and, based on that, they should now go and make the case to Brussels. Work can be done on other issues, such as quota, access and a fair proportion of fishing opportunity. This is about keeping the industry afloat. The industry is on its knees and has been facing a slow deterioration as a result of policy and inequity driven by Brussels over many years. It is now at a point from which it may never return. We may lose our inshore sector unless it gets direct financial assistance.”
“However, because it involves fishermen, and the inshore sector in particular, the Minister of States is pre-empting what the Commission may say to us if we were to ask. He must not hide behind what the Commission may say. Instead, he needs to argue and make the case for a derogation from state aid rules in order that this urgent financial assistance can be provided. If that means declaring an emergency and owning up to the fact that the fisheries sector is in crisis, then let us do that.”
“I expected that the Minister of State would refer to state aid rules and how they might prevent this, but I do not believe that argument stands up. I acknowledge the work of NIFA and the inshore sector in producing these reports. NIFA has appeared before the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and has been engaging with Deputy Mac Lochlainn and others for a long time. The truth is that the industry is in crisis and has been under pressure for many years. There is a level of deterioration. The Minister of State knows the European Commission can approve a derogation from state aid rules. It has done so for the vessel fuel supports and in many other cases. I believe if this were affecting another primary producing sector and impacting dairy, tillage or beef production, the Government would already have sought that derogation.”
“I put this question on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Mac Lochlainn, who is otherwise detained this morning. Ireland's inshore fishing fleet is facing an emergency. Rising costs, shrinking quotas and climate-driven weather losses are pushing family fishing businesses to the brink. The National Inshore Fishermen's Association, NIFA, has produced a practical and affordable proposal for an inshore fisheries stabilisation and climate adaptation scheme. Does the Minister of State consider it is may be time to stop commissioning further reports and commit to working directly with NIFA to deliver targeted supports before more boats leave our harbours and are tied up?”
“It also allows Ireland to set the stage for the negotiations that will take place later this year on fish quotas and avoid the shameful outcome of the AGRIFISH Council's meeting in December last year when Ireland, the Irish fishing industry and coastal communities were subjected to a calculated ambush by some of our European partners and fellow member states. We now have a situation where Belgium, with a coastline of some 70 km, enjoys more fishing quota than this entire State for a number of species that are found off our southern shores, in Irish waters. I ask the Minister of State to relay those points to his colleagues in Government so that they will be actioned in the AGRISIFH meeting in Cork this month.”
“I ask the Department, the Minister of State and his colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to urgently intervene to ensure that Rory's rights are upheld and that he can access medical intervention, particularly a transfer to a hospital facility given that he has been without insulin for a number of days. Later this month, as part of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union, the AGRIFISH Council meeting will take place in Cork. This gives the Irish Government an opportunity to set the agenda and push for the long-overdue reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.”
“I raise the issue of a young 22-year-old man from County Waterford, Rory Byrne. He was arrested and detained in Croatia over the weekend. I have written to the Minister for foreign affairs, Deputy McEntee, about this but I wish to raise it in the Chamber with the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. I will share the details when I finish speaking. He was arrested following a fracas at a festival with a number of other young men. He has type-1 diabetes and is very unwell. Consular officials were told by prison authorities that he has refused consular assistance, but his family contests that. He has not been able to access medical help, consular assistance or legal advice. Obviously, there is a language barrier there as well.”
“I raise first the situation faced by the people of Cuba, an island that has been under an illegal blockade for many decades. It is a blockade that the world, through the United Nations, has condemned year on year. Despite the blockade and siege by the world's superpower - its nearest neighbour - Cuba has shown the way regionally in terms of health outcomes for its people. That progress on health is under attack, however. We are seeing a slow war of attrition against healthcare, nutrition and civilians by the United States through the ongoing blockade and the escalation of same. Ireland and the European Union need to make a humanitarian intervention in this regard. They also need to make a political intervention to get a resolution on this, both through the United Nations and bilaterally with the United States.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the response. Like her, I want to pay tribute to those who are working in the services. They have, in many cases with one hand tied behind their backs, managed to clear backlogs arising out of the pandemic and they do their work to a really excellent standard. As we know, however, there are ongoing issues in terms of recruitment and retention, with retention being a key issue. That is not to say there is not capacity elsewhere, however, and for those children whose development and ability to live their lives fully is being held back, Government needs to look, in the interim at the very least, at private provision or provision in areas outside of where they live, so that at least they can access some modicum of service in the short term.”
“I am thinking of a young boy in west Waterford who was really coming on with speech and language therapy but who has been left in the lurch. Since I mentioned locally that I would be raising the issue this week, I have been inundated with messages and emails, most of which have already been passed on to the relevant offices as representations. It just shows the issues that exist, despite the best efforts of the people working in the CDNTS, who are really diligent, dedicated and excellent. This is putting huge pressure on families and holding children back in their development and also their wellness.”
“In raising the issues with CDNT services across the south east, in Waterford in particular, I am really concerned about the situation in Dungarvan. The service there is down two whole-time equivalent speech and language therapists, and that is on top of a low base. I am very concerned about waiting lists. There are six children on a waiting list for CDNT services in Dungarvan for over 12 months. The situation is not much better in the Clonmel and Waterford CDNTs which cater to parts of County Waterford. This comes on top of the latest figures I have - though there may have been some movement since I got them - showing an 18% vacancy rate in CDNTs across the State. This means children are being left behind.”
“If he refuses to plan for unity, that refusal will become a black mark on his legacy and long after he has left office, Fianna Fáil will still have to answer for choosing to block preparation instead of showing leadership. It is irresponsible not to plan. Ní bhaineann an Bille seo le páirtí amháin; baineann sé le muintir na hÉireann uile.”
“Tá dualgas orainn an obair sin a thosú anois chun todhchaí a chruthú ina mbeidh pobail láidre, an Ghaelainn faoi bhláth agus deiseanna ag daoine óga fanacht ina gceantair féin agus saol maith a bheith acu. This is why we must plan. This Bill simply asks the Government to do the obvious, the sensible and the responsible thing; to engage with communities across this island and prepare responsibly for every democratic possibility. Tá Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta bunaithe ar chomhthoiliú, meas agus daonlathas. Má tá muid dáiríre faoi na prionsabail sin, ní féidir linn neamhaird a dhéanamh ar an obair ullmhúcháin. The Taoiseach has no right to stand in the way of hope, ambition and the future of younger generations.”
“Tá todhchaí na hÉireann á cruthú againn inniu. Mar phoblachtach, ionadaí poiblí, fear Gaeltachta agus athair, tá a fhios agam nach dtógtar pobal láidir le dóchas amháin. Tógtar é le fís, misneach agus pleanáil. Is iad sin atá i gceist againn leis an mBille seo. The future of Ireland should be decided by the people of Ireland and this debate is about whether we have the courage and common sense to prepare for that future. We have a historic opportunity now to end partition and reunite our country; to build a new Ireland; to invest in better public services; to strengthen communities; and to give a new generation real hope and real opportunity.”
“Equality of access should not depend on a post code. We need to ensure fair pay and funding for postmasters who have adapted to the enormous challenges and changes of recent years and taken on new responsibilities. They do not need to be lectured or told that An Post is a commercial entity. They have made the changes, found the innovation, made savings and brought in new business, but they need somebody to bat for them. I stress the importance of protecting post offices in our Irish speaking, Gaeltacht communities and our small towns and villages. It is not just about business and services; it is also about social connection and combating the isolation that is gripping too many rural communities across the State.”
“In An Rinn, in a carbon copy of what Deputy Doherty spoke about in Anagaire i dTír Chonaill, a Gaeltacht service, which was the last front-facing public service trí mheán na Gaelainne ar fáil i gceantar Gaeltachta, was allowed to close with zero intervention from the Government. Last year, I met Sean Martin, then president of the Irish Postmasters' Union and postmaster of Tramore post office in County Waterford. He said that €15 million per annum is required to stave off further post office closures and to make it viable for those that still remain to keep their doors open. This legislation will do what Sinn Féin has been asking for, and we are supportive of it, but it applies only until 2030. That is the key difference. We need to offer communities, postmasters and their staff a level of certainty.”
“For communities across this State, in particular in our rural and Gaeltacht areas, An Post is a vital public service. It connects people and supports local businesses. As my colleague Deputy Joanna Byrne has said, post offices are often the last remaining public service in towns and villages. However, successive Governments have allowed rural communities to be hollowed out. Every time a post office closes, people are told that technology or the market will fill the gap but that is not the reality on the ground. In Waterford, eight post offices have closed in the space of less than a decade.”
“One has closed in County Waterford, others are overcrowded and many lack staff. Does the Tánaiste accept that relying on that one snapshot is not a good way to do business or make an assessment, and that the fixed reference date is no longer fit for purpose?”
“I raise the situation of Kilrossanty National School in County Waterford. It is a rural DEIS school that is set to lose a teacher in September based on an enrolment snapshot taken at the end of last September that no longer reflects reality. The school had 102 pupils on that day in September 2025, but several more pupils joined the school after that snapshot. It has 111 enrolled for the coming year, well above the threshold, yet it is still losing a teacher based on that snapshot. This will mean class sizes of up to 31 in multigrade groupings, including three classes in one room with one teacher, and that includes children with additional educational needs. The school has appealed. This points to a wider problem. Across Waterford and the State, schools are under pressure, and rural schools are at risk.”
“Tá cumhacht ar leith ag baint le saol a chaitheamh le bród, le bheith mar chuid de phobal, le glacadh le daoine eile agus a bheith glactha ionat féin. Is é sin croílár an Bhróid. As republicans, we seek an Ireland based on equality and respect for all. We must continue working towards that full lived equality where every LGBTQ+ person is seen, heard, protected and valued. We know that Pride is about solidarity, community and belonging. Those principles are worth defending every single day of the year.”
“Many LGBTQ+ people continue to experience discrimination and isolation, and barriers to services continue to exist. We see this in areas such as mental health and housing in particular. Those challenges can be especially acute outside major urban centres. We know that visibility and representation matter. Knowing that you belong in your community matters. Every person, regardless of where they live, deserves to feel safe and accepted for who they are. We should also remember that the rights enjoyed today were secured through the determination and courage of many activists. There is nothing inevitable about the progress that we enjoy today. The progress made to date was only achieved because people stood up, spoke out, demanded equality and fought for it.”
“I am an Irish republican and I believe deeply in the principles of equality, solidarity and community. Those values shape my politics. They are also the values that exist at the heart of Pride. That is why I am proud to stand here today and every day as an ally of the LGBTQ community. Pride is a celebration of people being able to live freely, openly, honestly and without fear. It is about recognising the dignity and worth of every person and building a society where everyone feels respected and included. Tá cearta agus comhionannas ríthábhachtach agus tá sé chomh tábhachtach céanna go dtógfaimid pobal ina bhfeictear gach uile dhuine, ina gcloistear iad agus ina bhfuil grá, cineáltas agus meas mar chroílár na beatha. While we have made significant progress in recent decades, we know that the work is not finished.”
“It infringes the right of children who are learning to move around during their break times and not be stuck in a classroom, sometimes a prefab classroom, without access to a halla or clós to go outside and play. We need a can-do attitude from the Minister tomorrow. We do not need a litany of what has been achieved, what might be achieved and what is aspired to. It is about the nuts and bolts of remedying this situation. If it is a matter of pointing to a miscommunication or error on the Department's part that it is going to solve, that is fine. We will take that all day long but we need an approach that aims to fix this and sets out how, and that involves working with the school community. They are reasonable people but they have been trying to get this extension for years.”
“However, that cannot just be a meeting to go through what the Minister of State has just said here. I hope the Minister has more to say to the school because this is holding back the ability of children to get an education, of educators to do their jobs safely and of parents to vindicate their children's right to an education through the medium of Irish. No matter what way you cut it, this is an infringement of children's basic rights, such as the right of children with special educational needs attending this excellent school to be able to get the educational interventions they need and deserve in an adequate and appropriate place.”
“Gabhaim buíochas as sin ach níl sé ró-úsáideach dom ná do na daoine atá bainteach leis an scoil seo. I thank the Minister of State for the response. I appreciate him being here to read it. However, similar to other speakers tonight, I will put on record that I would much prefer it if one of the two Ministers in the Department of education were here. Neither is. That in itself tells us something. We could have a more engaging and robust conversation. That is no criticism of the Minister of State. To be fair, he is here doing his job. What we need here is real and meaningful engagement with the school. I had the school principal, the deputy principal and the chairperson of the board of management in Leinster House for some meetings this evening. I understand they are going to meet with the Minister tomorrow.”