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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“Deputy Connolly mentioned slippage, and it is something we must all guard against. I wish both the Minister and the Minister of State well in their briefs in the time ahead and I look forward to a constructive working relationship. I ask the Minister for an update on both the veterinary and the pharmacy courses at South East Technological University. These are crucially important. They were announced last year to great fanfare and after much anticipation. Are we still on course for those courses to begin in September 2025? As other speakers have said about other parts of the country, the agricultural and equine sectors are very big in Waterford and the wider south-east region. We need that veterinary capacity in our new university.”
“Beidh orthu éisteacht agus a bheith in ann déileáil, labhairt agus ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar chosmhuintir na Gaeltachta ionas gur féidir leo a bheith ar an eolas mar gheall ar na rudaí atá ag titim amach ionas gur féidir leo a bpoist a dhéanamh, ní hamháin sna cruinnithe agus ag déileáil le hoifigigh an údaráis, ach ag déileáil leis an bpobal freisin.”
“Tá díomá orm a chloisteáil nach bhfuil an tAire chun glacadh leis na leasuithe seo. Is dócha go bhfuil sé seo chomh tábhachtach gur cheart é a bheith istigh sa bhunreachtaíocht in áit é a bheith ag teacht ón Aire i ndiaidh don reachtaíocht a bheith curtha i bhfeidhm. Ní hamháin go mbeidh sé tábhachtach go mbeadh comhaltaí boird in ann feidhmiú ag leibhéal an bhoird sna cruinnithe as Gaeilge agus tuarascála agus a leithéid a léamh, díospóireachtaí a bheith acu agus cinntí a dhéanamh, ach caithfidh siad a bheith in ann déileáil leis an bpobal agus leis na daoine ina gceantair féin trí mheán na Gaeilge. Caithfidh sé sin, i mo thuairimse, a bheith istigh sa bhunreachtaíocht ionas go bhfuil an tuiscint sin ón tús mar bhunús agus mar bhunchloch ón mbun aníos.”
“Ar ndóigh, bheadh eisceacht i gceist do chainteoirí dúchais Gaeilge ón nGaeltacht nach gá dóibh, is dócha, é sin a thaispeáint nó an leibhéal B2 a bhaint amach ach caithfimid a bheith cinnte de go bhfuil cumas na Gaelainne ag pé duine a bheidh ag déanamh ionadaíochta ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta mar ní hé sin i gcónaí a bhí i gceist nuair a bhí daoine ann a bhí ainmnithe ag na comhairlí áitiúla ar fud na tíre. Is rud scannalach é, i ndáiríre, go raibh daoine ar an mbord le blianta anuas nach raibh in ann freastal ar a ndualgais mar chomhaltaí boird trí mheán na Gaeilge, nach raibh tuiscint acu ar na díospóireachtaí a bhí ag dul ar aghaidh agus nach raibh in ann feidhmiú nó ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar phobal labhartha na Gaeilge. Is iad sin na leasuithe atá againn, leasú Uimh. 5 agus leasú Uimh. 6, i dtaobh an B2.”
“Mar sin, táimid ag tacú go hiomlán le moladh an Rialtais a bhí ann istigh i gceannteidil an Bhille go mbeadh coinníoll ar iarrthóirí leibhéal inniúlachta B2 a bheith acu sa Ghaeilge de réir Chomhchreat Tagartha na hEorpa um Theangacha agus go mbeadh orthu é sin a léiriú sular féidir leo dul in iomaíocht le bheith tofa. Bhí an coinníoll seo, B2, geallta sa scéim ghinearálta agus i gceannteidil an Bhille. Ba cheart go mbeadh an riachtanas seo ann ach ní fheictear é i mBille an Rialtais atá os ár gcomhair anois. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil an leasú seo curtha síos againn.”
“Tairgim leasú Uimh. 5: Ar leathanach 11, idir líne 24 agus líne 25, an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach: “(2D) Chun críocha fho-alt (2C), déanfaidh an tAire, ag féachaint don chóras caighdeán ar a dtugtar an Creat Comhchoiteann Tagartha Eorpach le haghaidh Teangacha, leibhéal B2 a fhorordú mar an leibhéal inniúlachta i nGaeilge is gá a bheith ag duine dá dtagraítear san fho-alt sin. (2E) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (2D) maidir le cainteoirí dúchais Gaeilge.”. Ní mór a léiriú go mbeidh iarrthóirí do na toghcháin in ann feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaelainne agus iad ar bhord an údaráis agus ag déanamh ionadaíochta thar ceann phobal labhartha na Gaeilge agus na gceantar Gaeltachta.”
“Tá muid ag iarraidh go mbeadh siad tofa ag an mbord, go mbeadh siad neamhspleách ón Aire agus go mbeadh deis ag gach ceantar a bheith ina cathaoirleach nó ina leas-chathaoirleach ionas go mbeadh rotation i gceist agus nach i gcónaí go mbeadh an cathaoirleach nó an leas-chathaoirleach lonnaithe sna ceantair mhóra. Bheadh deis agus an ceart ag gach ceantar a thréimhse a bheith aige.”
“Tá an leasú seo dírithe ar chathaoirleach agus leas-chathaoirleach a bheith ceaptha ar an mbord ionas go mbeadh an t-údarás acu labhairt ar son na Gaeltachta agus an t-aitheantas acu chun é sin a dhéanamh. Bheadh an dlisteanacht acu go mbeadh siad in ann é sin a dhéanamh agus bheadh éisteacht á fáil acu. Ar ndóigh, mar a dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, tá gá leis an mbord iomlán a bheith neamhspleách. Is cinnte go gcaithfidh an cathaoirleach agus an leas-chathaoirleach a bheith neamhspleách ón Aire agus ón Rialtas. In an-chuid babhta, tá seans ann go mbeidh siad ag easaontú agus i mbun stocaireachta ag lorg acmhainní agus cumhachtaí breise agus ag iarraidh ceisteanna a ardú. Mar sin, caithfidh go mbeadh an t-údarás atá acu ina róil mar chathaoirleach agus leas-chathaoirleach ag teacht ón mandáit a bheadh acu ón mbord iomlán.”
“Ní gá dúinn tuismitheoirí agus múinteoirí a bheith againn ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta ionas go dtuigimid agus go dtuigeann siad go bhfuil an Gaeloideachas mar chuspóir agus rud an-tábhachtach. Is gá dúinn daoine atá ag maireachtáil agus taithí acu ar an nGaeltacht a bheith air. Chomh maith leis sin, tá gá le pobal iomlán na Gaeltachta a bheith in ann a chead cainte a bheith acu agus an cinneadh seo a dhéanamh, ní Aire - pé Aire a bheadh ann amach anseo - ag ceapadh seisear bunaithe ar pé saghas ruda gur mian leis nó léi amach anseo.”
“Tá 32 comhairleoir ar Chomhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge agus bhíomar in ann ár ngnó a dhéanamh, bhíomar in ann cur le straitéis agus bhí an-chuid taithí againn. Tá sé mar an gcéanna i ngach comhairle áitiúil, sa Teach seo agus sa Seanad. Tá gá orainn a bheith macánta mar gheall air seo. Ba cheart go mbeadh muinín againn sna pobail Ghaeltachta gur féidir leo a gcinntí féin a dhéanamh, go bhfuil ceart acu a gcinntí féin a dhéanamh agus go dtuigeann siad cad is fearr dóibh a dhéanamh mar phobal. Is é sin an daonlathas. Ní gá dúinn ailtirí nó tógálaithe a bheith ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta chun tosaíocht a dhéanamh de thithíocht Gaeltachta. Tá gá ann daoine atá ag maireachtáil, a bhfuil taithí acu, ó gach ceantar Gaeltachta a bheith ar an mbord ionas go bhfuil sé sin mar thosaíocht.”
“Tá sé iontach an comhrá mór seo agus an comhthéacs mar gheall ar an nGaelainn fud fad na tíre a bheith againn ach, sa díospóireacht seo, caithfimid díriú isteach ar an nGaeltacht agus iarrachtaí an Stáit thar na blianta an Ghaeltacht a chaomhnú agus daoine a choimeád inti. Mar a dúirt urlabhraí amháin, bhí fostaíocht de dhíth roimhe agus anois tá tithíocht agus infheistíocht i slite eile de dhíth. Maíodh an tAire go bhfuil gá le bord níos lú ionas go mbeidh sé éifeachtach. Ní fheadar an bhfuil aon staidéar déanta ag an Aire nó ag an Roinn mar gheall ar éifeacht an bhoird agus cé mhéad comhalta is fearr. An bhfuil aon fhianaise mar bhunchloch leis an méid a dúirt an tAire gur ceart bord níos lú a bheith againn in ionad ceann níos mó ionas go mbeidh sé níos éifeachtaí? Mar a luaigh mé cheana féin, is iarchomhairleoir mé.”
“Bhí comhrá agus díospóireacht leathan againn ansin cé go rabhamar ag díriú isteach ar leasú áirithe. Bhí caint mar gheall ar phobal mór na Gaeilge agus lucht labhartha na Gaelainne fud fad na tíre seo. Is ceart an comhthéacs sin a bheith againn ach caithfimid a aithint go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht éagsúil. Is rud aonarach í Gaeltacht na hÉireann. Ní hamháin go bhfuil an Ghaelainn beo bríomhar mar theanga labhartha laethúil ag an bpobal ach tá sé ann leis na glúnta siar. Tá sé beo beathach ó bhí an Ghaelainn ann mar theanga den chéad uair. Ní raibh am riamh nach raibh an Ghaelainn á labhairt sna ceantair sin. Caithfidh an t-aitheantas sin a bheith againn.”
“Is cuid de chroílár Ghaeltacht na hÉireann é, an t-aon cheantar Gaeltachta ina bhfuil líon na gcainteoirí laethúla taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais tar éis fás thar tréimhse dhá dhaonáireamh, atá ag dul i gceart agus áit a bhfuil an-chuid gá le fostaíocht, le tithíocht agus le rudaí den tsaghas sin. Táimid ag moladh go mbeadh an deis acu beirt a toghadh agus ceantracha eile chomh maith. Táimid ag lorg an daonlathas is mó gur féidir linn a bhaint amach anseo agus an ionadaíocht. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil an leasú curtha síos againn.”
“Ach ag caint le daoine i gceantracha Gaeltachta eile ar fud fad na tíre seo, an t-éileamh atá acu ná go mbeadh an struchtúr nua daonlathach seo iomlán daonlathach mar bhunphrionsabal. Is é sin an fáth go raibh leasú Uimh. 1 leagtha síos. Is é sin an fáth go rabhamar ag iarraidh i bhfad níos mó comhaltaí boird a bheith ainmnithe anseo le leasú Uimh. 1 atá as ord, ionas go mbeadh deis ag na ceantracha Gaeltachta a rogha daoine a thoghadh ar an mbord seo ionas gur féidir tuairimí níos leithne a fháil. Mar shampla, b'fhéidir go mbeadh beirt tofa ó Ghaeltacht na nDéise. Is ceantar beag ach ceantar an-tábhachtach é.”
“Ní fheictear dom go bhfuil aon mhaitheas, aon chúis nó argóint á dhéanamh ag aon duine, nó aon éileamh á dhéanamh ag aon duine, go mbeadh an tAire in ann comhaltaí boird a cheapadh ar an údarás nuair atá an t-éileamh a bhí á dhéanamh i gcónaí - ag daoine ó gach páirtí agus daoine neamhspleácha - go mbeadh toghchán tagtha thar n-ais agus go mbeadh iomlán na gcomhaltaí boird tofa ag muintir na Gaeltachta. Tá seanphrionsabal ann i dtaobh cúrsaí daonlathais go mbeadh na daoine atá ag déanamh na gcinntí tofa agus freagrach do na daoine atá á roghnú agus sílim go bhfuil orainn freastal ar an mbunphrionsabal sin agus muid ag déileáil leis seo. Cinnte, thar ceann Ghaeltacht na nDéise, is é sin an t-éileamh atá againn i bPort Láirge.”
“Ar an gcéad dul síos, tuigim go bhfuil leasuithe Uimh. 1 agus Uimh. 3 as ord. Ní aontaím leis an gcinneadh sin, ar ndóigh. Mar dhuine atá ag cur faoi i gceantar Gaeltachta agus mar dhuine, roimh dom bheith i mo Theachta Dála, a bhí i mo chomhairleoir ag déanamh ionadaíochta ar cheantar Ghaeltachta, tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an t-éileamh ann ón bpobal go mbeadh Údarás na Gaeltachta iomlán daonlathach. Tá sé sin againn sna comhairlí áitiúla - déanaim tagairt anseo do leasú Uimh. 2 - agus níl an tAire tithíochta ag iarraidh go mbeadh cead aige nó aici comhairleoirí a cheapadh ar na húdaráis áitiúla.”
“For any observer looking at Irish society and the revulsion within Irish society at attempts internationally to ride roughshod over human rights norms, at settler colonialism which is at its heart about taking land, heritage and a homeland from people, at the crime of starvation and using starvation as a weapon of war and at the mass incarceration, transportation and clearing of people that is going on - we see it happening in Gaza, the West Bank and in other parts of the world - and who really wants to know why the people of Ireland see that, call it out and will not tolerate it, this is why. It is because this is our history - the history of starvation as a tool to oppress our people and the history of land clearances, of agrarian unrest and of resistance.”
“I agree with previous speakers who say that, perhaps as part of this process or perhaps at the culmination and the enactment of this legislation, there should be a reckoning by this State. Perhaps it is not the responsibility of this State but, certainly, the opportunity should be taken for the State to say that those crimes that were committed - crimes according to these proclamations but really acts of resistance and acts of survival for our people - should be dispensed with. As these proclamations are repealed, we should repeal the mentality that allowed it to happen.”
“I welcome this long-overdue legislation and I commend the team involved in it. It involved a huge amount of work, no doubt interesting but painstaking. It also involved a huge amount of detail. We are grateful for that work having been completed and being presented to us here today. Having a look through this, I see so many proclamations that refer to activities in my own county of Waterford in the 1840s and 1850s. It struck me that these proclamations - the laws - were, indeed, some of the legal means used to bind our people, to dispossess them, to colonise our land, to colonise our space and to colonise our means of production and to impoverish our people. What we see here, and particularly in the proclamations, is attempts to criminalise those who were fighting back.”
“In my constituency, I know young carers who have gone hungry or have left education or have become unwell due to the pressures placed on them and their families by the failure of successive Governments to resource services. Against this backdrop, it is nothing short of shameful that neither the Department of Education nor the Department of children, disability and equality have a dedicated programme that recognises the specific needs of young carers and young adult carers. The programme for Government does not even acknowledge their existence, let alone offer proposals or commitments to improve their situations. Carers and their loved ones are not being supported and are struggling to cope. The voice of carers must be heard and the Government must take action in response.”
“As other Deputies have pointed out, this saves the State a fortune in the process. There are tens of thousands of these carers in communities across the State. While they provide the care out of love and loyalty, we must also acknowledge the very real context. They provide care because State services have failed them and the person they care for. They are filling the gaps that have been left by the State, that should not exist in 2025. We know that young carers face additional challenges with disproportional impacts in educational outcomes, mental health and life opportunities. In many cases, they report poorer emotional health and well-being outcomes, as well as lower life satisfaction than their peers. Moreover, they are at a greater risk of poverty.”
“I thank the Labour Party for moving this motion to ensure this important issue is aired in the Dáil Chamber. I too welcome the delegation who are here to witness proceedings. This debate provides an opportunity to discuss the challenges, frustrations and failings that carers grapple with daily. It allows us to acknowledge the immense contribution they make to the loved ones they care for and to society as a whole. The motion proposes measures that will improve their situations and their outcomes. Young carers and young adult carers provide care, assistance and support to other family members, be that a parent, a sibling, a grandparent or sometimes their own children, who can have myriad issues. It could be to do with illness or disability, difficulties with mental health or drug or alcohol misuse. They do so on an unpaid basis.”
“That means enacting the occupied territories Bill, ending the preferential treatment of Israel in EU trade, and it means stopping the use of Irish airspace and Irish waters for the transport of munitions and weapons of war that will ultimately be used to murder children, women and men.”
“Ireland's rhetoric and the words emanating from Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs are good, but they need to be followed by action that ends the impunity that Israel has enjoyed for far too long and far too many decades. The people of Palestine are entitled to a homeland too. They are entitled to live in peace and security. Palestinian mams and dads love their children and mourn them just as we would here in Ireland. We need to stand in solidarity with Palestine. We need to back up with action the words and rhetoric coming from the Department of Foreign Affairs, this Government and its predecessors.”
“I ask that Government, with all the kite flying that has been going on over recent months, seriously consider committing to a referendum on neutrality to enshrine that in the Constitution. Many of us were at the briefing this morning with Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. Nobody who has been following the news for the past year and a half, and who has a heart and a conscience, could be unaffected by the genocide and destruction of human beings and human life going on in Palestine, both in Gaza and, more recently, the West Bank. This is part of a concerted campaign of erasure of the Palestinian people that has been going on for many decades, but which has reached a critical level and turning point in the past year and a half.”
“It reinforces Ireland's commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law. It is born of our painful experience of colonialism and imperialism and informs our solidarity with countries which share that history. Our military neutrality ensures that our actions are part of a collective effort to maintain peace and security. It underscores our respect for international institutions and our belief in diplomacy over unilateralism. It guards against the slide into militarism that has seen demagogues and arms manufacturers beat the drums of war all too often in the pursuit of power and wealth. Any move to remove the triple lock or water down our neutrality will be opposed by the people of Ireland.”
“Could it be that IDA Ireland is taking its cue from a Government that has presided over a growing housing crisis in the region, which has failed to deliver 24-hour cardiac care in University Hospital Waterford and which has still to make a decision on Waterford Airport? If we are to be resilient in the face of global trade uncertainty, we need to ensure a more diverse and balanced approach to industrial development. That will mean ending the neglect of Waterford and the south east. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that a commitment to multilateralism, international law, the promotion and vindication of human rights norms and humanitarianism is essential to international security and to our own security as a nation. Our military neutrality has been a cornerstone of Ireland's commitment to international peace and security.”
“Our economy is exposed to shocks emanating from uncertainty and movement in international trade. IDA Ireland has a role to play in diversifying our industrial base at the macro level and facilitating job creation across the State. Unfortunately, Waterford has been left in the halfpenny place when it comes to attention and input from IDA Ireland . Fewer than 4% of all international IDA Ireland visits in 2024 were to Waterford, even though we offer an ideal location, a lower cost of doing business and the huge potential that comes with setting up a business in industrial centres like Waterford city and Dungarvan. Of the 466 foreign direct investment visits organised by IDA Ireland so far in 2025, just 18 were to Waterford.”
“Global tensions in the area of trade, particularly those relating to the emerging trade war being waged by the United States against many countries and blocs, are creating uncertainty in global markets and across various sectors. Any escalation in these tensions will disrupt supply chains, increase costs and limit access to critical raw materials. There is also some concern about the rhetoric coming from Washington regarding the pharmaceutical sector, particularly that part of it located in Ireland. This sector is extremely important for Waterford and the wider south east. My hometown of Dungarvan is a major manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. We need a strategy from Government to mitigate potential risks to the sector from a protracted trade war launched by the United States.”
“We had a discussion about this matter last night. I mentioned that there are 17 applicants on ice in Waterford at the moment. That is 17 families dealing with anxiety. It is also 17 landlords who are considering pulling out and going to the open market. This signal being sent from the Department is to dissuade applicants. Local authorities are not encouraging people to make applications, but rather the opposite. A clear message is being sent out to landlords to go to the open market and not to engage with the local authority on this. That is leading to an increase in the risk of homelessness. This needs to be addressed again.”
“We have all this talk of water charges, excess use and wastage at a time when we have a system that is not fit for purpose, with Victorian pipes and a lack of capacity. Will the Minister meet with a representative delegation of people from Lismore to discuss this issue?”
“While this discussion is going on, the people of Lismore in County Waterford are without water again today. This will be the seventh time in recent months that the entire town of Lismore has been without water. Outages are becoming more frequent. They last 24 hours or more in many cases. They are impacting local businesses, families and a care home. One of the largest secondary schools in County Waterford has been closed on several occasions because of water outages. These outages are also impacting childcare facilities. A delegation from Lismore has requested meetings with Uisce Éireann. Is the Minister willing to meet with a delegation of townspeople from Lismore to discuss this issue in the interests of ensuring that the town is prioritised.”
“Arguably, it is one of the few schemes instituted by the Government that has actually worked yet it has been paused for months and will be restricted and potentially wound down. Will the Minister change course from this disastrous approach, fully fund the tenant in situ scheme for 2025 and give local authorities the resources and maximum flexibility to operate it?”
“Every week in Dungarvan and in my clinics around County Waterford, I meet families and individuals who have been served with a notice to quit. The only solace they have - indeed the only thing between them and homelessness - has been the tenant in situ scheme. When Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil shamelessly lifted the no-fault eviction ban in 2023, the story spun was that the tenant in situ scheme would ensure nobody became homeless as a result. While the scheme on its own could never hope to mitigate the abject failure of the Government's housing policy - remember homelessness increased by 15% in 2023 - it did offer protection to many vulnerable families facing eviction through no fault of their own. We know the scheme can work when it is allowed to.”
“A total of 17 applications under the tenant in situ scheme have been suspended in Waterford. This involves 17 families grappling with significant uncertainty and anxiety not knowing if they will have a roof over their heads this year. That sorry story is replicated in the hundreds all across the State. The moves by Government to reduce funding and restrict the tenant in situ scheme will lead to children, women and men becoming homeless right across the State. Some 15,280 people are availing of State-provided emergency accommodation, which is a 13% increase on last year, and this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the real homeless figures. The Government seems to be hell-bent on sending still more of our people into homelessness by restricting this scheme.”
“Key to that will be elements of Deputy Cullinane's landmark policy proposal published last year. Directly employing GPs within the health service is an important aspect.”
“To pick up on what my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, said about Cappoquin, this is a case in point. We are trying to get GPs into rural communities. This GP practice is seeking to become a training centre for GPs. Because of the delays with this, it is unable to do that. That is creating downstream issues. Dungarvan lost a GP to retirement a number of years ago. I, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and others worked very hard to get appropriate care for many of that GP's patients. Many of them have been forced to travel significant distances, including people who are ill, older or infirm. We need to grapple with that. How can we ensure there are GPs not just in our small towns and villages but also in larger towns so people can access GP care where they live?”
“The hands-off approach of the Department to, in particular, guaranteeing GP services to non-medical card holders, leaves an awful lot to be desired in rural communities including in my county, Waterford.”
“These measures are not being felt in the communities I represent in towns and villages from Tallow to Dunmore East, Portlaw, Dungarvan, Lismore, Cappoquin and Kilmacthomas. Capacity is not keeping pace with demand for GP services. Retirement, as I know the Minister is aware, creates difficulties and has created particular difficulties in west Waterford for people accessing GP services. The Irish College of General Practitioners said late last year that 25% of GPs currently working are aged 60 or over, so this problem will only get worse. There are significant barriers to young GPs entering practice, particularly in rural Ireland. They need to be faced down. I put a parliamentary question to the Minister a number of weeks ago.”
“What are the Minister's views on the worry and deep frustration of families and individuals in County Waterford, and rural Ireland more generally, about the shortage of GPs, and the consequent difficulties experienced by many patients in accessing timely GP care, the distance they have to travel to access it, the delays in accessing it and the impact on their health and well-being?”
“An bhfuil an tAire ag rá go bhfuil an srian agus an bac ar fhoilsiú na dtreoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta bainteach leis an Roinn tithíochta agus nach bhfuil sé ag teacht ó Roinn na Gaeltachta? Is nuacht é sin domsa. Mar dhuine atá ag maireachtáil sa Ghaeltacht agus a bhfuil clann á thógáil aige i nGaeltacht na nDéise, feicim mo chomharsana, mo chomhghleacaithe agus mo chairde síos leis an ngéarchéim seo. Ní féidir leo maireachtáil, clann a thosú nó a bheith ina gcónaí ina bpobal féin. Tá sé sin ag cur todhchaí na Gaeltachta i mbaol. Tá beart de réir briathair ag teastáil anois. Foilsigh na treoirlínte seo agus cur ar fáil láithreach na hacmhainní agus cumhachtaí breise atá ag teastáil ón údarás chun gur féidir leis dul i ngleic leis seo.”
“Nílimid ag iarraidh na treoirlínte pleanála amháin ach beart de réir briathair i dtaobh soláthar tithíocht inacmhainne agus sóisialta.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an bhfreagra sin ach ní inniu ná inné a thit an ghéarchéim seo amach. Táimid ag feitheamh le freagra agus le gníomh ón Rialtas agus ón Rialtas a bhí ann cheana féin. Is athrá ar na geallúintí a bhí sa chlár Rialtais deireanach atá sa chlár Rialtais reatha. Tuigimid go bhfuil na treoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta seo dréachtaithe. Tá siad i scríbhinn ach níl siad feicthe ag aon duine. Níl siad feicthe ar an taobh seo den Teach. Ní fheadar an bhfuil siad feicthe ag cúlbhinseoirí an Aire féin. Níl siad feicthe ag muintir na Gaeltachta. Tá siad ag súil go mór leis seo. Táimid ag iarraidh go mbeadh cumhachtaí leithne agus acmhainní breise curtha ar fáil don Roinn agus d'Údarás na Gaeltachta ionas gur féidir leo dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim seo.”
“Tá ceist curtha síos agam mar gheall ar an ngéarchéim tithíochta sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Ar ndóigh, tá an ghéarchéim tithíochta fud fad an Stáit ag cur an-chuid daoine, go háirithe clanna óga, i gcruachás ach is bagairt eiseach nó existential threat í dár bpobail sna ceantair Ghaeltacht. Cad atá á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas? Cathain a bheidh toradh ar an méid sin?”
“Caithfidh muid tacaíocht a thabhairt do na pobail Ghaeltachta, na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus na heagraíochtaí atá ag obair chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Caithfidh muid an Ghaeilge a labhairt, a scríobh, a léamh agus a chanadh. Caithfidh an Ghaeilge a bheith mar chuid lárnach dár saol laethúil, gan drogall gan náire agus gan lagmhisneach.”
“Tá gá le maoiniú don Ghaeilge a ardú, go háirithe i scéimeanna Fhoras na Gaeilge, lena bhfuil ciorraithe de 45% déanta orthu le 20 bliain anuas. Tá gá le Gaeloideachas a chur ar fáil mar cheart do dhaltaí atá á iarraidh ag gach leibhéal agus in gach cuid dár dtír. Tá gá le Gaeilgeoirí a chóiméad sa Ghaeltacht le tithíocht agus fostaíocht agus stop a chur le bánú na Gaeltachta. Is ceist an-dáiríre í sin i mo cheantar féin i nGaeltacht na nDéise in iarthar Phort Láirge, áit a bhfuil teip ag teacht agus baol á chur ar thodhchaí na Gaeltachta mar gheall ar an easpa tithíochta. Impím ar an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, beart a dhéanamh dá réir a bhriathar air sin. Tá sé de dhualgas orainn sa Teach seo an Ghaeilge a chosaint, a chur chun cinn agus a neartú.”
“Is í an fhuaim a thugann beatha dár stair, dár seanchas agus dár dtraidisiún. Is í an teanga a labhair ár laochra, ár bhfilí, ár réabhlóidithe agus ár n-ealaíontóirí. In ainneoin an easa in aghaidh a snámhann sí, tá líon na ndaoine atá ag foghlaim agus ag úsáid na Gaeilge ag méadú de réir a chéile. Tá an Ghaeilge le feiceáil níos mó is níos mó inár saol poiblí, inár meán cumarsáide agus inár gcóras oideachais. Tá todhchaí na Gaeilge idir lámha ach tá sé in am dúinn an Ghaeilge a labhairt le bród, í a fhoghlaim le paisean agus a roinnt le grá. Tá Sinn Féin dáiríre faoin teanga agus faoi thodhchaí na teanga. Tá polasaithe agus pleananna Shinn Féin dáiríre faoi Éire a bheith ina háit shábháilte don Ghaeilge, in ainneoin an caith san aer, an neamhaird agus an dímheas a thagann ó dhreamanna eile i bhfad rómhinic.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Tá sé de phribhléid labhairt inniu faoinár dteanga náisiúnta, an Ghaeilge, teanga an oileáin seo agus teanga na nGael. Tá mé mórtasach agus bródúil go bhfuil mo theanga féin á labhairt agam anseo inár bParlaimint náisiúnta. Labhair le haon Gaeilgeoir agus déarfaidh sé nó sí an rud céanna faoin mhothúchán a mhúsclaíonn sí ionainn agus sinn á labhairt. Is teanga bheo í an Ghaeilge, teanga a mhair trí na céadta bliain de dheacrachtaí agus dúshláin, teanga a d’fhan dílis dár n-oidhreacht, dár n-aitheantas agus dár spiorad. Is croílár ár náisiúin í agus is í an nasc a nascann sinn lenár n-am atá caite, lenár láthair agus lenár todhchaí. Is í an snáithe órga a nascann sinn le glúnta atá imithe romhainn agus a threoraíonn sinn i dtreo todhchaí ina mbeidh ár n-oidhreacht beo bríomhar.”
“Notwithstanding what the Minister and my colleague Deputy Cullinane said, Waterford feels like the poor relation when it comes to roads funding if we consider active travel in the county, moneys for road maintenance across the city and county, the N24 and the R672 that Deputy Cullinane also mentioned. The N25 is widely regarded as the most dangerous national road in the State and is in dire need of funding for safety works. Will the Minister ensure that it is prioritised for funding under the NDP as a matter of urgency? There have been too many accidents with loss of life and great injury. We need to see action on it sooner rather than later.”
“Ba é sin ceann de na rudaí ba thábhachtaí, dar leis, in Éirinn neamhspleách agus bheadh sé maslaithe leis an méid atá tarlaithe agus atá fós le tarlú sa Stát seo.”