Cormac Devlin
Dún Laoghaire · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“That brings me to the fiscal implications. Members will have noticed that the estimates vary enormously. In 2025, researchers at Dublin City University and Ulster University published the first peer-reviewed study of the cost of unity over its first ten years. They put the cost in year one at approximately €3 billion.”
“There are also gaps that we can start closing now through greater co-operation and engagement. Second, we should build prosperity in the meantime. The Government has announced €377 million in new shared island investment across 12 cross-Border projects.”
“It benefits communities North and South today, irrespective of the constitutional future people choose tomorrow. It is important that we recognise the success of that co-operation today. The third point is that we must keep asking the right questions.”
“I welcome the debate and the contributions from all Members of the House, as well as the varying views. As Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, I believe this is exactly the type of debate and discussion that we should be having in this House.”
“The studies make different assumptions about pensions and the UK national debt, and very different assumptions about how quickly the Northern economy could grow and converge with our own. That is the honest position. The true scale of the cost is yet unknown. Anyone who claims certainty on the figure is not being straight with anybody.”
“We should certainly do what we can now, and I am suggesting three things. First, we should build an evidence base. Much reference has been made today to the shared island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, which has published extensive research on two economies, two labour markets, education, health and other areas.”
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“I welcome the opportunity to raise the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Gaza is enduring a man-made humanitarian catastrophe. Civilians, children, health workers and journalists have been killed in unconscionable numbers. Hospitals and UN facilities have been struck. Food, water and medicine have been used as levers of war. Starvation and disease are not collateral, they are the predictable outcomes of blocking aid and destroying life-supporting infrastructure. That must end. The targeting of civilians, civilian infrastructure and attacks on journalists and healthcare workers must be absolutely condemned. A free press is not a luxury; it is a shield for the innocent and a witness for the truth. The killing and maiming of reporters in the line of duty is an assault on international humanitarian law and on accountability itself.”
“Our objective is simple - fewer children starting, more adults stopping and less litter on our streets. If this legislation means no more bubblegum "unicorn" vapes at the till, that is a positive outcome and not a problem. I commend the Minister of State and officials on a measured, evidence-led approach and I look forward to supporting swift passage of these Bills.”
“Across Great Britain and the North, single-use vapes are being taken off the shelves, marketing routes have been sharply curtailed and strict product limits apply. Aligning with that direction of travel reduces cross-Border leakage from Northern Ireland and sends a consistent message that these products are not for children. I accept some elements require EU technical notification and a short standstill period, etc., but that should not delay Oireachtas scrutiny or preparedness. Retailers will need time to adapt store layouts, Revenue and the HSE will need time to bed in licensing and enforcement and producers will need to rework packaging and flavour descriptors but let us give them clarity and a fair, firm timeline and then hold the line.”
“It involves standardised packaging and sensible limits on colours and imagery for devices - no toys, games or novelty shapes and a clear simple approach to flavours with basic descriptors only. Point-of-sale display and advertising will be removed from general retail in line with what we know works for tobacco. Specialist shops will be able to serve adult consumers, including smokers trying to quit. That balance matters. This builds on measures already enacted, including a licensing system for retailers from early 2026, a ban on vending machine sales and pop-up premises and serious investment by the HSE in youth-focused information, school guidance and cessation supports such as Quit 4 Youth. We are not just restricting supply; we are supporting healthier choices. We should also be clear that Ireland is moving in step with our neighbours.”
“I welcome the Government’s proposals to protect young people from the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction. As the party that delivered the first workplace smoking ban in the world, Fianna Fáil knows that smart, proportionate regulation saves lives. We have already raised the age of sale to 18 and tightened advertising near schools, on public transport and in cinemas. Now we must go further because the evidence is clear. Brightly coloured devices, confectionery flavours and cheap disposables are hooking a new generation on nicotine. The package before us does exactly what parents, teachers and clinicians have asked for. First, it involves a complete ban on single-use, disposable vapes. These products drive youth uptake and create a toxic waste stream of plastics and lithium batteries. It also involves a crackdown on child appeal.”
“Poland’s pension scheme, PKK, shows similar momentum, especially when it comes to periodic re-enrolment. By contrast, Italy’s one-off soft default in 2007 lifted coverage only modestly. The lesson is clear therefore: persistent, well-designed defaults beat one-off nudges. I welcome the decision to align the start with the tax year and to give SMEs and payroll providers the time to get systems right from the get-go, which will deliver confidence from day one. This is a long-term, forward-thinking reform. It rewards work, shares responsibility between workers, employers and the State and builds household wealth steadily and fairly. If we stick to the plan, keep fees low and communication clear and periodically review adequacy, in ten years’ time, hundreds of thousands more people will face retirement with security, dignity and choice.”
“Employers will process payroll deductions and the authority will do the heavy lifting, including in respect of eligibility, enrolment, collection, investment and compliance. Crucially, the scheme is fair and flexible. People can opt out after six months or pause later. If they do so, they get their contributions back but the employer and State contributions continue working for them. That is a powerful nudge to stay the course. We know this model works. If we look at the United Kingdom, since auto-enrolment began in 2012, employee pension participation has climbed to approximately eight in ten workers, with fewer than one in ten opting out. Millions who were not saving are now saving, many with an employer match that simply did not exist before.”
“For workers, that is real money compounding quietly in the background while they get on with their lives. Compounding delivers real returns. The secret is to start as early as possible in order to maximise returns over time. My Future Fund will tackle a very real gap. Too many private sector workers still do not have occupational pensions. We cannot leave people to face a sharp drop in living standards on retirement, reliant solely on the State pension or whatever savings they can scrape together. My Future Fund fixes the defaults. It is opt out rather than opt in, and the pot follows the member when he or she changes jobs. It involves simple, low-cost investment options with a lifecycle default, with light administration duties for employers via NAERSA.”
“I have spoken on auto-enrolment previously, but I welcome these statements. I thank the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Dara Calleary, and his officials for getting this long-promised reform over the line. My Future Fund is about one simple idea: if you work, you should build a pension automatically, with your employer and the State helping you every day. From 1 January 2026, every employee aged between 23 and 60 who earns €20,000 or more and who is not already in a scheme will be enrolled by default. Contributions will be phased in sensibly, starting at 1.5% both for workers and employers, and rising in steps to 6% over a decade. The State will make a top-up of €1 for every €3 the worker contributes. This means that every €3 a worker saves will become €7, and that is before it is invested.”
“The Minister has set a clear direction and the early results are visible: more decisions, firmer enforcement, fewer unfounded applications and a pipeline of EU-level reforms that will standardise good practice across the EU. There is more to do – on appeals timelines, on integration pathways and on honest, two-way communication with host communities – but the ship is turning. In Ireland, people are very generous but we just like to see things handled properly. With this approach – faster, fairer, firmer – we can protect the integrity of the system, support those fleeing danger and give our communities confidence that migration is managed, not accidental. I support the Minister’s programme and look forward to working with him and his colleagues across the House to deliver the reforms, capacity and clarity the public rightly expects.”
“Housing, schools, GP numbers and transport cannot expand by magic. As a small, open economy, we should prioritise sectors that are mission-critical to both competitiveness and community well-being, healthcare, elder care, and house building, in particular, so that migration actively helps us clear the most pressing bottlenecks. The programme for Government commitments remain clear: reduce reliance on hotels; develop State-owned capacity; require contributions from applicants where appropriate, in respect of which I welcome the Minister’s commitment today; and where there is an unsuccessful application, the person must leave, as the Minister has outlined. That is the architecture of a system that is not just fair but also seen to be fair. I will finish where I began.”
“Ireland will transpose this through the International Protection Bill 2025, which, among other changes, will reduce oral hearings at appeal while preserving the rights to be heard and to an effective remedy. The pact comes into effect in 2026, and our job is to be ready. It is important also to note what the UN is saying. Just this morning, the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection stated deportations are a “critical element” of a functioning asylum system. It is about a fair, efficient system people can trust. Alongside protection, Ireland runs significant legal routes for those who come here to study, work and join family, as outlined earlier. In 2024, there were 60,901 student permissions. Visa and permission decisions exceeded 150,000. These routes are essential to our economy but we also need to be honest about capacity.”
“A rules-based, shared system is the only sustainable path, as we have discussed in this Chamber over many months. I travelled to Brussels earlier this year to raise and discuss these issues with Commissioner Michael McGrath. I welcome the practical turn now under way via the EU migration and asylum pact and Ireland’s national implementation plan, approved on 25 March 2025. The pact provides faster, fairer, more coherent processes across the EU, accelerated border procedures with three-month decision timelines, increased co-operation on returns, the use of safe-country and safe-third-country concepts, and better data-sharing to tackle abuse.”
“First-instance outcomes to 31 August 2025 resulted in 81.5% refusals and 18.5% grants, reflecting the mix of cases now being decided more quickly. Crucially, enforcement credibility has been restored. Signed deportation orders are up this year to date and voluntary returns have increased with enhanced packages. There is stronger border control at Dublin Airport, with 4,154 doorstops to the end of August. The result is that applications are down over 40% in the year to date. That is cause and effect that people can see. The public understand that no Government can turn on a dime, but they want proof that the wheel has been gripped and that the Government is in control. The figures I have cited demonstrate progress. We have further to go, and we will go further. On Europe, ultimately, Ireland cannot stand alone.”
“At the same time, there were cases where communications with communities and public representatives were poorly handled. We need to rebuild confidence by engaging earlier, sharing clear information and ensuring infrastructure and services are planned alongside accommodation decisions. Since January, the Minister has set a different tone and delivered measurable change. Staffing at the International Protection Office has been scaled up from approximately 212 in 2022 to over 600 full-time equivalents this summer, driving more decisions and helping to reduce the backlog, as the Minister outlined earlier. A new immigration customer service portal has 145,000 registered users, 111,000 queries resolved and 60,000 registration appointments made, bringing transparency and basic customer service into a complex system.”
“Nearly 33,000 people are accommodated across 320-odd sites across the country. That is a steep fiscal curve by any measure. The decision to purchase Citywest Hotel, with a capacity of approximately 2,300, moves us from high-cost leasing to a State asset with an estimated payback of approximately four years and savings of €1 billion across 25 years, while enabling a 13-week end-to-end processing model on site. This is the right strategy. We need to move away from the private model. We must also acknowledge the social impact. Trust in the system was damaged in parts of the country. Irish people are very generous, but we like to see things handled properly. I want to put on record my appreciation for officials working in extremely difficult circumstances.”
“To put the numbers on the record, there were 2,649 applications in 2021, 13,651 in 2022, 13,277 in 2023 and 18,561 in 2024, the highest on record. This year, to the end of August, there were 8,258 applications, which is down approximately 41% to 43% on the same period last year. The causes are well-known and include the reopening of borders after the pandemic, conflict-driven displacement and the interplay of policies within the common travel area and across the EU. As the Minister noted, Ireland’s economic success has also acted as a magnet for skills and opportunity. This rapid growth put real pressure on the State. Accommodation costs in the international protection accommodation service have risen from €129.4 million in 2019 to a projected €1.3 billion in 2025.”
“I share the concerns about, and condemnation of, the attacks about which we have heard in recent months. In response to the Minister's opening statement, I welcome this debate. It is good that we are having it. I commend the Minister on the focus and urgency he has brought since his appointment in January. His approach has been, frankly, a breath of fresh air: practical, evidence-led and rooted in fairness to applicants and to communities alike. I echo his sentiments in respect of the rules-based system, which is essential. Let us be honest about how we got here. After the Covid pandemic, international travel resumed, war returned to Europe and secondary movements across the EU accelerated. Ireland experienced a sharp surge in applications for international protection.”
“I ask the Minister to publish the first programme plan, with timelines and KPIs, confirm when access and inclusion officers will be in place and publish the walkability audit schedule, set annual targets to reduce advance notice on transport and report operator compliance, and expand the Irish sign language interpreter pipeline and guarantee access in emergencies and healthcare. Oversight matters. The strategy promises biannual reporting to the Cabinet committee on disability. It would be good to see public dashboards so progress is transparent. The test is simply whether a person can move through their day without asking permission at every doorway and live with independence. Every citizen deserves no less.”
“A single front door for assessments of need and therapies, shorter waits and a single access point across primary care, disability and CAMHS must be delivered. On education and work, we need to build inclusive learning and open a stronger pipeline into the public service and the private sector. Disabled people are not a niche workforce; they are part of Ireland's workforce. I thank the Minister and her officials for their engagement, particularly their direct involvement with the strategy, but delivery is the real test and I have a number of requests.”
“With regard to transport and mobility, we need less pre-booking and more travelling. Advance notice requirements on rail and bus must fall year by year. Local Link should expand where transport is thin. We need a pathway to 100% wheelchair-accessible fleets. Personal mobility schemes must also work in practice, with a modernised disabled drivers and passengers framework and a fit-for-purpose adaptation scheme. On independent living, we must move faster on decongregation and ensure housing follows universal design. We need a national policy on personal assistance so supports are reliable, portable and rights based. With regard to children and youth mental health, families should not be stuck in an obstacle course.”
“We discovered that two wheelchair users cannot board the same bus and that someone with a buggy impacts on a person with a disability accessing the bus, and we wrestled with heavy internal doors just to reach a bathroom marked "accessible". All the while, I experienced what Seán called "being blanked" on the street. That day taught me one thing, which is that spontaneity should not require 24 hours' notice. This strategy can change that, if we deliver. With regard to the public realm, walkability audits will be carried out in every town and city of over 5,000 people, producing fix-lists for crossings, kerbs, pavements and street clutter. Every local authority will appoint a full-time access and inclusion officer, a named person whom people can contact. That is accountability that people can ring.”
“I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and welcome him back. It is good to be back in the Chamber. I welcome the opportunity to examine the Government's National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030. This strategy will only matter if it changes the daily lives of people with a disability. As the Minister said in her opening remarks, those challenges are there to be met. The strategy must turn rights into real solutions, including accessible ramps, usable routes and services people can depend on. A few years ago, when I was cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, I spent a day using a wheelchair with Seán O’Kelly, a disability activist. On that day we travelled on the DART from Dalkey to Blackrock, and I saw how quickly independence gets negotiated away. We had to give notice to use a ramp to get onto the DART.”
“In doing so, we will hit criminal organisations where it hurts - their finances. I commend the Minister, his officials and the Criminal Assets Bureau on their work on this ground-breaking legislation to tackle serious crime. This cannot come soon enough. I take heart from the Minister's experience and legal background, which have enriched the legislation we have today. I hope all Members of the House will support it.”
“The community safety fund, now in its fourth year and with a €4 million budget for 2025, is a clear example of how we can take the money once used to fuel misery and instead use it to build safer, stronger communities. Projects tackling youth crime, drug intimidation, domestic violence and antisocial behaviour are all supported under this fund. This is justice in action. I acknowledge the programme for Government commitment to expand the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau and increase transparency, including the power to publish tax defaulter lists. These are further steps I hope can be advanced during the coming Stages of the Bill. This legislation sends a strong and unequivocal message. Ireland will not be a safe haven for criminal wealth. We will find it, freeze it and take it through due process and the rule of law.”
“These are powerful, proportionate and well-designed reforms that reflect the professionalism and experience of the Criminal Assets Bureau, which has been central to the drafting of this legislation. It is also important to note that the Bill protects the rights of individuals. Judicial oversight remains central to the process and there are safeguards in place to prevent injustice. Equally, it ends a situation where delay and procedural complexity can be used as tools by criminal organisations to retain illicit wealth. Beyond these legal changes, we will continue to support the wider use of the proceeds of crime for community good.”
“Third, the Bill prevents the same legal arguments being relitigated again and again. If the courts have already found assets to be criminal in origin, that conclusion cannot be reopened every time a disposal order is made. That adds certainty and avoids delay while still preserving the right of appeal and review, where appropriate. Fourth, it enhances the Garda's and CAB’s tools at the investigative stage. For the first time, the Bill introduces new powers for restraint of funds in financial accounts. That means a CAB superintendent may direct a bank to freeze suspect funds for seven days, and the courts may extend that for up to 90 days. This plugs a key gap in our law and ensures that suspected dirty money cannot simply vanish overnight while investigations are ongoing.”
“Let me highlight the key reforms. First, and perhaps most significantly, the Bill reduces the period before a final disposal order can be made from seven years to just two, which is a game-changer. It means that once the courts have determined that assets are the proceeds of crime, the State can act far more quickly to strip criminals of those assets, whether they be cash, vehicles, property or other assets. Justice delayed is justice denied and this will end unnecessary delays in disrupting criminal finances. Second, once such a determination is made, the Bill allows for the immediate and automatic appointment of a receiver, preventing any further benefit from the assets pending final disposal. There will be no more limbo and no more criminals living off illicit wealth while proceedings drag on.”
“It is money that funds intimidation, corruption and violence. Organised crime is not abstract. It preys on the most vulnerable in our communities and its engine is money. The clear message from this Bill is that we will take that engine away. Ireland’s existing framework for seizing the proceeds of crime is already regarded internationally as a model of best practice. The Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 and the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, both introduced in response to the murder of the journalist Veronica Guerin, pioneered a civil non-conviction-based approach to asset seizure. Since then, those powers have been enhanced in 2005 and 2016. However, crime evolves and so must we. This Bill delivers a modernisation of our laws in line with expert reviews, the views of stakeholders and best international practice.”
“I thank an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, the Ceann Comhairle's office, the ushers and all the staff here in the Oireachtas for their assistance to the Members over recent months and during this term. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025, which is vital legislation that strengthens our national ability to disrupt, dismantle and defeat serious organised crime. Let us begin with the facts. The scale of criminal profit is staggering. Across the European Union, it is estimated that criminal revenues reach €110 billion annually, equivalent to 1% of EU GDP. In Ireland, criminal activity is estimated to generate €1.7 billion per annum. That is not just numbers on a page. That is money made from the sale of illegal drugs, human trafficking, online fraud and coercive control.”
“I commend him on the concrete steps he has already taken to secure and strengthen our borders and rebuild public confidence in that system. There are no legal or operational barriers to Ireland’s participation and it is right that we approve this opt-in ahead of the summer recess, within, as the Minister has stated, the Article 3 deadline under Protocol 21. In conclusion, this is about protecting lives, defending democracy and upholding our obligations under European law in a proportionate and transparent way. I support these motions and I urge the House to do the same.”
“They uphold the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and incorporate stringent safeguards around data use, retention and privacy. Personal data must be depersonalised after six months and deleted within five years. Sensitive information is strictly excluded. Importantly, no automated decision-making can occur without human oversight. Ireland has already opted in to similar PNR agreements with Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and, most recently, Canada. I have spoken on these before in the House. These agreements have proven their value and it is both consistent and prudent that we extend the same co-operation to two close EEA neighbours, Iceland and Norway. I acknowledge the proactive stance taken by the Minister in bringing these motions forward.”
“On its own, it might not seem significant but when analysed systematically and lawfully, it can help identify suspicious travel patterns, uncover sleeper cells and support real-time investigation. Ireland is already bound by the EU’s PNR directive and operates a dedicated passenger information unit within the Department of Justice. However, our current arrangements with Iceland and Norway rely on an ad hoc , case-by-case data-sharing system. This is cumbersome and reactive. By opting in to these agreements, we enable more efficient, secure and rights-compliant data exchange, benefiting not only our own national security but also that of our European partners. These agreements are built on a strong legal foundation.”
“I, too, welcome the opportunity to speak in support of these two important motions, which authorise Ireland to opt in to two EU agreements with Iceland and Norway on the transfer of passenger name record data. These agreements are more than just legal instruments. They are vital tools in our shared European effort to prevent terrorism and combat serious transnational crime. In a world where organised crime networks and terrorist threats are increasingly international in nature, the ability to share key data across borders is essential. Passenger name record data includes basic booking information collected by airlines, namely, travel dates, itineraries, contact details and payment methods.”
“It will help to ensure that health spending is tied to clear plans, clear targets and clear accountability. That is what the public expect and that is what the Bill will deliver. I am pleased to support it. Go raibh maith agaibh.”
“I think of the need for the expansion, of which the Minister will be well aware, of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in our own constituency, an objective to which we are both very committed. Hopefully, we will see the capital funding arise for that in the upcoming budget. St. Michael’s Hospital, Loughlinstown hospital and St. Vincent’s University Hospital also all have ambitious plans. Of course, while the big ticket plans grab attention, it is equally important that we support smaller capital projects in communities, for example, delivering on housing and respite facilities for people living with disabilities. I know the Minister will continue that focus in budget 2026. I commend the Minister on introducing this legislation forward.”
“The Bill reflects the values of the Government more widely and of Fianna Fáil, namely, responsibility, reform and better outcomes for patients. It ensures that the HSE is not only better funded, but better managed. It also complements the work of the productivity and savings task force, which is delivering efficiencies across the system. Last year alone, and as the Minister alluded to, €251 million in savings were delivered. A further €382 million is targeted this year. These are not abstract numbers; they translate directly into shorter waiting times, more staff and better care. While this Bill focuses on management and accountability, we also need to see continued capital investment in buildings, infrastructure and equipment.”
“This progress is possible because of the record levels of investment. Now, thanks to this Bill, we are building in the governance structures to sustain that progress into the future. The return to a board-led governance model for the HSE, first legislated for in 2019, was a vital reform. The 2013 directorate structure was rightly found by the Sláintecare report to be unfit for purpose. This Bill builds on that by ensuring that the CEO is directly accountable to the board and that the board, in turn, is accountable to the Minister. It also reflects the significant transformation under way with the establishment of the six new health regions. These regional structures aim to deliver more integrated care closer to home and tailored to local needs, a key ambition of Sláintecare.”
“That includes nearly €300 million in new service developments within mental health, older persons and disability services. With that level of investment comes a responsibility to ensure that we are delivering the best possible return for patients, staff and the public. We know the challenges. Demand in our hospitals is rising by 5% to 10% annually. The number of people over the age of 75 has increased by 26% since 2019. We are dealing with the long-term costs of high inflation and post-Covid activity spikes. Despite these pressures, progress has been made. Waiting times are falling, and are now down from 13 months to just longer than seven months for outpatients. Trolley numbers are also down 11% year on year. Free GP care has been extended and hospital charges abolished.”
“It introduces a more structured, accountable framework for how the HSE plans and delivers services, including strategic direction statements that Ministers will issue to guide the HSE’s three-year corporate plans; a new system of performance delivery plans, replacing the old service plans and informed by annual statements of priorities from each Minister; and, most importantly, a new statutory requirement for the CEO to bring forward corrective action proposals where expenditure is expected to exceed allocation. This is about real accountability, not just in how money is spent, but in how performance is measured and managed. The scale and complexity of our health service has grown rapidly over the past two decades. The HSE now operates with a budget of €26.9 billion, a €1.6 billion increase on last year alone.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2025, which is a timely and necessary step to strengthen governance, transparency and accountability in our health service. This Bill delivers on a core commitment in the programme for Government to embed productivity and ensure full transparency in how healthcare services are delivered. It recognises that strong, accountable structures are essential if we are to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population and deliver better health outcomes for our citizens. This legislation addresses a long-standing gap in the Health Act 2004 by clearly setting out how the CEO of the HSE and the board must engage with the Minister for Health and, in the case of disability services, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.”
“I hope this commission will not only uncover the truth but will give survivors in every community, including Dún Laoghaire, a voice, a hearing and, ultimately, a measure of healing. Let us proceed with care, courage, compassion and an unshakable commitment to justice.”
“That was the right decision and I commend the Minister and the Department for recognising the breadth of the trauma inflicted and the diversity of schools in which it occurred. Let us be clear: truth without accountability is not justice. Many survivors, including those in Dún Laoghaire, have spoken of the need for financial redress, not as compensation but as a recognition of the impact of the abuse while under the care of these institutions. It is not just about looking back. It is about protecting children today. The scoping report confirms that child protection measures in our schools have improved, but survivors have rightly insisted that the system must be made even stronger. I support the implementation of every one of those recommendations.”
“They and other survivors deserve the truth and justice from the institutions involved. The men's courage, at times to their personal cost, is the reason we are here today. I commend the work of Mary O'Toole, senior counsel, whose scoping inquiry brought 2,395 allegations, involving 884 individuals over 300 schools, to light, including 590 from special schools alone. These are not just numbers; they are lives derailed and trust betrayed. I also welcome the expansion of the commission to all schools. I called for this when the issue originally came to public prominence. Survivors have made it clear that they want inclusion, not fragmentation. They want the truth, not tied up in footnotes. I welcome the Government's decision to act on that call to expand the remit and to take a sampling approach to ensure timely delivery.”
“I welcome the establishment of a commission of investigation into historical child sexual abuse in schools and the opportunity to discuss the matter. This is a long-overdue step in the pursuit of truth, accountability and justice for survivors throughout our country. However, it is not just a national issue, it is a local issue too. In Dún Laoghaire, in my constituency, the impact of abuse by religious orders in day and boarding schools is deeply felt. The names of schools and institutions may vary but the stories of trauma, secrecy and silence are tragically familiar. I pay tribute to the late Mark Ryan, who sadly passed away in September 2023. I welcome David, his brother, and his colleagues to the Public Gallery. The Ryan brothers came forward to tell their stories in the documentary "Blackrock Boys ".”
“Too often, we have seen eye-watering sums spent on short-term interventions, or layers of consultancy, indeed sometimes with inadequate consultation or none at all, that deliver little lasting value and actually undermine public support for change. Every euro spent on transport should be justified through a clear cost-benefit analysis, with a strong bias in favour of long-term, sustainable solutions. As we look to the decades ahead, this also means protecting vital infrastructure, especially our coastal rail lines. This work needs to get under way urgently. In my own constituency of Dún Laoghaire, and along the eastern rail line, we must future-proof our network against sea level rises. While the consultation on the east coast railway infrastructure protection projects is under way, progress is painfully slow and needs to be accelerated.”
“I welcome the publication of the all-island strategic rail review. This transformative plan sets out 32 strategic recommendations that would almost triple the number of people using our rail network, from 65 million journeys a year to 180 million by 2050. Critically, it would bring 700,000 more people within a 5 km radius of a railway station, boosting access in communities North and South that have been underserved for decades. With faster trains, more frequent services, new routes, and electrification, the plan aligns with our national economic objectives and would greatly enhance cross-Border connectivity. It is a railway strategy that looks to the future, but the work must start now. At the same time, we must be honest about where we focus public investment.”
“All of this shows what can happen when local authorities and national government work together with clear planning guidelines, strong partnerships, support by local councillors, which is an essential element to all of this, and the right tools to deliver. This Bill gives us one of those tools. It protects thousands of potential homes from expiring unnecessarily. It gives breathing space to commence stalled developments and ensures the full value of existing permissions can be realised. Let us not waste the opportunity. Let us pass this legislation and keep pushing forward because we need these homes and we need them now.”
“These are units that deliver a real mixed-tenure and community-focused development. Let us also take, for instance, Dundrum Central in the Dublin Rathdown constituency where 932 homes are progressing, with the Land Development Agency, under large-scale residential planning. We have made strong progress too on smaller schemes, such as Rockville Green, St. Laurence's Park, Ballyogan Rise and Roebuck Road, and major strategic areas such as the Cherrywood strategic development zone, which are taking shape with more than 1,600 homes already built and another 480 under construction. Cherrywood alone will eventually deliver more than 10,000 homes on the largest single urban development site in Ireland, with more planned along the Luas corridor.”
“For us in this House who want to champion housing and want to see more housing delivered, it is simply unconscionable to say we will let all those planning permissions expire and also at the same time say that there is not enough housing being developed. My party, Fianna Fáil, has always said its priority is to deliver housing and that means cutting out blockages, unlocking planning permissions and driving on construction. Nowhere is that more evident than in my own area of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. Across my county, we are not only meeting housing targets; we are on track to exceed them. I have spoken previously about Shanganagh Castle in Shankill. Five hundred and ninety-seven homes are now nearly complete. That includes 200 social homes, 306 cost-rental and 91 affordable homes.”