Dara Calleary
Mayo · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Agriculture is the backbone. We have all been in the Mansion House today, or everyone has said they were anyway. Energy security is key and crucial. Everybody wants energy security but nobody wants wind energy. We have to strike a balance and get a real discussion, but food security is most important.”
“While we have gaps there, we are addressing them. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has announced the minor injury units, which will take the pressure off major hospitals and ensure services are available.”
“Recent figures from the CSO show that there is a 5.8% increase in the number of people living in rural areas between 2016 and 2022. In areas classified as highly rural and remote, the increase was 6.4%.”
“Enterprise Ireland is investing in Irish-owned, Irish-founded companies. Similarly, 59% of IDA investments were located outside the Dublin region. We will continue to work, looking at the progress we can make through the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and, as Senator O'Loughlin said, through supporting our local enterprise offices.”
“That is something we do daily and they are used where is necessary. The plan will be supported by ambitious, clear, practical and measurable actions. I have spoken to some of the funding programmes available within my Department.”
“Táim tar éis cuairt a thabhairt ar gach ceantar Gaeltachta chun plé fairsing a dhéanamh leis na pobail sin chun a fháil amach uathu féin cén cineál tacaíochta ar féidir a chur ar fáil dóibh chun cabhrú leo. Táim chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair sin sa bhuiséad le teacht agus na buiséid eile.”
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“Aontaím leis na Teachtaí Connolly agus Ó Snodaigh. Leag an Teachta Connolly amach na cumhachtaí atá ag an údarás ag an bpointe seo mar gheall ar Acht 1979. Tá sé in ann tithe a cheannach agus a dhíol. Leag an Teachta gach rud amach ansin, na cumhachtaí atá aige ag an bpointe seo san áireamh. Ceapaim gur dhéileáil an tAcht a bhunaigh Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus a bhronn na cumhachtaí sin air leis na leasuithe atá leagtha ag na Teachtaí Connolly agus McGuinness. Tá na cumhachtaí aige. Leis an mBille seo, tá muid ag leagan amach go mbeidh sé in ann tithe nó talamh a dhíol le comhlachtaí ceadaithe tithíochta.”
“We might even have an Irish-language committee up and running. Beidh plé de dhíth leis an gcoiste faoin tuarascáil a chur na Teachtaí Ní Chonghaile agus Ó Snodaigh a lán obair istigh ann, mar aon leis an Teachta Ó Muimhneacháin agus an iarTheachta Ó Cuív. Is dóigh liom go raibh mé ann le haghaidh cúpla cruinniú ag tús an phróisis sin. Nuair a dúirt an Teachta Ní Chonghaile nár chuimhin léi iad, bhí mé ag ceapadh go raibh na mothúcháin céanna agam fúthu. Níl mé in ann glacadh leis na leasuithe ag an bpointe seo, ach tá mé ag rá go bhfuil muid chun leasuithe a dhéanamh ar an gcéad Chéim eile, Céim na Tuarascála. Tá sé tábhachtach go dtagann gach duine le chéile chun é a phlé. Beimid in ann rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi cúrsaí tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht, ní hamháin sa tír, agus béim a chur ar chúrsaí tithíochta sa Ghaeilge agus sa Ghaeltacht.”
“Ceapaim go dtuigeann gach duine nach bhfuil aon fhreagra amháin i gceist. Táim an-dáiríre faoin bhfadhb tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Mar a dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, is cosán é go dtí an Ghaeltacht agus an Ghaeilge. Má éiríonn linn an fhadhb seo a réiteach, is deis é freisin daoine a thabhairt ar ais, clainne óga a thabhairt ar ais, agus ní hamháin an teanga ach saol an Ghaeilge agus saol na Gaeltachta a dhéanamh níos láidre. Ag an bpointe seo, nílim in ann glacadh leis an leasú atá leagtha amach. Nílim ag rá go bhfuil an freagra agam. Táim ag iarraidh an spás idir an Chéim seo agus an chéad Chéim eile a úsáid chun plé a bheith agam leis an údarás ach go háirithe. Tá sé i gceist agam freisin na treoirlínte a phlé leis an Aire, an Teachta O'Brien, agus plé a bheith agam le grúpaí cosúil le Conradh na Gaeilge.”
“Léiríonn sé sin dom nach bhfuil mórán suime ag an údarás sa soláthar tithíochta beag atá aige. Táim ag iarraidh spáis idir seo agus an chéad chéim eile chun go mbeidh mé in ann smaointe an údaráis faoi na deiseanna agus na dúshláin atá ann a phlé. Ní raibh mórán deis agam go dtí an pointe seo cruinnithe a eagrú le grúpaí cosúil le Conradh na Gaeilge, BÁNÚ nó Tinteán, ach tá sé ar intinn agam cruinnithe a eagrú leis na grúpaí sin chun plé go díreach leo. Nílim ag iarraidh geallúint a dhéanamh go gcaithfidh mé a bhriseadh. Ag an bpointe seo, ní aontaím go bhfuil an t-údarás in ann a bheith mar chomhlacht ceadaithe tithíochta. An bhfuil an taithí agus na scileanna aige? Níl mé ag iarraidh a rá le daoine go bhfuil an fhreagra agam, go mbeidh gach rud go hiontach agus go mbeidh an t-údarás i gceannas ar chúrsaí tithíochta.”
“Maidir le ceist an Teachta Uí Shnodaigh, táim tar éis scríobh chuig an Aire tithíochta, an Teachta Browne, ag iarraidh air suí síos liom, mar Aire Gaeltachta, chun a phlé cá bhfuil na treoirlínte ag an bpointe seo agus chun brú a chur chun na treoirlínte sin a fhoilsiú. Roimhe sin, táim ag iarraidh cruinniú a bheith agam leis an údarás chun tuiscint a fháil díreach óna bhainistíocht ar an tuiscint atá aici ar na cumhachtaí atá ag an údarás, na cumhachtaí breise a bheidh aige de bharr an Bhille seo agus cad a bheidh an t-údarás in ann a dhéanamh leis na cumhachtaí breise sin. Ón eolas atá agam faoi chúrsaí tithíocht an údaráis, tá deich dteach aige. Nuair a cuireadh an t-údarás ar bun sna hochtóidí, bhí tithíocht aige chun an bhainistíocht a thabhairt go dtí an Ghaeltacht. Tá an tithíocht sin fós ann cé go bhfuil droch-chaoi uirthi.”
“Bhí na rudaí a dúirt an Teachta Connolly an-suimiúil. Níl mé chun comhairle contae a ainmniú ach cén fáth go mbeadh aon chomhairle contae ag iarraidh an locht a chur ar an údarás? Is í sin a bhuairt atá orm. Nuair a thabharfaimid an chumhacht don údarás, b'fhéidir go gceapfaimid gurb é sin freagra na faidhbe. Nílim cinnte gurb é. Nuair a thabharfaimid an chumhacht don údarás, caithfidh sé taithí thithíochta a fháil. Ag an bpointe seo, tá taithí aige ar fhoirgnimh thionsclaíochta. Tá sé ag déanamh an-jab leis sin. Nuair a bhí mé i m'Aire Stáit le freagracht as fiontar, bhí taithí agam air sin. Nuair a thabharfaimid an chumhacht sin don údarás, an mbeidh an taithí agus na resources aige chun an chumhacht sin a bhainistiú? Níl mé ag iarraidh hope a thabhairt do dhaoine gurb é seo an freagra mar tá i bhfad níos mó píosaí leis an jigsaw seo.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le gach Teachta a bhí páirteach sa phíosa sin. Tá sé an-tábhachtach. Is cuimhin liom an cruinniú a bhí ag an gcomhchoiste le príomhfheidhmeannaigh na gcomhairlí contae. Chun a bheith deas dóibh, déarfaidh mé nach raibh mórán tuisceana acu. Is cuimhin liom go raibh foighne an Chathaoirligh faoi bhrú ar an lá sin. Is cuimhin liom an cruinniú sin go soiléir. Táim ag iarraidh spáis maidir leis seo. Bhí comhrá beag agam leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh. Ba mhaith liom tuiscint a fháil ón údarás maidir leis an bhfadhb atá aige agus maidir leis an drogall atá ann ó thaobh na gcúrsaí seo. Tá sé leagtha amach sa Bhille. Táimid ag iarraidh a rá go láidir agus go soiléir go mbeidh an t-údarás in ann a bheith ina chomhlacht ceadaithe tithíochta nó ina údarás tithíochta. Tá sé sin leagtha amach i bhfad níos láidre sa Bhille ná mar a bhí.”
“Freisin, tá bealach PAS ann chun daoine a bhfuil suim sa Ghaeilge agus cáilíochtaí Gaeilge acu a chur ar an mbord. Beidh siad in ann dul ar an mbord tríd an gcóras PAS.”
“Is maith gur luadh na córais sin. Níl mé ag iarraidh a bheith greannmhar ach tá réiteach na bhfaidhbe agam: cúrsaí PAS. Tá sé leagtha amach sa Bhille gurb iad an saghas sin daoine - na daoine a bhfuil cáilíochtaí acu agus suim acu i nGaeilge, mar atá leagtha amach go hiontach ag an Teachta McGuinness - a mbeimid ag iarraidh a chur ar an mbord tríd an gcóras PAS atá leagtha amach sa Bhille. Maidir le cúrsaí toghcháin, beimid in ann é a phlé. Tá buairt amháin agam toisc go bhfuilimid sna laethanta ina bhfuilimid. Tuigim go bhfuil electorate iontach againn ach tá mé buartha go mbeadh daoine in ann dul leis na cáilíochtaí agus leis an nGaeilge, ach nach bhfuil mórán suime acu i gcúrsaí Gaeilge, polasaithe Gaeilge nó dúshlán na Gaeilge agus go mbeadh siad in ann an t-údarás a úsáid mar ardán do rudaí eile. Beimid in ann é a phlé.”
“Tá súil agam go mbeidh na coistí bunaithe agus táim an-sásta dul os comhair an choiste nua chun ceisteanna cosúil leis sin a phlé. Ní thuigim go díreach cárbh as a bhfuil na Teachtaí ag teacht sa phíosa seo.”
“B'fhéidir go mbeidh siad ag iarraidh leasú a chur ar aghaidh ar an gcéad Chéim eile agus beimid in ann é sin a phlé ag an am sin. Caithfidh mé a rá nach dtuigim cad go díreach atá ag teastáil ó na Teachtaí. An bhfuil siad ag iarraidh go mbeidh na toghcháin oscailte do gach duine sa tír, nó cén saghas ceangail a gcaithfí a bheith ag daoine leis an nGaeltacht agus leis an nGaeilge? B'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann é sin a phlé idir inniu agus an chéad Chéim eile. Is í seo an fhadhb atá agamsa más rud é go bhfuilimid oscailte do gach duine, ina measc daoine nach bhfuil aon cheangal nó suim acu sa Ghaeilge: má fheiceann siad toghchán, b'fhéidir go mbeidh siad ag iarraidh iad féin a chur ar aghaidh ar platform amháin nó platform eile, agus iad b'fhéidir ag baint úsáid as na meáin shóisialta. B'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann é sin a phlé.”
“Tá a lán ama caite againn ag iarraidh go mbeidh bord níos mó ann agus go mbeidh níos mó daoine á dtoghadh. Tuigim go bhfuil brú ar dhaoine nach bhfuil mórán deiseanna acu tithe a cheannach sa Ghaeltacht. Beidh sé sin á phlé againn. Má osclaímid an bord agus toghadh don bhord go dtí daoine lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, ní bheidh sé ina údarás Gaeltachta. Is é an dainséar anseo, b'fhéidir, nach mbeidh suim ag daoine a bhfuil cónaí orthu taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht dul os comhair an phobail chun a bheith tofa. Tá mé ag iarraidh go mbeidh a lán daoine in ann dul sa toghchán ach tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh cáilíocht ann chun go mbeidh suim ag daoine sa Ghaeltacht agus gur Gaeilgeoirí a bheidh iontu. Tá sé sin leagtha amach. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil na Teachtaí ag rá gur chóir go mbeadh an toghchán oscailte do gach duine.”
“I mo thuairim, ní bheadh bord mór amháin éifeachtach. Dúirt daoine go raibh comhairleoirí áitiúla i bhfad níos éifeachtaí. Is rud maith é an bealach a bhfuil an bord seo leagtha amach leis an mix idir daoine a bheidh tofa agus daoine a bheidh ceaptha. Is rud maith é do bhord an údaráis agus le haghaidh bhord Stáit. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil sé leagtha amach mar sin. Geallaim arís, roimh an chéad Céim eile, go bhfiosrófar leagan amach na gcáilíochtaí chun go mbeidh PAS in ann daoine a phiocadh tríd PAS. Ní an tAire amháin a bheidh páirteach ann; beidh PAS an-thábhachtach i gcomhthéacs na roghnúchán seo. Leagfar na qualifications amach sa chéad Chéim eile go gcaithfidh PAS úsáid agus é ag earcú daoine don bhord.”
“Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh muid in ann daoine a chur ann. Níl aon ghá saineolaíocht a cheannach isteach mar beidh an saineolaíocht ar an mbord. Beidh taithí ag daoine áirithe. Dúirt mé an oíche cheana go gcuirfinn tuiscint ar na leasuithe ag an chéad Chéim eile faoin leagan amach agus na qualifications go mbeidh muid ag léiriú ar an mbord chun direction a thabhairt do PAS ionas nach mbeidh leatrom sa Bhille. Tá mé chun é sin a dhéanamh. Ba cheart go mbeadh tíreolaíocht ann. Ceapaim gur ceart mór é go pearsanta. Tá mé ag iarraidh fiosrú an mbeidh mé in ann leagan amach a chruthú le go mbeidh duine as na hoileáin ann. Lena dtaithí, tuigeann na Teachtaí Ó Snodaigh, McGuinness agus Connolly, nuair a bheidh duine as oileán amháin ann, beidh gach oileán ag iarraidh duine a bheith ar an mbord.”
“Bhí sé seo pléite coicís ó shín. Níl aon teachtaireacht dhifriúil agam. Beidh rudaí i bhfad níos fearr tar éis an Bhille seo agus tar éis an toghcháin ná mar atá siad ag an nóiméad seo. Beidh ionadaíocht ann le guthanna ó Chontae Chorcaí, ó Chontae Phort Láirge agus ó Chontae na Mí ar an mbord nach bhfuil ann anois. I gcomhthéacs na gceantar nach mbeidh dírithe ar an mbord, tá na coistí réigiúnacha le bunú freisin. Beidh comhairleoirí áitiúla as na réigiúin ag obair le baill an údaráis ar na coistí réigiúnacha sin. Tá sé sin tábhachtach chun go mbeidh guthanna as na Gaeltachtaí beaga. Beidh comhairleoirí contae agus na comhairleoirí as na húdaráis áitiúla in ann oibriú ar an gcoiste réigiúnach sin i gcomhpháirt le bord an údaráis. Mar a dúirt mé an oíche cheana, ní údarás amháin é - is bord Stáit é freisin.”
“I would certainly be delighted to take up the Senator's invitation. We had a very good visit in October. I am happy to go back and meet the Moneymore committee. It sounds like a fantastic committee. Once again, I wish the Senator every success on Easter Monday.”
“The funding was provided in recognition of the need identified in the Drogheda implementation plan. I hope it is bringing the project to the stage where it will be shovel ready for investment. Our immediate priority is to facilitate the delivery of the 770 projects that have recently been announced, but I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in coming years. This is in line with the commitment in the programme for Government and it has been identified to me as a priority by the Taoiseach for the CCIF to become a permanent rolling fund. Over the coming months, I will give consideration to what the next round of the CCIF will involve and the types of facility that will be targeted. I guarantee that the fund will continue to play a central role in supporting strong and resilient communities.”
“The 2023 new-build schemes supported communities with shovel-ready projects in greenfield and brownfield sites for the construction of new community centres. Capital grants of between €1 million and €6 million were available to build multifunctional centres in areas that lacked community facilities. Through that iteration of the fund, my Department approved funding of €30 million for the construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties. The Moneymore Townland Community Hub was not at a sufficiently advanced stage to be able to apply. However, my Department allocated funding on an exceptional basis, as acknowledged by the Senator, of €80,000 to Louth County Council to facilitate the architectural and engineering services required to bring the project to that shovel-ready stage.”
“The latest iteration of the community centre investment fund in 2024 also supported the enhancement and refurbishment of community centres. Through that round of funding, more than €33 million has now been approved for more than 770 projects nationwide, including funding of up to €100,000 each that I announced for community centres only last month. A number of successful projects in Louth include the €67,000 for St. Nicholas Gaelic Football Club and €100,000 for the Drogheda Community Services Trust. The CCIF also supports community groups that are striving to build their own new community centres to service local needs. The 2023 CCIF was opened specifically for applications for this purpose.”
“The community centre investment fund, CCIF, was introduced to respond to the funding needs of community centres in rural and urban areas so that we can continue to support the provision of high-quality and accessible community spaces. Since 2022, the CCIF has provided more than €109 million for the enhancement or refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. Under the first fund launched in 2022, over €45 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment works in over 860 existing community centres across Ireland, which included 21 projects in County Louth with funding of over €900,000. I am particularly pleased to note that the majority of these projects are now complete and benefiting communities all over Ireland.”
“I thank Senator Comyn for raising this issue. I wish her well with her 5 km on Easter Monday. We agree on the importance of community centres. They are where we go for community activities, events, social supports such as she referred to, and social interaction. They are home to many of our cultural, sporting and social support clubs. They are also where communities come together in times of difficulty and times of celebration, as we saw around the country during Storm Éowyn. Over the past four years in particular, my Department has prioritised the development and enhancement of community centres across the country through a new dedicated funding stream for community centres.”
“The team in the Department of Social Protection is working through all the applications. Once again, I emphasise that the review process is trying its best to deal with the decisions that were taken and give people a chance to give us the kind of information of the expenditure. HAS 1 will remain open until 25 April, and we will be communicating in detail with regard to HAS 2 and 3. I look forward to working with Deputies from all sides with regard to what a future scheme might look like in terms of the commitment in the programme for Government to setting up an extreme weather event assistance scheme. I want to get that done as quickly as possible, and the kinds of suggestions that are coming from the other side of the House will form part of that scheme in terms of guidelines, response times and the kind of response we need to produce.”
“Uisce Éireann is examining requirements for additional generators and alternative power solutions to ensure it will have enhanced levels of readiness for future extreme weather events. We have also asked ESB Networks to produce an enhanced winter action plan so that the storm response will fit what Storm Éowyn brought to us, and we will be ready for that level of storm. As I said previously, we always say it is a once-off event. Unfortunately, it is not. The kind of storm and the kind of wind we saw under Storm Éowyn will become much more regular and we have to adapt our preparations accordingly. I am not saying this response is perfect; by no means was it perfect. However, we need to prepare for the next event. I will continue to work with Deputies across the House on HAS and work with them on cases they have.”
“Since the Storm Éowyn event, we have announced a further €22 million investment in community centre refurbishments as part of the Government review of Storm Éowyn and the future response. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta Farrell. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfanaimid chun tosaigh le hathrú. We will examine investing in generator facilities for community centres and we will examine designating in advance hubs that will be open when it is safe to open in extreme weather events. People will know in advance where that hub is. They will know in advance what kinds of services can be provided. We will work to put the generators, etc., in place that can give the kinds of services that those hubs provide.”
“I want to acknowledge the work of the staff in the Department of Social Protection who worked incredibly hard in trying to deal with this. Normally, humanitarian assistance schemes deal with applications in the early thousands. As I said, we are now approaching 70,000 applications. That is why there is a programme for Government commitment, which predates Storm Éowyn. An extreme weather event assistance scheme to support homeowners, homes, community organisations, farmers and businesses will be delivered. This is something the Taoiseach has asked us to work on ahead of the next winter period. Work is under way on that. With regard to community centres and community organisations, I reiterate and endorse the congratulations and thanks to the volunteers and local authorities who established hubs right across the country.”
“We are getting those involved in working towards cases at the moment. I also want to emphasise to every Deputy that anyone who is not satisfied with the decision, either if they have been turned down or with the amount, can seek a review. By outlining in detail the kinds of expenses they had as a consequence of the storm and as a consequence of the loss of power, they will be engaged with. To the point in the Sinn Féin motion about this being done in a timely manner, we have a dedicated team managing the review process and engaging by telephone with applicants for reviews in order that we can get the precise details and maybe capture from a conversation what may be lost in a paper-based application. Again, I am more than happy to work with Deputies to assist review cases.”
“Insurance companies must step up and reimburse people to whom they have sold policies. However, where a person has a legitimate reason for non-insurance, payments can be made under stages 2 and 3 of the HAS subject to an assessment of need and means. The scheme is not closed. Normally, stage 1 payments finish a number of weeks after the event because they are emergency payments. That has been the practice. In recent events, they were paid for two to three weeks. However, we will continue to accept stage 1 applications until at least 25 April, which is three months after the event, and we will continue to look at stages 2 and 3 applications. In reply to Deputy Conway-Walsh, I acknowledge that we have a challenge with regard to stage 3 because we have to get loss adjustors involved.”
“That stage 1 funding has generally been made to people to meet the additional cost of feeding themselves or their families in the immediate aftermath of the storm where people remained without power or water. In addition, people have been supported, where required, with the cost of alternative accommodation. I am frustrated to continue to hear that people are in the situation, such as the case raised by Deputy Kerrane. I will follow that up with her. The level of support provided in any case reflects the individual circumstances of that case. It is important that the scheme does not cover costs and losses that are normally covered by insurance policies. This is because it would be inappropriate for the State to step in and take on liabilities for losses that are privately insured.”
“The service was delivered not just by staff in the areas most directly affected but by staff located all around the country, with some staff relocated to the areas most affected to be available on the ground. Staff also travelled to the islands to ensure people got the help. That is why I want to specifically acknowledge the work of the community welfare service in the amendment. Where an immediate need presented in the aftermath of the storm, claims were paid on the day, effectively, by way of a cheque payment by a community welfare officer. To date, the community welfare service has registered almost 76,000 claims as part of the stage 1 response, with more than 28,000 claims awarded totalling in excess of €6.8 million.”
“Stage 2 payments are made on an exceptional basis to help people replace furniture and other household goods lost or damaged during a weather event. These payments are made to people who have a valid reason for non-insurance and who do not have the resources to fund repairs or replacement themselves. Stage 3 payments are made on an exceptional basis to help people with structural repairs to the home. My Department’s community welfare officers worked closely with local co-ordination groups and public representatives across the country in the days and weeks following the storm to ensure that people affected were aware of and had access to these supports. CWOs provided a full in-person, phone and email service right across that time, including over the first two weekends.”
“That was on the night of Thursday, 23 January. The purpose of the HAS is to prevent hardship by providing financial support to people when they need it most. This support is provided to help people meet the immediate and exceptional costs of shelter, sustenance and clothing that are directly attributable to and arise during and in the immediate aftermath of a storm event. In addition, and subject to a means test, the scheme offers support to people who do not have home insurance to cover replacement or repair of household goods and structures. The HAS operates in three phases. In stage 1, payments are made in the immediate aftermath of an event to assist people with urgent needs. Given the urgent and immediate nature of those payments, assistance is not means-tested.”
“While this was hugely impactful, we must also be thankful to so many who responded in very difficult circumstances. When the red warning was issued, local authority workers, ESB workers, communities, gardaí, ambulance workers, HSE personnel and many others were involved in trying get the response under way immediately. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead Department for the response to severe weather events. This means that it is responsible for the co-ordination of the response. The Department activated the national emergency co-ordination group when it became clear that Storm Éowyn would be a severe weather event. The Department of Social Protection administers the humanitarian assistance scheme. On the evening I was appointed Minister for Social Protection, my first action was to activate the HAS.”
“I thank Deputies for raising this matter. At a time when there division in the Chamber, I thank all Deputies, particularly those on the other side of the House, for their work on the humanitarian assistance scheme and on the storm response generally. Most Deputies in the affected areas put in huge shifts. Many were in contact with me on a constructive basis. As we all acknowledge, the damage caused by Storm Éowyn on the morning of Friday, 24 January left approximately 768,000 homes, farms and businesses without power, 84,000 without access to water and the loss of connectivity and broadband for more than 1 million homes, which continues today. I witnessed the immediate aftermath and devastation. Lives were upended and property was destroyed.”
“I move: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "commends the rapid response by local authorities, Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Networks, Uisce Éireann, Community Welfare Officers, Department of Social Protection staff and others, following Storm Éowyn, and this response, supported by the Defence Forces, Government agencies, Civil Defence and the Voluntary Emergency Services, working with community volunteers, non-governmental organisations and community organisations, is an example of the collaborative approach we have in place to ensure a rapid response during such events; acknowledges and appreciates the solidarity shown by our European Union neighbours, in the activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, and subsequent donations of generators to provide additional power and resilience to assist restoration across key sectors; extends sincere thanks to crews from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Finland, Germany, Scotland, France and Norway, who came to the aid of our ESB crews to support the recovery effort, and to those ESB crews and skilled ESB retirees who deployed to the most impacted areas in response to the damage caused by Storm Éowyn; commends all voluntary and community initiatives supporting individuals, families, communities, and businesses through this exceptional and difficult time; and recognises the contribution of the media, both local and national, in providing effective safety messaging and information to the public prior to, during and after Storm Éowyn; and notes that: — Storm Éowyn was unprecedented in living memory in terms of its scale and impact; — the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) was activated on 23rd January, 2025, ahead of the arrival of Storm Éowyn, to ensure that urgent support was made available to those who needed it; — the HAS operates as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme and is delivered by the Community Welfare Service in the Department of Social Protection; — the Community Welfare Service was available on the ground throughout the storm to assist the most vulnerable customers, including offering out of hours supports and travelling to the islands to ensure people got the help they needed; — when activated in response to a storm, the HAS operates over three stages: — Stage 1: payments are made on an urgent basis during and in the immediate aftermath of an event, to assist people with urgent needs with respect to shelter, sustenance and clothing, and given the urgent and immediate nature of these payments, assistance is not means tested; — Stage 2: payments are made on an exceptional basis to help people replace furniture and other household goods lost or damaged during a storm event, and these payments are made to people who have a valid reason for non-insurance and who do not have the resources to fund repairs or replacement themselves; and — Stage 3: payments are made on an exceptional basis to help people with structural repairs to homes, and these payments are made to people who have a valid reason for non-insurance and who do not have the resources to fund repairs or replacement themselves; — the HAS is not a compensation scheme to recognise disruption, damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event; — such losses are proper to be recovered from insurance policies, but the scheme will provide support where a person has a valid reason for non-insurance and can demonstrate that they do not have the resources to make good the losses incurred; — up to 27th March, 2025, the Community Welfare Service has registered almost 76,000 claims as part of the Stage 1 response; — all applications received continue to be registered on the Department of Social Protection systems, and will be fully processed; — up to 27th March, 2025, over 28,000 claims have been awarded, with a total of over €6.8 million being paid in respect of Storm Éowyn related claims; — in recognition of the extended nature of the power and other utility outages caused by Storm Éowyn, Stage 1 applications continue to be accepted for a longer period than would normally be the case after the onset of an event, and claims under Stage 1 will continue to be accepted until Friday 25th April, 2025, over three months after the storm event; — this exceptional extended period allows people who may not have had the opportunity to submit a claim in a timely manner to make an application; — Stage 2 and 3 payments also remain open for applications, in respect of losses incurred, and will remain open for some months to come; — any applicant who is not satisfied with a decision in respect of their claim for assistance, under any stage of the HAS, can seek a review, and this will be dealt with promptly; and — in terms of future planning, the Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future includes a commitment to develop an 'Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme for homes, community organisations, farmers and businesses'.".”
“She has been criticised today for not using the Standing Orders, but the point is being lost that those Standing Orders are the scaffolding around a foundation of respect, decorum and order. That foundation was gone last Tuesday. When people take the foundation away, it is very difficult to start looking for the Standing Orders to be used to suit their argument. We have to move on. We have to proceed with the business of this Dáil and this Oireachtas. There is work to be done. It has been lost that we did exactly that last Wednesday and Thursday night, when we had very good debates on two Bills for which I am accountable, with ideas flowing over and back across the Chamber for further discussion. The Dáil showed it can move on and get its work done. Let us get on with that work.”
“I have had five Ceann Comhairles and six Leas-Cheann Comhairles, Deputy McGuinness included, and every time there have been disagreements between Government and Opposition and the Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the day. There has never been a Dáil where the Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle has not been criticised for how he or she interpreted the rules or Standing Orders, but never before has it been because the decision did not go the way of the Government or the way of the Opposition in line with how either side dictates it should be and has had to bring a motion of no confidence. Deputy Murphy did her best to bring order and to continue Dáil business last Tuesday. She was faced with a barrage of noise.”
“Were this vote to succeed this evening and the Ceann Comhairle to lose the confidence of the House, a new Ceann Comhairle would have to be elected. We all have to ask ourselves, had anyone else sat in that Chair last Tuesday, would it have been different? It would not, because what happened was definitely orchestrated, organised and determined. The criticisms that are being made of the Ceann Comhairle and how she managed the Standing Orders are being made in the context of this atmosphere in the Chamber where everybody is listening regardless of whether we disagree. That certainly was not present last Tuesday. It was impossible to hear. It was impossible because it was orchestrated - shouting and roaring by a minority of Deputies, but vocally very loud.”
“In concluding what can be a technical presentation, particularly on my part as a Minister, I pay tribute to John O'Meara, to his children and to Michelle. We remember Michelle today, and all of those who have had to take this journey on their own. At the end of the day, we have to ensure that people and people's memories are at the heart of this process. While legislation can be technical, it is very important to emphasise that.”
“Again, I want to ensure that we will try to assist and be as flexible as possible for claims in this particular area. We will ensure that all information is made available through multiple communications channels, including social media and Citizens Information. The Department will put on a paid public information case in this regard. There were a lot of questions regarding the 2010 Act. I have put that into context and I will seek to come back to the Deputies regarding any other issues that were mentioned. I thank the Deputies for their contributions today. I have taken notes, and we will seek to reflect on those notes. A number of Deputies have asked whether I will engage with Treoir. We will be making arrangements to have an engagement with Treoir ahead of Committee Stage of this Bill.”
“With regard to backdating, the Department will emphasise that even in the context of all historical deaths being considered, the payment of bereaved partner's contributory pension for qualified cohabitants will commence on 22 January 2024. The Department will ensure that people are aware of the six-month window that is now open in order to avail of the extended backdating. This is an exception to the general rule that provides six months' backdated to the date of the claim. If the claim is made outside of this six-month window, then a person will no longer be able to avail of the extended backdating in this scenario and will be subject to the normal six-month backdating from the date of the claim which applies to current applicants.”
“First, eligibility, focusing on the time required to be living together in an intimate and committed relationship to be considered as a qualified cohabitant and the information that may be necessary to evidence this in order that people can start getting that together. Second, the phrase "historical deaths" is a very technical one. It does not seek to downplay grief. The Department will emphasise that regarding a claim being based on qualified cohabitation, deaths before the enactment of the Bill will allow a person to access the payment, and all historical deaths, regardless of the date, will be considered once the criteria for payment is satisfied.”
“Legislation is typically only applied prospectively, hence any retrospective conferring of entitlement requires strong legal justification to avoid creating unwanted precedent, which would affect other schemes. I emphasise that other supports are available within the Department to support people who may face financial issues. I encourage Deputies to provide me with cases and we will try to see if we can put other supports in place. Deputy Carthy made the point regarding the necessity of information and providing information for this. We absolutely intend, once this Bill is enacted, to commence a communication campaign that will be particularly focused on the following issues.”
“Therefore, it would be very complex to do that. In terms of backdating payment to the date of death, it is currently proposed that payment of the bereaved partner's contributory pension will commence from the date of judgment in the case of death that occurred prior to that date, that is, 22 January. It is important to clarify that where deaths occurred before 22 January, people can make a claim. Some Deputies seem to think people could not, but that the payment will be for after 22 January, when the existing law was found to be inconsistent with the Constitution. To go picking another date in this circumstance would be considered to be arbitrary.”
“I was asked for a number of claims that predate 2024. Currently, we have 160. They are only claims, however, and it does not say whether there is that amount of relationships for their claims that we have to date. The issue regarding the backdating of the bereaved parent grant has been mentioned. One of the difficulties there is that grant is paid where there are dependent children at the date of the person's death to meet their expenses in the immediate aftermath of the death. The rate of payment has changed over the years since its introduction, increasing from €1,000 in 1999 to the current rate of €8,000. Attempting to backdate the payment may result in payments for children who are no longer dependent and where other supports, including social welfare supports or additional needs payments were made available at the time.”
“The Department currently applies these tests to other schemes to assist in determining whether a relationship of cohabitation exists. There is a regulation-making power to allow for the Minister for Social Protection of the day to make regulations concerning the types of documentary proof required to establish qualified cohabitation. There is also - this was referred to by a number of Deputies - regulation-making power for the Minister to consider time spent living apart due to medical reasons as not bringing the relationship to an end. A statutory delegation may also be presented on a case-by-case basis to provide evidence. The issue regarding two and five years and the difference between a cohabiting couple with children and a cohabiting couple without children is based on the existing 2010 Act.”
“Again, we have guidance within the 2010 Act on the basis that within that Act, there are a number of areas, including, but not exclusively: the duration of the relationship; the basis on which a couple may have lived together; the degree of financial dependence of either adult on the other, and any agreements they may have had in respect of their finances; the degree and nature of any financial arrangements between the adults, including any joint purchase of a property; whether there are one or more children of the relationship; any social welfare payment and the conditions in relation to the payment, for example, receipt of one-parent family payment or an increase for a qualified adult; whether one of the adults cares for or supports the children of another; or the degree to which adults present themselves to others as a couple.”
“The Supreme Court noted in its judgment that the State had already defined cohabitation within the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. Therefore, reliance on the existing legal framework is, I think, a reasonable approach for an Oireachtas to adopt in regulating access to the bereaved partners contributory pension for qualified cohabitants. The criteria the Department will use to determine whether someone is a cohabiting couple was raised by a number of Deputies.”
“The Supreme Court noted anomalies with the existing scheme, including the continued eligibility for divorcees and others whose relationships have long broken down. We have a choice to either address these anomalies, or indeed make them more complex by creating a situation where multiple payments to multiple former partners could potentially be funded through the Social Insurance Fund. That is not the primary purpose of this scheme. It is important to take this opportunity to ensure that the equality provided for accessing the scheme is also applied where personal circumstances change and the entitlement is no longer appropriate. A number of issues were addressed according to a constant theme throughout the debate. First, why did we use the 2010 Act for definition?”
“We must now move to implement this case. In finding in favour of the O'Meara family, the Supreme Court did so on the grounds of the equality guarantee in Bunreacht na hÉireann. This legislation is designed to now provide for that equal treatment of couples whose relationship and family life is grounded on an intimate and committed relationship other than marriage or civil partnership. It does this by reflecting the existing definition of qualified cohabitants, which is contained in the 2010 Act, as was then enacted by the Oireachtas. We have used the 2010 Act as very much the scaffolding in trying to respond to this issue. The inclusion of qualified cohabiting couples for eligibility for the bereaved partners pension does require us, however, to address circumstances where relationships break down, and then eligibility ceases.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I did not think we would finish this quickly. I thank Deputy McAuliffe and all Deputies who gave me good wishes today. I have listened with interest to all of the contributions. We have taken notes. For Deputies who raised individual cases, I ask them to send me specific details and we will try to action them in as far as we can. It is clear that there is broad support across the House for implementing the main measures of this Bill. It is rooted in many of the personal stories that many Deputies have shared today, and that Deputies and Senators have all experienced in our constituencies. The frustration that we feel on many occasions in dealing with these kinds of cases has been articulated by many. The O'Meara family - John O'Meara and his children - have given great hope and direction to people.”