David Maxwell
Cavan-Monaghan · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I will ask about home support services, which are raised in my constituency office time and again by families across Cavan and Monaghan. Many people who have been approved for home support hours are still experiencing delays in receiving the care they have been assessed as needing.”
“Many families would appreciate reassurances that progress was being made to improve access to these vital services. The home support service can help with everyday tasks such as dressing, undressing and getting in and out of bed.”
“What legislation is the Government bringing forward to support our homegrown indigenous companies to grow, scale and compete internationally? For example, in my constituency one company, Combilift, is providing key employment. It is owned by two local businessmen. They are supporting jobs in the region and stimulating our local economy.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his response. As I said, this affects a number of families around the country. The people who have come to my office only want to have security in the knowledge that they can own their own home.”
“Consider the reality on the ground where there are two tenants who have both paid their rent reliably for over ten years, both have identical household incomes and both are upstanding members of the local community.”
“Tenants in Part V homes do not want to destroy mixed-tenure communities; they want to permanently invest in them. They want to ensure their children have a permanent stake in the area that they can call home. It is now time for the Government to review these outdated guidelines.”
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“Many families would appreciate reassurances that progress was being made to improve access to these vital services. The home support service can help with everyday tasks such as dressing, undressing and getting in and out of bed. What is the Government doing to make sure that staff and resources are in place to allow people who want to stay in their homes do so in Cavan and Monaghan?”
“I will ask about home support services, which are raised in my constituency office time and again by families across Cavan and Monaghan. Many people who have been approved for home support hours are still experiencing delays in receiving the care they have been assessed as needing. This creates understandable worry for older people who wish to remain living independently at home and places additional pressure on family members who often step in to fill the gap. Many people are currently waiting for approved home support hours to be delivered. I would welcome an update on the measures being taken to recruit and retain home support workers, particularly in rural areas, where staff challenges can be more acute. This issue has persisted for a number of years in Cavan and Monaghan, and in the country as a whole.”
“How are we supporting the next generation of homegrown companies to come through and have similar success? As we know, we need further employment and industrial development in rural Ireland, especially in places like Cavan and Monaghan.”
“What legislation is the Government bringing forward to support our homegrown indigenous companies to grow, scale and compete internationally? For example, in my constituency one company, Combilift, is providing key employment. It is owned by two local businessmen. They are supporting jobs in the region and stimulating our local economy. This one company has a workforce of over 800 direct jobs with hundreds of indirect jobs as well. It has an annual turnover of around €500 million and they want to grow this to €1 billion in the future. They export internationally and are global leaders in technology in forklifts, straddle carriers and similar machinery. What are Enterprise Ireland and the Government doing to help them grow further internationally?”
“With the announcement of €850 million under the housing activation fund - I thank our colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, for all his work on this over the past year - to unlock houses around the country, including up to 1,195 houses in Monaghan and 750 in Cavan, and other initiatives the Government is bringing forward to help increase the housing stock, if we increase the housing stock, will that help us to alleviate that problem?”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his response. As I said, this affects a number of families around the country. The people who have come to my office only want to have security in the knowledge that they can own their own home. A number did get a chance before 2016 but their financial circumstances at the time did not allow them to take up that offer to secure a home loan, so they had to decline it. After making a home in these houses, working hard, saving their money and building a track record in savings, some people can now apply and be successful with a home loan application for the house they have lived in for maybe up to the past 20 years but they are now being told, "Sorry, just keep renting it". This is not every Part V house. Not everyone wants to buy but for the families who do, can we look at the scheme?”
“I am asking the Government and the Minister to consider allowing flexibility within the scheme, especially to enable local authorities to transfer Part V status in cases where tenants do not wish to purchase, thereby opening a pathway for those who do. This is about fairness, recognising long-term tenants and enabling home ownership where it is both desired and achievable. The primary goal of the Part V is to build long-term, socially integrated and mixed-tenure communities. That is commendable but to deny a few families the chance to own their own homes that they may have lived in for up to 20 years needs to be addressed. Will the Tánaiste commit to reviewing this matter?”
“The core issue is that many families entered these homes with the understanding that they would have an opportunity to purchase them. However, due to legislative changes introduced around 2016 that pathway has effectively been closed off on those Part V homes. These are not just houses; they are homes where people have raised families, invested their own money and built their lives. Many of these tenants are now in a position to secure a mortgage and wish to purchase their home. Due to their age, however, this opportunity will not remain open indefinitely. Cavan and Monaghan county councils and other councils have a strong record in housing delivery. I believe there is scope for a practical and fair solution here.”
“Tenants in Part V homes do not want to destroy mixed-tenure communities; they want to permanently invest in them. They want to ensure their children have a permanent stake in the area that they can call home. It is now time for the Government to review these outdated guidelines. We must introduce a fairer model that protects the State's investment while ending the housing lottery for Part V residents. I put it to the Tánaiste that this is not a theoretical issue. It is a very real and pressing concern for families across Cavan and Monaghan and around the country. Under the incremental tenant purchase scheme, houses acquired by local authorities are excluded from sale. Social housing tenants living in a Part V property cannot purchase their home through this scheme.”
“Consider the reality on the ground where there are two tenants who have both paid their rent reliably for over ten years, both have identical household incomes and both are upstanding members of the local community. One tenant lives in a standard council-built housing estate and is granted a 40% to 60% discount to purchase their home while the other tenant lives just down the road in a home acquired through a private developer's Part V obligation. This second tenant is handed an outright refusal. This is an arbitrary roadblock. It penalises families simply based on the legal mechanism the council used to acquire the land, the bricks and mortar. While we all agree on the crucial importance of protecting social housing stock, we cannot build a fair system on a foundation of discrimination.”
“Will the Government consider amending the incremental tenant purchase scheme 2016 to allow houses acquired under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to be made eligible for purchase under this scheme? I want to highlight today the unfairness for some tenants with the ongoing injustice within our local authority housing system. The incremental tenant purchase scheme was launched to give long-term social housing tenants a fair path towards owning their own home. It builds generational wealth, it stabilises neighbourhoods and it rewards hard-working families. Today, however, thousands of families around the country are being fundamentally locked out of this dream through no fault of their own. These are tenants living in Part V properties.”
“I welcome the students and teachers from Tonragee National School all the way from Achill in County Mayo. We hope they enjoy their day in the Dáil. They are here with the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon.”
“Can we argue for wider tax credits and perhaps the creation of a middle tax band, rather than just pushing up the 40% entry point, year on year? These people who get up every day to go out and better their lives and those of their families need to feel they are getting reward for their work and not feel that staying at home and claiming benefits is worth more. Can we work over the summer months to bring forward a progressive budget for workers in 2027?”
“"This Budget builds up our resilience and will help us to adapt at a time of historic challenge for our economy." That was what the then Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe, told the House last October. That budget still raised day-to-day spending in 2026 by over 6%. That is lower than the 8% to 9% increase in the past few years, with a slower increase intended to protect the foreign investment-focused economy from US trade policies. Last year's budget, with its business and job focus, was needed. What we have heard since, however, is that it does relatively little for low-income earners and other workers, including those who earn too much to qualify for welfare payments but too little to significantly benefit from the higher 40% tax bracket. These workers feel that these adjustments fail to help with them housing and living costs.”
“At the moment this €1.4 million is being taken out of the ordinary roads maintenance budgets that are already cut to the bone. The people of rural Ireland deserve roads that are fit to be used safely. We need sustained increases to bring all local roads up to the required standard over the coming years. Can the Tánaiste give a commitment here today to local authorities that another tranche of funding will be coming forward?”
“Following the announcement in February of the annual roads allocation, will the Tánaiste give an update on any further allocations for Monaghan, Cavan and all of the other counties? This year's allocations for local and secondary roads will not go as far because they will be eaten up by price increases in supplies and labour year on year. With the excessive wet weather this winter and a number of storms, the latest being Goretti in February, local and secondary roads in counties Monaghan and Cavan are in a deplorable state. Will there be a further allocation to help local authorities reinstate these roads? These roads are used by farmers, all types of businesses and the people who live on them. It will cost Monaghan County Council just over €1.4 million for repairs to cover storm damage alone on their local roads this year.”
“There are no supplementary questions. There is only six and a half minutes per question and there are no supplementary questions. That rule was made about three weeks ago. It was communicated to all TDs. Supplementary questions are out unless the TD asking the question gives time to the other TD. We move now to the last question, and we only have two minutes. Deputy Burke can ask his question, but I can only allow him back in once.”
“The Select Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment. The Select Committee on Agriculture and Food has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine.”
“If we take that path, we can restore confidence in our coastal communities, we can create a system where regulation works for all without suffocating livelihoods, and we can ensure that future generations still see fishing as a viable and respected career. The frustrations within the industry are real. They should not be ignored but nor should they divide us. This is a moment to correct the course calmly, constructively and with the national interest at heart. Our fishermen and fisherwomen deserve fairness, our processors deserve stability, our coastal communities deserve opportunity and Ireland deserves a marine sector that reflects all that.”
“Most of all, it means recognising that the men and women who go to sea in dangerous conditions are not adversaries but citizens, taxpayers and custodians of a centuries-old tradition. The downturn we have witnessed in recent years has not been inevitable. Some factors are beyond our control: international agreements, Brexit and global market pressures. How we respond domestically, however, is entirely within our control. I thank my Seanad colleague Senator Manus Boyle for all his work in trying to make fishing front and centre for this Government. We can choose collaboration over tensions. We can choose reform over stagnation. We can choose to see fishing not as a shrinking legacy industry but as a modern sector capable of innovation, sustainability and growth.”
“What we need now is not confrontation but a reset: a reset in tone, a reset in engagement and a reset in how we view this industry. The people working within our Departments are public servants. Their role is to serve the interests of the nation, and the fishing industry is very much part of our national interest. It combines economically, culturally and strategically. It supports rural Ireland in ways few other sectors can. This Government has an opportunity and a responsibility to rebuild confidence. That means ensuring that policy decisions are informed not just by data but by lived experience. It means creating structured, meaningful dialogue between officials and industry representatives. It means ensuring proportionality, enforcement and transparency in decision-making.”
“When that balance slips, it can create tension that serves no one. I have met the SFPA in person for only two and a half hours in committee, and an old saying came to mind that day: You could not like them if you reared them. There are genuine concerns being expressed about the operational impact of certain regulatory approaches, about quality implications when landings are delayed, about repeated audits disrupting processing schedules and about the reputational damage caused by cases that ultimately do not stand up in court. Even when matters are resolved, the stress and the costs remain. We cannot afford an environment where mistrust defines the relationship between regulators and the regulated, nor can we allow divisions to widen in ports like Castletownbere, Unionhall, Killybegs and the others across the island.”
“They feel that enforcement can at times appear disproportionate rather than balanced. These concerns deserve to be acknowledged and not dismissed. The fishing community in Ireland has shown time and time again that it is prepared to comply with the rules and adapt to change. Sustainability is not the enemy of fishermen; it is their future. They understand better than anyone that without healthy stocks there is no industry, but sustainability must walk hand in hand with viability. One cannot come at the complete expense of the other. Where enforcement bodies such as the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority operate, they carry out an important and necessary role. Oversight is part of any regulated industry, but enforcement works best when it is seen as fair, proportionate and rooted in mutual respect.”
“This year, opportunities for fishermen have been drastically reduced owing to a quota reduction of 57,000 tonnes, or 70%. As the Minister of State said, the biggest reductions are to mackerel quotas. This is not because of our fishermen’s activities but because of overfishing by third countries. All these reductions are impacting up to 2,300 jobs, not in big cities or towns but on the edge of this island, with an estimated sales loss of up to €105 million. Many in the sector feel that the decisions affecting their future are too often taken without sufficient understanding of the realities at sea or how critical it is to keep the product fresh and in grade A condition when it reaches the processors. They feel that regulations can sometimes be introduced in ways that are rigid rather than practical.”
“Despite this, Ireland and the Netherlands are subject to the same CFP, as are other EU countries. In the past couple of weeks, the waters west of Ireland had a number of vessels from at least eight different EU and non-EU nations. What was noticeable was the lack of an Irish naval vessel monitoring all these foreign vessels in our waters. Also missing from our waters, from what I could observe this month, were European Fisheries Control Agency patrol vessels. However, they can appear in our waters in the couple of months when our own Irish vessels arrive to fish. When trust erodes between an industry and the institutions meant to oversee it, the consequences are serious. Morale declines, co-operation weakens and dialogue becomes strained. Ultimately, progress stalls.”
“Between bringing fish ashore, weighing them and processing them, over a dozen different sets of documents, declarations, stock returns or electronic transport documents must be filled in and returned to the competent authority. Our fishermen are subject to all the full inspections and audits routinely but when I examine the position on Dutch factory ships in our waters, which are supposedly operating under the same EU rules, I cannot find evidence of flow scales and CCTV. I do not believe there is image retention for six months, and the same applies to sampling under camera. I do not know about cross-compliance. The ships are definitely not subject to routine inspection by the Irish competent authority and to any audit while fishing west of Ireland.”
“Ireland’s pelagic fishing and production is compelled to have the following, from what I can establish, under rules imposed by the European Commission: standard weighing equipment with a 30-minute zero-setting interval, state-of-the-art flow scales across the sector, and weighing systems that must be under CCTV, with footage live-fed to the competent authority. I saw the latter in Killybegs last year. The footage must be retained by each individual processor for six months. That involves a significant volume of CCTV images maintained by Irish processors. We are subject to a sampling plan, and weight estimation must be carried out under CCTV also.”
“Over many years, a sense has grown within the industry that it is not always viewed as a partner in respect of sustainability and national prosperity but rather as a problem to be managed. Whether that perception is fully fair or not, it exists. That perception shapes trust. This perception exists because we are all part of one CFP in the EU. How can it be that it is applied differently depending on where a boat is registered? Take Irish boats compared with Dutch boats, for example.”
“We are talking about fishermen and fisherwomen, processors, transport operators, engineers, net makers, fuel suppliers and the many small businesses that depend on a vibrant marine economy. I am happy that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, visited Killybegs last week and saw first-hand what the lack of quota means, not in theory but in reality. He saw the direct impact on boats tied up, on factories that echo with silence and that are under pressure, and on service industries that rely on activity in our ports. That kind of engagement matters. Seeing the situation on the ground gives perspective that no briefing paper can fully provide. Alongside the economic pressures, there is something that cannot be ignored.”
“I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to allow the dire situation concerning fishing quotas to be discussed in the House today. The more time that I, being from an inland county, spend studying this industry, its history, its policies and its recent challenges, the more I note the deep frustration that exists within it. I will be honest. Based on my own research and engagement, I must share the frustration. Fishing is not simply an economic activity; it is about identity, heritage and family. It is the backbone of many of our coastal communities. When we talk about fish, we are not just talking about quota numbers or regulations but about livelihoods from the sea to the shore.”
“The Select Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for public services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 44 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.”
“I want to ask the Taoiseach about the Virginia bypass in County Cavan. The development of this bypass will deliver a sustainable solution for transportation problems identified along the N3 through Virginia town and its environs. It has been talked about for too many years. Significant safety and transportation issues have been identified within the area. Virginia town and its environs experience a level of both local and through traffic using the N3. Tendering was earmarked to begin this year with construction due to start in 2028 for completion by 2031. Last week's announcement followed a motion raised by my colleague in Cavan County Council, Councillor T.P. O'Reilly, seeking an update on the progression of the Virginia bypass. He was told that the planning stage will now not be lodged until the end of next year.”
“Deputy Butterly has already used her time and I cannot allow extra time. Does Deputy Butterly want to take parliamentary question No. 70? She does not want to take it. That brings an end to questions to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.”
“The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2026: Votes 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade.”
“The Select Committee on Defence and National Security has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2026: Vote 36.”
“For the poultry end, is there anything we can look at or what is the set-up with compensation for those poultry farmers who were unlucky enough to lose out before Christmas with the bird flu?”
“That is good news. I want to move on to the poultry. Before Christmas, a couple of flocks in Monaghan were affected by bird flu. From speaking to one of the owners, I know that, never mind the loss of the birds you have in your house, it is the cleaning of the house and the disposal of the bedding and shavings. Even shavings that were on-site had to be sent to a specialist for disposal. Following the cleaning of the house, you have let the house lie fallow for a number of months before it can be brought back into use. The owner was saying that, never mind the loss of the birds, that year you will lose at least one more rearing session, probably two, and that is a big hit.”
“I suppose every TD's office is getting phone calls from farmers. Farmers are losing out. Over the past 18 months, the price of cattle has increased and that is good for Irish farming. In one case, a farmer reckoned his animal was worth €5,000 in the mart and he got the €3,000. It is a big loss. Cattle prices could drop, though we hope they will not. Going forward, can we look at a scheme whereby, if prices have increased and they stay at that level for six months or so, farmers will be compensated? Never mind the monetary loss for a farmer, it is the emotional loss that a farmer feels when a cow or bullock goes down with TB, the herd is restricted. It affects the whole farm. Is there something we can look at, on the side of the compensation, when prices remain high over a number of months?”
“Will the Minister consider the current compensation paid to farmers who have to cull animals under a notifiable disease order, such as TB or bird flu, and can this be reviewed so that a fair compensation is paid, over and above the market value of the animals, to include a proportion of the consequential loss? I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter.”
“I would like to ask about the status of last year's changes to exempt smaller, modular and ancillary units such as granny flats or home offices up to 40 sq m, depending on the final regulation. Easing of these planning regulations to allow for larger, unattached structures to be built in people's back gardens and sites is a welcome development. This proposal to increase the stand-alone structure size will allow families to construct suitable modular buildings to suit their needs. I believe the interdepartmental and public consultations are complete. Will the Taoiseach give an indication of when the new regulations will come before this House for final ratification to allow people to move forward with being able to site and build these important units behind their main homes?”
“Vulnerable groups, particularly older adults, people with dementia and those on multiple medicines are at the highest risk. Community pharmacists are uniquely placed to mitigate this risk. They will support targeted, assessed use, clear eligibility criteria, ongoing review of governance and alignment with patient safety guidelines. Will the Taoiseach outline what consultations took place? I know the decision has been deferred but will he commit to reviewing this decision as a matter of urgency to ensure that vulnerable patients are not put at risk?”
“I would like to ask about the rationale behind the decision on blister packs that were available through local pharmacies and whether the Taoiseach is aware of the significant impact this is having on patients in counties Cavan and Monaghan and around the country. They are used selectively for patients with dementia or cognitive impairment, intellectual disabilities, significant physical or dexterity impairment, multiple chronic conditions and polypharmacy. Blister packs are not a convenience; they are a vital safety measure that supports medication adherence, independence and reduces the risk of hospitalisations. Evidence consistently shows that the unintentional non-adherence, for example, a person forgetting their dose, etc., worsens the disease, increases hospital admissions, and leads to higher health care costs.”
“A farmer who is supplying broiler chickens must now register this part of the farm for VAT purposes, even though the farm is operating as a dairy, beef and broiler operation. Farmers are looking at forming a company for the chicken part of the farm, with agriculture advisers, bookkeeping, VAT returns, registration for PAYE and corporation tax, and new loan agreements for the parts of the land that are in broiler production. I ask that this be looked at again.”
“I want to ask about VAT registration for poultry farmers. As we know, since 1 September broiler chicken services in Ireland are no longer eligible for the flat-rate addition scheme and must charge VAT for services such as rearing and fattening. Farmers who supply broiler chicken services now need to register for VAT if their taxable supplies are over the threshold. This is a serious issue. While straightforward broiler farms will be able to register for VAT with relative ease, it is an issue for many farmers who have dairy or beef operations, or both, who diversified into broiler production for an extra income stream or to give a son or daughter an income until that farmer can retire.”
“The Select Committee on Education and Youth has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2025: Vote 26.”
“The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the Credit Review Bill 2024 and has made amendments thereto.”
“I am going to make a ruling. To be fair to everyone, I am going to take people's questions in the order they came to the Chamber. There is only time left for three questions. I will call Deputies Malcolm Byrne, Brendan Smith and then Ruairí Ó Murchú.”
“The Select Committee on Agriculture and Food has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for the public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2025: Vote 30. The Select Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for the public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2025: Vote 45.”
“The Select Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has completed its consideration of the National Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025 and has made no amendments thereto.”
“The Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2025: Vote 32 - Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.”