Fiona O'Loughlin
Administrative Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Some 400 remote working hubs were also put in place, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, when we all had the realisation that some work - not all work - can be done remotely. The local enterprise boards are doing an incredible job in rural areas. I am speaking from experience.”
“I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming both the Belgian ambassador and my friends Joeleen and James. Anyone who has visited Chat N' Chew in Newbridge will have met Joeleen. I certainly hope her lunch today will be up to the usual standard at Chat N' Chew. It was lovely to meet with our former colleague Catherine Martin last night.”
“Continuing the theme of Kildare connections, she is a grand-niece of the late Rathangan author Maura Laverty, who wrote many books and wrote the very first soap opera for RTÉ, "Tolka Row". We wish Áine well on her retirement. I wish to talk about a serious issue relating to the blueway.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her positive response. In terms of premises, I had meetings with Jigsaw over the years in Newbridge and we did look at various premises. No later than yesterday, I spoke to the chief executive of Kildare County Council in relation to this.”
“We know young people are showing signs of stress or anxiety and that it is a very stressful and anxious world. Interventions can be made at this stage. The reason I have tabled this Commencement matter is that I have been advocating for a long time for Newbridge to have a Jigsaw service.”
“I always hate talking about these figures, but in terms of the rate of youth suicide, Kildare has the highest rate in Leinster. According to CSO figures, 14 people died by suicide in Kildare in 2023, in 2022 the figure was 26 and in 2021 it was 27. Demand is rising sharply for services.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,475 lines we hold for Fiona O'Loughlin, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 30.
“It ran paid ads urging attendance but when we look into the people paying for these ads, there are huge concerns. Some of the rhetoric used claimed Ireland was being destroyed by Europe and the Government and that the missing fuel tax money should come from the IPAS centres and the emptying of IPAS centres. There was a huge anti-immigration element, not from the genuine protesters but from a lot of the people who infiltrated them, unfortunately. It is very concerning and it needs to be called out, along with some of the misinformation that followed. This included AI-generated images of gardaí using water cannons that did not exist, old footage of sulkies racing down O'Connell Street recycled as if it was last week and a video of an Army vehicle trapped under a railway bridge that was not even filmed in Ireland.”
“There were real hauliers, farmers and agricultural contractors whose margins are paper-thin. They concluded that something had to give. Their grievance and anger was legitimate. The cost of living is real and the Government has to support them. The Minister of State has outlined a number of measures. None of that is in dispute, but some of the groups infiltrating the protests have an awful lot to answer for. Listening to the racist, homophobic and transphobic comments was shocking. A good article was written that did a deep dive on some of the people fronting this. For example, with regard to the Facebook pages that led to early mobilisation, one such page, People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest, was set up in 2021 and ran under a different name.”
“They had a legitimate reason for protesting. Protest persuades and a lot of good, decent people were persuaded by the protests to come out and support them. A protest occupies a public square, goes down a public street, gathers in front of Parliament or Oireachtas Members’ offices, etc., and asks the country and the Parliament for attention. That is important. It is important we all have that right, but a blockade does something else entirely. A blockade puts a small minority at a logistics choke point. Whoever happens to hold that choke point basically holds the country at ransom and practically at gunpoint. That is completely wrong. We all acknowledge and support protest because of centuries of legitimacy earned by people out protesting for good reason and good cause. Real people were involved in this.”
“For the past number of weeks, the Government had been looking in depth at what needed to be done. I understand people are very frustrated. The cost of living has risen sharply. People are working hard and doing their best to keep up. It is very difficult. We saw that absolute frustration spilling out over the last week. People have every right to be angry and to demand more, but it is also important to recognise the real, tangible steps that are being taken. We need to make sure these supports reach people as quickly as possible. We would appreciate a timeline in that regard. I will say a few words regarding the protests, from the point of view of knowing a lot of the hauliers and farmers, who were genuinely concerned for their future, and supporting them in looking for more measures from the Government to support them.”
“A lot of the disquiet that happened over the last week stemmed from the first set of measures the Government brought in that provided a miserly 3 cent reduction in green diesel for those working in agriculture. I do not know how the Minister for agriculture, sitting at Cabinet, allowed that through. It was clear from the start that it would not be enough to support those working in agriculture. It has been clear for some time that the hauliers need support. I know a lot of negotiation was going on between haulage companies, hauliers and the Government for some time. It is unfortunate people did not realise that and that the measures introduced, which the Minister of State outlined, were seen as something given as a reaction to those who were protesting. That is not the case.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, for being here. He had to step in at the last minute, so we appreciate his being here. As he said, Trump’s war on Iran has had an absolutely devastating impact around the world. The cost of fuel, energy and food has risen hugely. The impact, unfortunately, is going to go on for some time. We are in a very strange world in terms of what is happening. Of course, those external factors have a huge impact on what is happening in Ireland. We often talk here about food security and how important it is. To have that, we must support our farmers and those who get the food from farm to fork, so to speak, in terms of our supermarkets and shops.”
“McCarthy and John Walsh whose parallel rescue mission under the guidance of Fenian leaders in Ireland, including Charles Guilfoyle Doran, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, combined with the Catalpa rescue mission to ensure its success and the freedom of those who sought to secure the independence of Ireland.””
“I move: That Seanad Éireann: - honours the 150th Anniversary of the Catalpa Rescue of six prisoners for their involvement in the Fenian Rising; acknowledges: - those prisoners rescued - James Wilson, Thomas Darragh, Martin Hogan, Michael Harrington, Thomas Hassett and Robert Cranston - and their suffering in harsh and cruel conditions in Fremantle Penal Colony in Western Australia; - the bravery of the Captain of the Catalpa, Captain George Anthony, and the crew who, despite demands by the British authorities to surrender the prisoners, hoisted and pointed to the flag of the United States of America and sailed the prisoners to freedom; - the role of John Devoy, Clan na Gael, and the Irish in America in working with John Boyle O’Reilly in securing the Catalpa and its Captain, George Anthony of New Bedford in Massachusetts, for this most perilous rescue; - the role of Denis F.”
“When he gets to the station at about 7.20 in the morning, all the parking spaces are gone. Even though they have already provided new parking spaces, there are not enough. We are in a situation now where fuel is very expensive. Train prices have gone down, which is a really good thing. We want more people to use public transport, but for those who do not live beside a railway station, we must have town buses and parking spaces for them. I would like a debate on train station facilities at some point with the Minister.”
“I saw recently that Irish Rail made €15 million in two years from parking fees from cars parked unlawfully, and an additional €465,000 from clamping. I am not advocating at all for more clamping or more parking fees, but I think that money should be put to good use at those train stations. One of the things would be to have waiting rooms with functioning toilets. In Newbridge, for example, which thousands of commuters go through every day, and many who are not commuters but are going for health appointments, etc., the toilet is locked because of antisocial behaviour in the past. Surely they could open the facilities with this amount of money. I received correspondence this morning from a regular commuter who travels from the railway station in Kildare town. He has to travel about 12 miles to get there.”
“This Friday is the fifth anniversary of Jennie Poole. Jennie, as we know, was savagely murdered by her former partner in a matter of seven seconds. I have been privileged to work with both Deputy Paul McAuliffe and Jennie's brother, Jason, on legislating for a domestic violence register called Jennie's law. Just thinking of Jennie today, I know that this time next year, when we are talking about her sixth anniversary, we will have that on our Statute Book. We had a meeting recently with the Minister's officials and we are progressing. I am thinking of Jennie's two children Nevaeh and Zack, her parents Jackie and Joe, and siblings David, Clare and Leona, and of course Jason, who has been such a champion for so long.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach for reading out that resolution. It is important that we acknowledge the 150th anniversary of Catalpa . It will certainly be interesting to see the flag. I also acknowledge a good Kildare man the Cathaoirleach mentioned, John Devoy. When I was mayor of Kildare, I had the privilege of unveiling a statue to John Devoy in Naas, paid for by the John Devoy association in New York, which was always very proud of the work that he did. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I extend our deepest sympathy to Brian O'Shea's family. He really was one of the finest of men. I had a lot of dealings with him in 2003, when he was Minister of State, on the Special Olympics World Summer Games in relation to sport and disability. He could not have been more helpful at any point in time.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. A key area I asked about related to engagement with Kildare County Council. Based on his reply, I am very satisfied that that is ongoing. The second element was to ensure that this remains a priority. Again, I am absolutely happy from what he has said that this is an absolute priority. It is great to have the €20 million investment in roads in Kildare. A lot of the roads in the county are regional roads that people have to go through both on the western side and the eastern side of the M7. A lot of money is being spent on those roads. I accept that the Minister of State appreciates the importance of this project. Will the timeline be pushed out? The last update was that it would be starting - there is always a caveat - hopefully in 2027. We hope that the money is ring-fenced for that.”
“It is a town that is well served by our railway line. We have a lot of new housing. We need to be able to have traffic moving smoothly. It is so important, so this bridge is a priority. Having a town bus - which I raised before with the Minister of State - is another priority. However, in this instance, we are talking about the bridge. We want to have assurance around its delivery and around the timelines because the last timeline I had was that it was hoped to start in 2027. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could respond to me.”
“I have no doubt but that the company will put in for another planning permission based on the report it got. To be fair, at all times the company indicated that it was willing to work with Kildare County Council and the Department should it not get planning permission. There is a real fear from people around Newbridge that the bridge will not go ahead because of the refusal. I do not believe that to be the case but I have no doubt that an update has been given to the Department because it does see this as a priority project. I appreciate that the Minister of State is here to take this Commencement matter. I want to seek reassurance that this is still a priority for Kildare County Council and for the Minister and the Department. It is absolutely vital to the growth of Newbridge, which is growing exponentially.”
“There have been huge delays basically for commuters and people going to school. If there is any issue like flooding or roadworks or whatever, everybody is just held completely to ransom. Having a second bridge has been on the cards for a long time but there absolutely has been progress. Planning permission was given last September 12 months to the company that owned the land where the approach to the bridge would have to be taken. Last September, the business case was accepted by the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. We had hoped that with some more negotiation the construction would start in 2027 and I still believe that we can do that, but there has been a fly in the ointment since then. The company that owned the land had a planning permission request with An Coimisiúin Pleanála, ACP, and two weeks ago that was turned down.”
“Members and indeed many Ministers will have heard me talking about the absolute need for a second bridge, a vital piece of infrastructure, for Newbridge and its environs. The bridge is an essential part of the southern outer orbital route. About 25% of the route has been completed, and much of the remaining 75% is at the stage of completion. Why is the bridge needed? Newbridge is a town of around 30,000 people. There are five schools practically sitting on the bridge that we have, which is the only way in and out of Newbridge. I travel through that bridge as well and you can appreciate that at school start time and with congestion - a lot of people coming into or leaving Newbridge to work - we all have to time it and to try to stagger our timings because if you are caught, you are badly caught. I am sure the Chair knows it too.”
“I have not read all the detail. The Senator raised concerns about over-reliance on private landlords and no rent cap. We will ask the Minister to come to the House to have a debate. It is really important when we have around 42,000 students who do not have appropriate accommodation. It is something that, in all areas where we have third level and universities, we need to get right. I am glad the Minister has tackled it because it really needed a particular focus and he has put that focus on it. We will certainly look for that debate. I thank Senator Harmon.”
“We 100% need regulation around it and we will, again, ask the Minister for agriculture to come in. I know Senator Andrews has called for a debate on animal welfare. We are well overdue one and we need to include the sulky racing in that as well. Senator O'Reilly spoke about her concern regarding the triple lock, which is going through a process. We will have the opportunity in the Seanad to have a debate on the legislation that the Government is introducing. Senator Harmon spoke about Bessborough mother and baby home, and the fact there are statements in the Dáil this afternoon on that. We need to have statements in the Seanad. We certainly will look for that. The Senator also spoke about the strategy of the Minister for further and higher education, Deputy Lawless, on student accommodation, which was launched yesterday.”
“Senator Andrews spoke about the horrific situation where a horse was killed in Clonmel. Only last night somebody brought it to my attention and sent me a photograph. I was glad I did not see the videos that are circulating. I could not look at them. They show the terror and the pain and the carnage on the roads. We cannot blame the 13-year-old who was in charge of the horse. We have to blame the people who put that 13-year-old in charge of the horse. It was absolute cruelty. Senator Andrews mentioned the case of another horse and an unborn foal that was killed in Ballyfermot. We absolutely need enforcement around sulky racing. I see it has started again in Kildare. Sometimes the speed they go at is shocking. It is absolute cruelty of the highest order.”
“It was lovely to have the experience of meeting him one to one. He was a really kind, warm and compassionate person. Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife and family, to his community and to everybody who met him. He touched lives. There is no doubt about that. Senator Crowe also spoke about firebombings in Dublin and Galway and the fact that councils have developed a policy of not allowing residents back to these houses for their own safety. For some families, that is very difficult because these are their communities. They have been firebombed through no fault of their own and it is very difficult to have to start anew. We need to look at the way this type of horrific behaviour is tackled. To be fair, the Minister for justice is a regular in here but we will look to have a debate with him on the matter at some point.”
“It was always all about the parish, how people could support the parish and how the parish could support people. They are struggling. We are awaiting information from the Minister in relation to rural housing. I think we will have that soon. We will most certainly look for a debate on the issue as a matter of priority. The Senator also welcomed the fact that the Tánaiste is meeting the chief executive of Galway County Council with regard to equalisation fund funding. Senator Ollie Crowe spoke about the great Michael Lyster and how sad everybody was to hear the news over the weekend. Michael was just incredible. He was a wonderful sports ambassador and a wonderful ambassador for Galway. We all have great memories of him. I met him in Galway during the 2003 Special Olympics World Games. He was just fantastic.”
“About 20% of people in Ireland say they experience loneliness. I actually would have thought it might be more than that. The average in Europe is about 13%. It is something that comes up regularly. We will look for a debate with the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health to discuss that. Senator Boyhan spoke about social cohesion in rural Ireland and particularly in Gaeltacht communities, island communities and very small rural communities where the lack of housing has become a problem. As he rightly said, we see schools suffering. They are not able to hold onto teachers because their numbers are going down. The GAA and other sporting organisations are also losing numbers. When we were all growing up, the parish was the thing. Parishes are struggling.”
“There has been a large investment in decongregation and this has generally worked quite well. We need to see the same effort and commitment with regard to the design of this support. I genuinely do not think the Government will be found lacking in providing funding for it. It is a question of getting the design of the supports right. We will look for a debate on it. It is a hugely important issue. The Senator also mentioned mobility grants and the money that has been spent. Houses are deteriorating because they are not getting the funding for early interventions. We will look for a debate with the Minister on that. Senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony spoke about the epidemic of loneliness in Ireland. A recent survey has shown that Ireland has the highest levels of loneliness in the EU. People are concerned.”
“Over the last few days, I saw the Taoiseach speaking about the issue. I know he has met some of the parents. This is not just about money. Money does come into it but it is not just about money. I know funding for residential supports was increased by 20% this year but it is not just about that. It is about the different supports each individual needs. That is where the conversation needs to be. The Taoiseach has asked the subcommittee on disability that sits within his Department to discuss this matter. As the Senator has said, there needs to be co-ordination between the HSE and local authorities but also between the section 39 organisations, which are very involved in these young people's day care in particular. We really need an holistic approach between all of the different organisations.”
“From looking at the papers this morning, I know that a woman and a girl have been taken into custody in relation to the case. The Senator gave a shout-out to John Connors. It is my belief that, as the Senator has said, he has always acted with honesty and integrity. He is someone I have great respect for. He calls things as they are. He does not hide behind anything. The Senator spoke about the honour culture within the Travelling community and the silence around it. She echoed John Connors's remarks that this honour culture causes a lot of problems and that it is time to change. We all support that call. Senator Tully spoke about the Before We Die campaign. Elderly parents are very concerned about the absence of plans for their sons and daughters with disabilities, who will have to fend for themselves after the passing of their parents.”
“With regard to a review, we have asked the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to come to the Chamber to talk about funding. We will ask him to address that as well. I should have said that Senator Fitzpatrick also spoke about the boys in green. She gave a shout-out to all of the mentors, volunteers and families who give so much, day in and day out, to ensure that young people like Troy Parrott do really well. A lot of people helped out heroes to get there. We certainly wish them well. Senator Boyle also wished the team well. He particularly mentioned Shane Coleman. Senator Murphy O'Mahony also added her voice. I know we will all be glued to the television this evening. Senator Keogan spoke about the horrific attack on Scarlett Faulkner, who is now fighting for her life.”
“As is custom, those priorities are not shared until the previous country completes its six months. I know there is going to be a focus on AI and digitalisation. I certainly think this could pre-empt something really important Ireland could do during its Presidency. Based on what the Senator has said and brought to our attention, we will certainly look for that. Senator Manus Boyle spoke about local improvement schemes, which are a lifeline for many rural communities. He spoke about the €1.2 million allocation for Donegal, which is very significant. I totally appreciate that all of Donegal is very rural and that there are an awful lot of roads. The Senator mentioned 250 applications in his own municipal district. That is indeed significant.”
“The Senator has rightly said that this has very significant implications for EU policy, international legal pressure and the focus shifting from content design to platform design. Listening to the radio this morning, it was interesting to hear where the focus was. Many of us have spoken here about the importance of supporting young people's mental health and supportive environments for young people and, indeed, for the rest of us. The Senator is right to look for a debate with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. We will certainly look for that. I do not think he has been in this Chamber since he became Minister in this area so it is nigh-on time that we have him here. We will also talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, because there has been talk about our priorities for the EU Presidency.”
“I thank the ten Senators who contributed this morning. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the historic legal judgment in the US regarding a case taken against big-tech companies by the parents of a minor. It was fascinating to listen to the judgment and the reaction to it As the Senator pointed out, the judgment is significant. It is a milestone decision. There are going to be implications across the world, and rightly so. In this case, the jury found big-tech companies guilty in relation to the design of the product as opposed to the content. Previously, the focus has always been on the content. As Senator Fitzpatrick has said, for the very first time, the responsibility has shifted from the content part to the design.”
“4, motion re the earlier signature of the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026, to be taken on conclusion of No. 3, without debate.”
“2, motion re the earlier signature of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026 – all Stages, to be taken at 2.15 p.m., and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4.15 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government and the time allocated to the opening remarks by the Minister on Second Stage shall not exceed eight minutes, group spokespersons shall not exceed eight minutes, time may be shared, the Minister shall be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate, and Committee and Remaining Stages will be taken immediately thereafter; and No.”
“The Order of Business is No. 1, Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026 – all Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m., and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1.45 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government and the time allocated to the debate on Second Stage is not to exceed 40 minutes, with the opening remarks by the Minister not to exceed five minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed five minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate, and Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter; No.”
“The final item I would like to mention relates to the Bord na Móna headquarters in Newbridge. A fabulous new state-of-the-art landmark building on Main Street in Newbridge. It is going to have five storeys. I had the opportunity to look around it recently. Bord na Móna is on quite a large site there and the buildings that are operating as offices at present are preserved. Bord na Móna is a semi-State company and I would like to see the Newbridge community being able to avail of the existing buildings that will not be in corporate use following the move to the new building. I tried to put it in as a Commencement matter but it was not appropriate for that. I would like a debate with the Minister on this in the House.”
“It was nominated for the award for best comedy and also the overall Young Irish Filmmaker of the Year. As part of the festival, the audience award goes to the film with the most views on the Fresh Film YouTube channel, so I encourage everyone here and everyone in Kildare and beyond to watch and share "The Wrong Jumper" and help these very talented young filmmakers bring home this award. Coming up this morning I was heartened to see at some stations, though not all, the excise duty drop reflected in fuel costs. Obviously we want to see that panning out over the day but reducing the cost of petrol and diesel was a really important practical step that was made by Government. We absolutely need to offer much-needed relief to motorists, workers and to the many small businesses that rely on transport every day.”
“It is a great honour for all of our footballers to represent our countries and to wear the green jersey and we are all very proud of their dedication and effort. Those of us who are older will remember the great spirit of Italia '90, a time when the country came together in hope and in belief. I know we are all united in looking for a positive result tomorrow. The Cathaoirleach mentioned creativity and filmmaking and I am delighted to congratulate Sam Whelan and the talented young people from Patrician Secondary School and Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge, on the success of their short film "The Wrong Jumper", which has been selected for the all-Ireland finals of the Young Irish Filmmaker of the Year competition organised by Fresh Film.”
“I add my voice of welcome to the Greek ambassador. I had the pleasure of visiting Olympia, the home of the ancient Olympics, which is a very special place indeed. We have to remind ourselves that the Irish Special Olympics is coming up in June. I know we support all of our athletes from all over the island of Ireland who will then be taking the opportunity to compete in the next Special Olympics World Summer Games, which will be in Chile. Athens actually hosted the 2011 Special Olympics. I had the opportunity to go there and was very appreciative, as was everybody, of the wonderful organisation that was put in place by Greece. Speaking of sport, I offer my very best wishes to the Irish team ahead of their World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final tomorrow in Prague.”
“Once allocations are made, it is important that the Minister, for whatever allocations, comes and talks about the position and defends the policy around what funding is given to which county. Senator Conway spoke about the Taoiseach's visit to Washington and the fact that the international programme went very well. Thankfully it did in Washington, given that you just do not know what you are going to be faced with. I spoke about this yesterday here in the Seanad. I think the Taoiseach absolutely faced up to his responsibilities both as a Taoiseach and as a proud European member. Senator Conway also spoke about equality and equity for those suffering from cancer. We have already said we will look for the Minister to come to the House in relation to that.”
“Once somebody heard her voice, they were just addicted to her. I remember seeing her and her two aunts what must be 35 years ago down in Dingle and it was one of the most incredible concerts I ever saw. She had a haunting voice and she embodied Ireland's culture within that. Mary's poem was lovely. She was right that Dolores's music will remain forever and we will always thank her for her music. Senator Tully spoke about the Oireachtas Members meeting Cavan councillors about insufficient funding for Cavan roads. Obviously I was not privy to that meeting and did not hear what was said besides what was said here in the Chamber. We will look for the Minister for Transport to come and talk about allocations.”
“I understand the report is with the Minister at this point. We need to have an urgent debate in this House. We will certainly look for that. In relation to Bessborough and sites of sensitivity, that is something to explore. I am not sure whether it would lie with the OPW or the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, but we will investigate it and see if we can do something and bring forward a debate on it. Senator Black spoke about Family Addiction Recovery Ireland, FARI, presenting in Buswells today and thanked them for their huge work around addiction impact on families. She outlined very eloquently the huge trauma on families. I thank the Senator for her work with the Rise Foundation because all of that work is important for rebuilding people's lives and giving them all opportunities. She also spoke about the wonderful Dolores Keane.”
“A really excellent job was done of refurbishing it and having an open building people can come into. Senator Noonan spoke about Hughes Agriculture and Farming Limited. He talked about the cost of production and getting labour, etc. We need an urgent policy reset of how we support horticulture in this country. Maybe that has happened at the agriculture committee, but it is terribly concerning to see us going down this road as a country that has always been so proud of our produce and, it seems to me, is always talking about food security. However, we are not living the food security piece if we see what has happened in Hughes if that continues, which none of us want. The Senator has also asked for a debate about the local democracy task force. That is important to all of us for many different reasons.”
“The Senator said the school has been given funding of €750,000 but it is spending only about €450,000 on what it was assigned for. He believes we need to be able to divert that funding. I agree that we need a common-sense approach, but we must have procedures and protocols that are quite strict. If funding is given for a specific purpose, it should be used for that purpose, and if there needs to be a change, there needs to be a very specific set of criteria. It is shocking to see a school operating like that in the city centre. I suggest Senator Andrews put down a Commencement matter. Speaking of Westland Row, I was in Dublin City Council's Pearse Street Library last night, which I believe has been refurbished in the last few years. It is an absolutely stunning, beautiful building.”
“To think we have gone from 1,500 to 600 dentists who are active in the medical card scheme is quite shocking given the growing population. It is particularly difficult with young people and with schools. Somebody recently told me about a Ukrainian dentist who was here but could not get work. One thing we need to do is look at recognising qualifications from other countries. We need a debate on this. It comes up in this House regularly and we have not had a debate on it with the Minister for Health, so we will certainly look for that. Senator Andrews spoke about the CBS in Westland Row, which has been there since 1864 and needs maintenance. Half of the boys' toilets are closed because the downpipe is not working.”
“The Senator did raise this issue before and I said that anybody who has any information or evidence absolutely needs to go to the Garda, and once a formal complaint is made, it absolutely should be investigated. Senator Rabbitte spoke on the policy and funding role of the Minister for Transport and the responsibility for TII in local authorities to carry out policy and make sure the structure is in place. She highlighted the fact there is no adequate traffic calming in Portumna and its environs. We absolutely do need to have a good, active and safe traffic programme. That relates to the issue Senator Comyn spoke on and we will look for the Minister to come. He is overdue a visit to the Seanad. We will certainly look for that. Senator Scahill looked for a debate in respect of dentists.”
“Senator Duffy spoke again about the cost of living and particularly about the costs for hauliers. He pointed out that, of course, the impact is going to come back onto the retailer and the consumer. Senator Keogan spoke about legislation recently introduced in the House of Lords. While we do not comment on legislation brought forward in other jurisdictions, I share her concern about it opening a door to unregulated abortion. She also mentioned the improvised Epstein files floats in two parades. It is quite shocking. I do not know how anybody could have conceived that either of those would be a good idea. We have to call it out for what it is.”
“That we are lagging behind other EU countries is not good enough. We need to show ambition. We need to show courage for people who are suffering from cancer and who are getting those diagnoses. None of us knows on any given day when any of us might get that diagnosis. We need to show that ambition. The geographical disparity Senator Ryan spoke about is quite shocking and we must acknowledge that here. Again, we will look for the Minister to address this inequity. In light of what Senators Ryan and Comyn spoke about, we will look for the Minister to come before the House in relation to those specific issues. When a family member is undergoing treatment for cancer, finances come into it in a big way. The financial stress apart from the medical stress is quite enormous.”
“The Senator is right to raise the fact that there are a lot of non-medical costs for those who suffer from cancer. Another Senator also spoke about that. In terms of parking costs, it is awful. When people are at the end of their tether and sad, upset or traumatised going to visit relatives in hospital, it can sometimes be the last straw. Scrabbling around trying to get change or to ensure you have money on an app is difficult and an extra burden. I understand Senator Comyn was talking about Drogheda in particular and she said maybe a shuttle bus should be provided instead. That could be a viable alternative. It is a proposal we should put. We will look for the Minister to come in and address that and also what Senator Ryan said about Ireland facing a significant shortage in clinical trials.”
“Senator Stephenson spoke about the fact that we now have 89 data centres. I agree with her that they consume a lot of energy and there needs to be a balance between domestic consumers and businesses that need to have the data centres. However, the data centres sit at the intersection of economic strategy and the transition to the digital economy, and they support cloud-based business systems. There is a statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's enterprise strategy. First published in 2022, the strategy was updated in 2025. We will ask for a debate about it. Balance is the important element here. Senator Comyn spoke about Daffodil Day. It was great to see so many supporting Daffodil Day at the coffee morning earlier in LH 2000.”
“The Minister requested it. Senator Higgins said she would be proposing an amendment to the Order of Business, which, on behalf of the Leader of the Seanad, I will not be accepting at this point. Senator Collins spoke about a school in Dromcollogher being on a main road. It is a busy main road. I know the area and Dromcollogher. It is surprising that this has not yet been addressed under the safe routes to school scheme. Obviously, funding goes from the Department to the local authorities. I have no doubt the Senator has been in touch with the local authority about the issue. We will ask for a debate with the Minister about the safe routes to school and active travel schemes because they are an important element of safety and in ensuring that not everybody has to drive to school. We will certainly ask for that.”
“The International Protection Bill is large, complex and time-sensitive because it transposes and implements the EU asylum and migration pact, which Ireland opted in to in July 2024, nearly two years ago. It is a central priority of the Government that our immigration laws are robust and are enforced. This is the most comprehensive reform of immigration law in the history of the State. The overall objective is to provide a fair, sustainable and effective asylum procedure, which will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU. The enactment and commencement of the Act are required by 12 June 2026. Therefore, it is time-sensitive. Senators Higgins, McDowell and Mullen spoke on this issue. The Minister has requested that we finish Committee Stage at 4 p.m. Senator McDowell asked who requested that.”