Garret Ahearn
Administrative Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 9(2)) (Amount of Financial Contribution) Order 2025 (Revocation) Order 2026, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No.”
“I am very conscious that No. 10 is to be taken at 11.30 a.m. and it is now 11.30 a.m. I will be brief. I will make a note of any contributions relating to debates for when we come back in September. There were a lot of calls for debates.”
“We have been here for a number of years and she is correct; a lot of it has come through in July. Technically, it is for the Leader to set out the timeline of debates but I understand the frustration when it comes late or when there is little scope for debate. The motions, in fairness, were referred to committee for debate.”
“9, whichever is later, and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 75 minutes 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, the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister at th…”
“5, motion regarding Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 4) Regulations 2026, back from committee, to be taken on conclusion of No. 4 without debate; No. 6, motion regarding Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.”
“We will have a busy time coming back in September with an expected by-election to this House, which will create more work for them. To all colleagues across the House, on a personal level, I thank them for the last number of weeks since I took over as Leader of the Seanad. It has been a busy number of weeks for all of us.”
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Every one of 712 lines we hold for Garret Ahearn, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 15.
“I thank the Cathaoirleach, his office and the Seanad Office for their engagement over recent weeks, and the Deputy Leader, Senator O’Loughlin, for her constructive encouragement and engagement throughout the process. It is a real privilege to take questions as Leader. The Order of Business is No. 1, Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 4.45 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 4.45 p.m., with the time allocated for the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes each and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No.”
“I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, copies of which were laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 11th June, 2026.””
“That is why the Minister, Deputy Burke, has made some changes in relation to pausing sick pay in particular and not putting it up to ten days. It is why he is introducing the 9% VAT rate in the hospitality sector, including hairdressers and others. We need to have a balance in that and make sure we support people on low pay, in particular, and make it worthwhile to work. At the same time, we need to recognise these costs have a huge impact on businesses and they need to be supported as well. The Senator asked for a debate on that and I am more than happy to do that.”
“I have both. However, I understand and take the Senator’s view and concerns genuinely, and his consistency on the matter. Senator McCarthy spoke about small businesses and rising costs. That is a real challenge for businesses. A lot of businesses are under huge pressure but want to continue because they do not want their staff to lose their jobs. Often, they are hardly making ends meet and just surviving. We have made a lot of changes for employees in recent years in relation to the minimum wage, sick pay and pensions. All these are the right things to do. They support people on a lower wage and support people to have a pension. We should do this and it is the right thing to do, but we have to remember that it comes at a massive cost to employers.”
“If the Senator wants detail on that, she can put down a Commencement matter on it. Senator Mullen spoke on the eighth amendment. I spoke on that at the start. He spoke about empathy for little children. I think most people have empathy in general but people have different viewpoints. Some people have empathy for women going through difficult pregnancies.”
“I did not hear the comments but I know the Minister of State has been a real advocate for increasing funding for aid to developing countries in general. We are only one of two European countries at the moment, I think, which has increased international aid support. That is something all countries, particularly in Europe, need to do because of the reduction in aid from America, which has had a real impact on Third World countries.”
“Sometimes, you feel as if it is just rural ones but it is not – it is urban ones as well. It does have a real impact. Post offices are not being used to the same extent as before but some of them are in beautiful buildings and are a key element to a village or town, or a key area of Dublin such as Rathmines. The onus is on Dublin City Council to purchase it, make sure they get value for money, and do with it as it pleases with the agreement of the councillors. It is not something we should lose when it has such historic importance and is so important to the community and groups in the area. I support the Senator’s advocacy on that. Senator Sarah O’Reilly spoke about the comments of the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, on doubling funding aid for planned abortions abroad.”
“Senator Keogan spoke of the sad passing of Grace who died by suicide. She was a young mother who was going through a traumatic time after losing custody of her child. The Senator has done good work as a foster carer over many years and has a keen understanding of people going through trauma and care and kids being taken from their mother or father. I will ask the Minister about what information Tusla has, not just on this particular case but on how many cases it has like this across the country. It is very distressing. Senator Keogan called for a commission to do an independent report and Senator Andrews agreed. We will see if the Minister is willing to do that. Senator Andrews spoke about the closure of the post office in Rathmines. There has been closure of a number of post offices across the country.”
“The fear over the broadcast levy that is being introduced, which will see an increase of 69% over the next two years, is that it has the potential to have a dramatic impact on local radio stations. As the Senator said, we are seeing it already with people losing their jobs or cuts being made. That was not what was envisaged with this broadcast levy. The Minister has asked his Department to do a report to see what the impact would be on local radio stations. He has asked Coimisiún na Meán to assess what can be done going forward. He is not in a position to do anything on this particular increase but we need certainty for local radio stations into the future because of the really good work they do. I will ask the Minister to come to the House on the subject. It is an issue that affects everyone across the country.”
“When we talk to reasonable people on the doors, from my experience, people are always very welcoming and very supportive of people coming into this country, as well as people from different backgrounds and interests. Senator Linda Nelson Murray spoke on the importance of local radio stations. I was on LMFM once about three years ago. I got a good grilling but I came through it all right. It has a great listener base just like every local radio station across the country. They are invaluable to our local communities and give trusted news, reports and discussions that are not always had on national radio stations. They are a great platform for small, local businesses or community groups to promote themselves. They obviously do the GAA and death notices but the important thing is that they are a trusted source for people in the area.”
“You try to be inclusive and welcoming to different groups and parts of society, and people from different walks of life and different countries. There was also an African event held in Cavan. These are all positive things about welcoming good people into the community. There is a fear of what social media can do. It is very worrying. As Senator Tully said, those of us in politics are all used to having terrible comments made about us but it is being done to people for whom it is very undeserved. As Senator Tully said, it is very distressing when it is prejudiced or racist in nature. As loud as they are it is a very small minority. We see that come election time.”
“It did not include a recommendation that those under 16 years should be banned from social media but it had a lot of recommendations about algorithms, restrictions on use and age verification. That is all very well but there is a very strong case for having under-16s banned from social media. The point is always made that it is very hard to implement but that is not a reason not to do it. Implementing it is a decision afterwards but putting it into law is very important too. Senator Comyn was also very active on that debate at the committee too. Senator Pauline Tully spoke about the first Pride march in Cavan and gave two really good examples, which lead in to what Senator O’Donovan spoke about in terms of social media.”
“On the referendum, people certainly felt protected by having that three-day cushion in place but that is a wider debate we can have. The vote tonight is one for it to continue to Committee Stage. Perhaps it is at that point where those discussions can be had. However, at all times we need to be respectful of everyone’s personal opinions on that. We are always good to do that in this House. Senator Noel O’Donovan spoke about social media and the UK ban, which was brought in because of what happened in the last number of weeks. As he said, parents are just asking for some sort of comfort because of the fear they have of social media, their lack of understanding of what kids are using and how they can become addicted to it. It is a real worry. The media committee, which I sit on along with Senator Mullen, produced a report on that.”
“I would not disagree with the statements that were made here today. There are a lot of people in the country who voted in that referendum with the assurance that there were things in place. That is something that needs to be-----”
“Senator Gallagher, along with Senators Sarah O'Reilly, Mullen and McCarthy, spoke on the eighth amendment. There is a vote on a Bill on this matter in the Dáil tonight. We do not have a vote on it in the Seanad, but it might come at some point. Senator Gallagher and the other Senators raised some very valid personal views they have on tonight's decision. We all know it is a personal decision for everyone and we have to respect everyone's view on it. It is very hard to disagree with some of the points that were expressed here in this Chamber. Senator Mullen spoke about leadership and lack of leadership. When we are talking about this issue, it is a personal viewpoint. Whether we agree or disagree we have to respect that it is a personal view. It is difficult for everyone to come to a conclusion on that.”
“Senator Clonan referred to the cost-of-living crisis in the context of this morning's meeting of the disability committee. I understand his genuine concern about the disability payment. As the Senator said, as public representatives we all understand the fear and distress that people go through when they are literally trying to make ends meet and have so many payments and costs because of a particular disability. We have done quite a lot but as a State we need to do better. We can do better and we will do better in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our country. I will make sure that we ask for a debate with the Minister on that for the Senator. Senator Rory Gallagher - sorry, I was thinking of the musician - Senator Robbie Gallagher spoke about-----”
“He called for a debate in the Seanad with the Minister for higher education. I do not think we have had such a debate for quite some time, so I think there is an opportunity to do that. He outlined a really good example. Due to the housing infrastructure fund that has been put in place, and the fact that the Government is prioritising infrastructure right across the country, there is now approval for a 3 km road from Wexford town to the site where the Wexford campus of the South East Technological University is going to be. Now the responsibility is obviously on the college to deliver that campus. We need to have an update on that. It is not ideal if we are building the infrastructure around it but we still do not know when the actual campus is going to be built. I know this is a key priority for the Senator and for Wexford town.”
“The Senator raised the incredible achievements of a school and said that wants to make sure the funding continues. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke in relation to Inner City Enterprise, or ICE as she called it. I was worried about what she was going to talk about when she mentioned the word "ICE", but it is in a positive sense for once. They do phenomenal work. The social enterprise fund is there, in conjunction with Dublin City Council, to support people who have ambition and want to achieve their dream. It is great that phase 2 was launched this morning by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and is supported by big tech companies here in Dublin to support that area. The Senator has always been an advocate for that. Senator Cathal Byrne welcomed his staff. I think we all agree that we would be lost without our staff. That is for sure.”
“I am very flexible and I am sure the Senator knows that as well. I am very flexible in terms of our sitting times, when we start or when we finish. The Senator also mentioned local government and the statement of strategy. That feeds into the local task force. Senator Davitt raised that last week and, like Senator Boyhan, he asked for a debate on it. Once that is published, this House in particular should have good opportunities to debate that issue with the Minister. Senator McCormack has brought up STEM research and funding a number of times. It is getting very close to 23 June. I can understand her frustration. She said she has put it down as a Commencement matter but the Minister has not come in. We will try to sort that out. I am not sure of the full details of it. I know the Senator is very genuine on the matter.”
“I think there needs to be a broader scope across all sports and not just rowing. Having something like a sports integrity unit, as the Senator has advocated for a long time, would be a good base to work from. Senator Boyhan is right that we have a busy schedule over the next number of weeks. It is always the case, as he knows because he has been here for quite some time, that coming up to the summer recess a lot of Bills have to go through the House. I am in an acting role at the moment so I cannot say for certain but I am more than happy to facilitate. As Senators are aware, we will sit early next Tuesday. I am more than happy to sit earlier on Tuesdays and later on Thursdays to make sure we can give people the opportunity to speak on important legislation that comes before the House.”
“Senator Ní Chuilinn raised an issue involving Rowing Ireland that has been in the public domain for many years. It relates to the conditions that some of the best sportspeople in our country have had to deal with. It is hugely welcome that an independent inquiry has been launched by the Minister, and that there is hopefully a completion date by the end of this year. Senator Ní Chuilinn has done a lot of work in the committee on this matter to try to give our athletes an opportunity to have a real, independent assessment of how they are being treated. Like the Senator, I hope that everyone who wants to speak up feels as though they are safe so that they can speak up and give their opinions. The Senator is right, hopefully, that we will accept any recommendations or any findings from the independent inquiry headed up by Amanda Bennett.”
“I thank the 16 Senators who contributed this morning. Senator Comyn spoke about the increase in shoplifting and mentioned the 41 court cases at the moment in Dún Laoghaire. That is replicated right across the country. If you speak to owners of shops like Centra and Spar, they will tell you that shoplifting happens on a daily basis and nearly on an hourly basis. The kinds of things that are taken are normally day-to-day items that people just need. It is important that we have a debate in this House on the matter because it has been an ongoing issue for the last two to three years, at least. It has a real impact and it is a real cost to those businesses. It has an impact on the managing of those businesses. We will try to have a debate on it in this House.”
“2 and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion no later than 4.45 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 Government; No. 4, statements to mark Irish Aids Day 2026, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude no later than 6.15 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes, those of all Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 5, Private Members' business, Prohibition of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems Bill 2026 - Second Stage, to be taken at 6.15 p.m., with the time allocated to the debate not to exceed two hours.”
“The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018, section 60(6) and section 51(3) regulations 2026, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann for an amending EU directive to combat firearms trafficking and other firearms' related offences, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude no later than 1.45 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed five minutes, those of all Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill, 2026 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken on conclusion of No.”
“He made the point that it should be the responsibility of the social media companies to restrict access. I do not think the Senator or I fully believes that they would actually do it, or that it could be delivered on. I am not a tech genius, but I am told it is very easy to get around this. However, I would make the point that even if it is very tricky to get around or is hard to implement, that does not mean we should not do it. It is difficult. We can all see that social media is addictive, in particular for young people. When we are talking about under-16s, it can even be addictive for extremely young people if they can get their hands on it. We need to do whatever we can to prevent that as much as possible at a younger age, and have kids out playing sports, colouring or doing whatever they want to do.”
“I understand the narrative from the Senator, but many people in this country, particularly farmers, need to be sure that our Ministers can deliver on key funding structures to support them over the next couple of years. As we hold the EU Presidency, it is the best chance to get a good deal that supports the Irish people. Senator Mullen spoke about what seems to be a very quick decision by the UK to restrict access for under-16s. This comes on the back of a number of things that have happened in the UK in the last week or two. As the Senator knows, we serve on the media and sport committee. It produced a report that did not recommend this, although we all have separate views on it. The Senator is right that it is how it is done and delivered that is important.”
“This is an investment in promoting Ireland across Europe. I would always say in relation to membership of Europe that we have gained more financially than we have had to put in. There are a lot of things. While the Senator talks about it being in a bubble, the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, is not a bubble, and it is massive for farmers. The fisheries deal is important for fishermen. The multi-annual financial framework, MFF, deals with funding right across Europe and needs to be delivered during the Irish Presidency. Most countries want it and feel that it has to be delivered during the Irish Presidency because of our experience of holding the Presidency.”
“It gives that uplift that you get from the World Cup, where small countries - we have been there before - can pull off these amazing achievements and successes. It is really good to see. Congratulations to Pico Lopes. His block in the last couple of minutes was phenomenal. It is great for the supporters and for the tournament in general, because there are issues with this tournament and where it is on. It is great for the sport. The Senator also referred to the EU Presidency. The EU Presidency is a really positive thing for the country. This is the eighth time since we have been a member of the EU that we are hosting it. An awful lot of work goes into delivering that. Obviously, it costs a significant amount of money to do it, but it is not like a sports event or other event where we are trying to get the money back.”
“The Senator also mentioned Louth beating Armagh and Dublin. As a Tipperary person, I do not think we should be talking about the GAA any more this year so I will not. However, I will talk about the sports capital grant, which is obviously very important. The Minister is keen to deliver on that this year. That is always beneficial to communities around the country. Senator Andrews spoke about Cape Verde. It was an amazing win yesterday. I was watching it with my two sons. They thought that we were meant to be cheering for Spain because I had told them that Spain might win the World Cup, but as the game went on, I kept saying that we needed to support this team. It is a small country with one fellow from Ireland. It is an amazing achievement.”
“They are on a list for delivery so the local communities expect them to be delivered. I will contact the Minister's office to see if it is possible for more funding to be put in place for local authorities. Senator Comyn also spoke about this morning's announcement of the housing infrastructure fund. A significant amount of money, €40 million, is going to Louth, where we hope it will deliver 3,000 much-needed houses. An awful lot of people are looking to live in that area, which is just outside Dublin. One of the most frustrating things for people is when a developer or builder wants to build but the infrastructure, whether water, wastewater or roads, is not there. We now have a pathway for those big developments to be built and for homes to be delivered. That is really important.”
“Councillors in local authorities agreed to put these road projects that are meant to be happening, whether they are small road maintenance projects, LIS projects or big road projects, on the 2026 or 2027 budget a year or two years ago. However, when the authority goes to complete them, the cost is much higher than expected. I know the Department of housing is very much aware of the issue. These authorities need extra funding to deliver these projects. Particularly in rural areas, whether in Sligo or anywhere else, simple road maintenance is really important for people. I know this comes from a very genuine place. In every local authority, the directors of roads and services are very worried that they will not be able to deliver the projects they had promised to deliver and that the councillors had promised to their communities.”
“Sometimes the HSE and the Department of Health actually have to ask the drug company whether it is willing to sell it in Ireland. That process can take some time because Ireland is obviously not the biggest country in the world and coming here is not the first priority when the drug has approval in other countries. However, for obvious reasons, it is important that we try to get drugs that have been approved in like-minded countries to our own people as quickly as possible. Senator Cosgrove spoke about funding for local government. We are all being lobbied by the directors of services and roads in every county council. You sometimes do not think about it but, once you are told, it is very obvious.”
“An estimated 200,000 houses could be built in a quicker timeframe because of these projects. This morning's announcement related to the first call. It is really welcome. It may be a good opportunity to have the Minister for housing come to the House to outline exactly what this will do and where we will go from here. Senator Clonan congratulated Senator Costello on the approval of the drug givinostat, which is very welcome. It is great to have that recognition from both sides. Senator Clonan is always very good about that. This obviously strengthens the case for the approval of Skyclarys for Friedreich's ataxia. All of these matters are dealt with individually between the HSE and the drug companies. It can sometimes take some time to do it. It can sometimes depend on when the drug company applied to sell the product in Ireland.”
“I see it myself in Clonmel, where an agricultural show has been going on for years, since well before I was born. The numbers keep increasing every year. It is a really good family event. As the Senator said, money spent promoting these agricultural shows right across the country is money well spent. The Senator also spoke about the housing infrastructure investment fund, which the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, announced this morning. Over €800 million in funding was announced this morning, essentially to speed up the delivery of housing by speeding up infrastructure projects right across the country. I believe 82 projects were announced this morning. I hope that, as a result of the speeding up of these projects, we are going to see the delivery of housing speeding up.”
“It is very frustrating when one walks around the city and sees areas that are derelict, dirty or not maintained to the standard that they should because, whether we like it or not, the city is a reflection on the whole country. As Dublin City Council needs to make sure that things are being looked after and are being kept to a standard that is respectable, I will ask the Minister to contact the chief executive of Dublin City Council to make sure that this could be done to a better extent than is being done at the moment. Senator Nelson Murray spoke about agricultural shows and the €1 million in funding that goes towards the 26 agricultural shows right across the country. There is always a case to put more funding into those shows. The turnout is very positive every year.”
“That is obviously something that garnered a bit of news over the weekend but as he said himself, momentum is growing from all sides. It is not that one side is right and the other side is wrong. It is about what sort of unification we are looking for, which is a long discussion. It is right and proper that people feel free and are open to actually discussing what they are looking for in the future because year on year, it is becoming a bigger issue. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about Bloomsday in Dublin, which is obviously a really good event and is internationally known at this stage because of James Joyce. When we have events like this, they bring in tourism and Bloomsday is one example. Bloom was held only a number of weeks ago. These events bring large crowds to the city and it is important that the city is looks as good as possible.”
“It will still be the local authorities' decision on what properties would be classed as derelict but it would not be for the local authority to actually follow up and recover that money. It would be for Revenue, which is best placed to do that. Senator Conor Murphy spoke about Kilmainham Gaol and the hosting of an event. I am surprised the OPW has not come back. I will write to it as Acting Leader of the Seanad to make sure that it does. The Senator outlined how historic Kilmainham Gaol is and how hosting an event would be perfect. I cannot see any reason the OPW would not respond or would not be favourable towards it but I will make sure the Seanad promotes that as much as possible. The Senator also spoke about the unification of the island of Ireland.”
“She mentioned Kerry County Council and data. It is for the county council to decide what data it wants to use so it is not really for us to say. It is for the officials and the members. The Senator also mentioned the derelict property tax, which has been in the news in the past couple of days. The Senator mentioned that it is sidelining local authorities but that is not what it is doing. Local authorities have a challenge in terms of recouping money that is owed to them. Sometimes it can go farther and go into court, which costs the local authority an awful lot of money. The plan from the Government is to, hopefully, move this towards Revenue so that Revenue deals with it as opposed to local authorities. That is what would suit local authorities as well.”
“With such population growth, Kildare is a prime example of a place where that service should be provided Senator Cathal Byrne spoke about the CLÁR programme, which is a very significant programme, particularly for rural areas right across the country. There is always an opportunity to amend and the Senator mentioned a prime example. A lot of these first responders looked to get large-scale machines or vehicles for use but it is always the day-to-day costs. The Senator used the example of defibrillator pads that cost €300 per use, which can certainly become a large cost after a while, so I will ask the Minister. It would be a good opportunity for the Minister to come in and debate funding for rural areas and in respect of CLÁR in particular. Senator Keogan spoke about governance and accountability.”
“I thank the 11 Senators who made contributions this morning. Senator O'Loughlin aptly spoke about men's mental health after I just went up four flights of stairs to speak here so it was perfect timing when it came to speaking about it, particularly in relation to mental health. It is a real problem for men right across the country. An awful lot of good work is being done by organisations such as See Change or Jigsaw. Jigsaw has been operating in my county of Tipperary over the past number of years and we have seen significant benefit, particularly young people suffering from anxiety and mental health difficulties. The number of people who die by suicide is far too high. If we have seen the benefit of Jigsaw in some counties, we definitely need to see it in others.”
“3, Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 7.30 p.m. and to adjourn at 9.30 p.m., if not previously concluded.”
“The Order of Business is No. 1, Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 – Second Stage, to be taken at 4.45 p.m. and to conclude no later than 6 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed eight minutes, all Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Domestic Violence Judgments Register Bill 2026 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 6 p.m. and to conclude no later than 7.30 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minute, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No.”
“He could submit a Commencement matter on it. I am more than happy to write to the Minister on the Senator’s behalf to deal with it. As the Senator said, if we can fight the Rotunda to follow through on contracts, it should happen in Longford or anywhere else.”
“One person alone does not decide to put up a flag. With regard to costs, I cannot imagine it is a great cost to a Department or this building to put up a flag, whether it is the Ukrainian, European or LGBT flag. Everyone has different views on this, and I totally respect that. Certainly, in this building, we have colleagues who are on the committees on Members’ interests who make decisions on our behalf. Senator Joe Flaherty raised the retirement of Dr. Ali and the contract for his replacement. An agreement was put in place that there would be three half days included to service the area of Lanesborough, but that is not being done. Obviously, if it is in the contract, it should be followed through on. The Senator may wish to discuss this with the Minister because it is not something we would have a debate on in this House.”
“Obviously, there has been huge investment at a capital level in education. Over the number of years when the Minister, Deputy Foley, held this portfolio, there were reductions in the number of pupils per class. The more we do and the better we do, the better kids’ education in schools will be. That is what we are all fighting for. It is a good opportunity for the Minister, Deputy Naughton, as the new Minister for education, to come to the Chamber to have a pre-budget debate on this. We will try to make that possible. Senator Rónán Mullen raised LGBT colours being used in public buildings. He answered it himself at the end when he responded to Senator Andrews. In this building, the committees on Members’ interests make decisions on behalf of all of us. There are groups within different public Departments that make decisions.”
“In my village in Tipperary, we always compare ourselves to our neighbouring villages and whether we beat them every year. Obviously, that encourages more people to get out to help their community, which is important. Stickers from vapes being put on bins is a simple thing. It seems so small but if it is constantly done, it has a big impact. We will talk to the Minister for the environment, Deputy O’Brien, to see whether we can get something done on it. As the Senator said, it is like chewing gum. People need to be aware of the visual impact it has on the area. Senator Eileen Lynch spoke about the INTO briefing. A good Tipperary man, Brendan Horan, is now the president of the INTO. Its ask for an increase in teacher numbers to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio is reasonable.”
“Senator Aubrey McCarthy spoke about the Irish Rail IT project and listed five or six projects that have been overpriced or which were not value for money. However, there have been a lot of value-for-money projects that have been completed on time for less than the allocated money. The obvious example is broadband. It was delivered on budget and on time. There are a lot of road projects that have been delivered on budget and on time, albeit I accept that he named a number of projects where that has not been the case. All of these matters can always be dealt with at the public accounts committee. Where there is public spend, the committee can bring anyone in to seek accountability. Senator Linda Nelson Murray spoke about Tidy Towns and how well Navan was doing in comparison to its neighbours in the county. That happens everywhere.”
“The VAT rate was introduced to support hairdressers in particular. I accept people who are out of work for a long time do not know where to go or for what they qualify. That is our job. We should promote that more. I find that is what we do when we are in our constituencies. Senator Pauline Tully spoke about ash dieback in Cavan. A Commencement matter with the Minister would be worthwhile because there is a financial support package for people who have ash dieback. It does not apply to hedges along roads. It could be worthwhile to bring the Minister in on a Commencement matter. Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about the Bill before the Dáil today regarding counselling notes that can be shared with representatives of alleged perpetrators in courts. The Bill will come to the Seanad and we will have an opportunity to have that debate.”
“That is true. The Senator spoke about Serca Darcy. As public representatives, unfortunately we all know of people who get very sick due to breast cancer or other long-term illnesses, look for supports and do not know where to go. All of us advise people in our constituencies on what they are entitled to or could get. There is uncertainty. It is important that someone with a young family who loses a wage can access help. It can be very stressful. The woman the Senator mentioned should be able to qualify for medical cards and so on. She is a hairdresser, therefore the 9% VAT rate will have a big impact on her business later on in the year.”
“Senator Sharon Keogan spoke about the IMF report on AI and the impact that could have on employment. That is why we established a Committee on AI at the start of this term. Many concerns have been expressed about the opportunities AI can create. In truth, we are all in the unknown in respect of what can happen with AI. We can certainly have a debate in the House on it. I will contact the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, as soon as possible. Senator Chris Andrews spoke about the women's game last night, which was a brilliant performance. It was obviously upsetting - what can one do about a goal when there is a bicycle kick into the top corner? It is harsh on the girls. They have done us incredibly proud. I have no doubt they will do us proud again in October and qualify for the World Cup.”