Garret Kelleher
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“These services include a day care programme led by nurses and healthcare assistants, community catering with meals-on-wheels, social activities and transport. The work done by the team at Westgate Foundation enables older people in our community to stay at home and live independently while maintaining a vital social connection.”
“The fact she is in Westgate and able to participate and volunteer at local level speaks volumes about the independence it affords to people. There is an ongoing conversation in Cork on the development of light rail, the Luas line, with Ballincollig being on the western side of that.”
“Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, is fíorthábhachtach an rud é cinnteacht a thabhairt do Westgate Foundation faoi thodhchaí na heagraíochta agus seans a thabhairt don fhoireann bainistíochta na seirbhísí a fhorbairt i gcomhréir leis na riachtanais atá ag dul i méid i measc daoine aosta inár bpobal i mBaile an Chollaigh agus sna ceantair mórthimp…”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response and acknowledge the behind-the-scenes work going on between the HSE management in the south-west region and the management team at Westgate, which is crucial. I neglected to mention one thing in my initial contribution, of which the Minister of State will be well aware.”
“As the Minister of State is aware, one of the primary reasons for the increased costs being borne by Westgate Foundation is related to the fact that the organisation had been heavily dependent on the community employment scheme, which is an unsustainable position given that the economy is effectively operating at full employment.”
“As the Minister of State is aware, Westgate Foundation is reliant on section 39 State funding, administered through the HSE South West, to provide services to senior citizens.”
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“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Richmond, as teacht isteach chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn agus páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht mar gheall ar ghnóthaí idirnáisiúnta inniu. I welcome the remarks of the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and begin my contribution by referencing the ongoing situation in Gaza and Palestine. As I have done on a number of occasions, I state at the outset that there is absolutely nothing antisemitic in what I have to say, and I firmly believe in the right of all people who inhabit this earth to exist peacefully side by side. The State of Israel was established in 1948 in the years immediately following the Second World War when the full extent of the atrocities of the Holocaust came to light.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit agus leis na Seanadóirí ar fad a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht. Sin deireadh leis na ráitis maidir le tacaíochtaí breosla do thionscal na hiascaireachta. Fiafróidh mé den Treoraí Gníomhach cathain a bheartaítear le suí arís.”
“Before we call the Minister of State to conclude this afternoon's debate, I acknowledge the visitors from Griffeen Community College in Dublin, who are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Sula leanfaimid ar aghaidh, cuirfidh mé fáilte roimh ár gcuairteoirí ó Charraig Uí Leighin, Contae Chorcaí. I welcome the students from the Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline, to the Seanad. They are guests of Deputy Séamus McGrath. They are very welcome.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, to the Seanad. The Minister of State has eight minutes for his contribution after which group spokespersons will have ten minutes each. I will call on the Minister of State no later than 12.53 p.m. to reply to the debate.”
“I reiterate there is ongoing communication between Cork County Council and TII about providing the funding to enable them to come up with a temporary solution that will allay concerns and make the road safer for users in the Mourneabbey area prior to the delivery of the M20.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Going back to the "Drivetime" section that included reference to the issue we were discussing, there was a lady on who was living on the Burnfort side who said some mornings it can take up to ten minutes for her to take the right hand turn towards her place of work in Mallow. That results in people taking risks, so I welcome everything the Minister of State said. The crux of the issue is what is being looked for is a short-term solution prior to the delivery of the M20. Nobody is looking for a commitment of funding to a prohibitively or excessively expensive project that would only be short term in nature.”
“I am also aware of the ongoing contact between Cork County Council and TII on the more immediate concerns and the possibility of an intervention prior to the delivery of the M20, even if it is temporary in nature, to make the road safer for the local community. This is what Councillor Madden and community groups in the Mourneabbey area are looking for, but for these talks to result in a positive outcome a commitment to enable a solution to be delivered is needed. I sincerely hope such a provision can be made either directly in budget 2027 or through TII to deliver safer road infrastructure for the community of Mourneabbey.”
“The difficulty with the Mourneabbey junction compared with places like Rathduff, New Twopothouse and Buttevant, which are also on the N20, is there is no town or small village in the parish directly on the road that would require a lower speed limit to be observed and make an intervention such as a pedestrian crossing or other traffic calming measures viable options. We are all well aware of the progress being made between the Department of Transport, TII, Limerick City and County Council and Cork County Council on the delivery of the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway, but even the most optimistic forecasts indicate that delivery will not happen for at least nine or ten years.”
“Below these we have car and van drivers, who have the protection of their vehicles in the unfortunate event of a collision, and finally bus and lorry drivers. According to an article by Geraldine Herbert in the Irish Independent in May 2024, "The purpose of the hierarchy of road users is to give greater protection to pedestrians and cyclists and to highlight that those who can do most harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce risk to other road users." As traffic volumes have increased on the N20, it seems insufficient consideration is being given to the hierarchy of road users and to the needs of pedestrians and local residents in relation to their own safety.”
“Local councillor Liam Madden, who raised the issue with me recently, was interviewed on RTÉ Radio 1's "Drivetime". He highlighted the dangers faced by local residents multiple times each day in crossing the road. He described the road as having traffic volumes similar to those of a motorway but without any of the safety infrastructure, such as overpasses or underpasses, that we would associate with our motorways. We are told we have a hierarchy of road users in an effort to protect the most vulnerable when it comes to road design and safety provisions. At the top of this hierarchy we are supposed to give priority to pedestrians, who have no protection whatsoever in the event of a collision. Then come cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists.”
“These safety concerns have been exacerbated by the significant increase in the volume of traffic on the road in recent years. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has stated: The existing N20 is not designed for the volume of traffic it is now carrying. The annual average daily traffic reached nearly 18,000 in 2025, an increase from 15,000 in 2016. The parish of Mourneabbey, south of the town of Mallow in County Cork, is one of the communities that are dissected by the N20. The majority of the community's facilities in the parish, such as Clyda Rovers GAA club, Mourneabbey Community Centre and the local crèche are located on the western side of the N20, while a significant proportion of the local community live in the Burnfort area, on the eastern side of the road.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, atá anseo chun plé a dhéanamh ar shábháilteacht ar an mbóthar N20 idir Corcaigh agus Mala, go háirithe ag an bpríomh-chrosbhealach ag Mainistir na Móna. As he is from Cork, the Minister of State will be very familiar with the N20 national primary road between Cork and Mallow and the difficulties faced by local residents in many communities along the route in crossing the road safely. Residents of Waterloo, Whitechurch, Grenagh, Rathduff, Burnfort and Mourneabbey, the latter of which will be the main focus of this Commencement matter, all face similar dangers and challenges crossing the road and going about their daily business, going to work and bringing children to school.”
“As Senator McDowell stated in his contribution, we should look upon the imposition of a prison sentence as a last resort and continue, where possible, to explore alternative ways to deliver justice, including the consideration of the wider use of community-based detention.”
“When evidence supports alternative systems that can clearly demonstrate lower rates of recidivism, better outcomes for prisoners, better outcomes for addiction issues, improved training and better roadmaps towards community involvement and successful reintegration into society, then we must give these alternatives due consideration as the process of improving our criminal justice system for all.”
“This type of approach seems to be at the centre of the community-based detention model, which it was claimed has significantly lower rates of recidivism and reoffending when compared with our traditional prison sentences. We must continue to ensure that we have a victim-centred approach to our criminal justice system, which encourages and supports victims to come forward and report crimes. We must also remain open, however, to exploring alternatives to traditional imprisonment, particularly for offenders given short custodial sentences. I welcome the remarks of the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, at the beginning of this debate.”
“People in custody within our prisons, however, continue to have human rights and it is crucially important that these rights are respected by all in our criminal justice system. On Thursday last, I attended some interesting presentations in the audiovisual room organised by our colleague, Senator Aubrey McCarthy. These included presentations from Release, the restorative justice charity, and the Irish Penal Reform Trust. The presentations cited successes of community-based detention systems in countries such as the Netherlands, Norway and Germany. I know that Senator McCarthy does outstanding work in providing supports for people suffering with addiction issues and in helping them on their journeys to recovery.”
“This equates to 123% of our overall capacity. The current levels of overcrowding in our prisons are most acutely manifested in our female prisons. Mountjoy female prison currently has 228 women in custody today, exceeding its bed capacity of 146 by 56%. Limerick Prison currently has 91 women in custody, exceeding its capacity of 56 beds by 63%. Today, 548 mattresses are in use on the floors of Irish prisons with some prisoners being faced with the choice of sleeping with their head near their cell door or lying down with their head close to the cell toilet. It is very important that we remember the reason for imposing custodial sentences on criminal offenders is to deny those who have committed crimes their liberty.”
“I welcome the work being done by the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, in seeking to improve our Prison Service and the focus on non-custodial sentences and additional funding for community service initiatives and our probation services, as he alluded to in his opening remarks. I believe that we always need to remain open-minded to the possibilities of systemic change when the changes being proposed are evidence-based and have a proven track record of success in different but comparable jurisdictions. A quick look at the Irish Prison Service website will tell us that today, the majority of Irish prisons have more persons in custody than places available. The cumulative totals for all of our prisons today, as referenced by the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, show we have a bed capacity of 4,736 places. However, we have 5,814 people in custody.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta O’Callaghan, as ucht a bheith inár measc tráthnóna inniu chun páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht seo. Is tábhachtach an rud é a bheith ag smaoineamh go rialta ar an gcóras dlí agus cirt atá againn sa tír seo agus conas gur féidir linn feabhas a chur air agus é a athrú don tsochaí i gcoitinne, d’íospartaigh a d’fhulaing mar gheall ar ghníomhartha coiriúla agus, chomh maith leis sin, do chiontóirí, chun seans a thabhairt dóibh éalú ó shaol na coiriúlachta. I welcome this afternoon’s debate on prisons and alternative sentencing options.”
“It is very important that we have the likes of sunset clauses, where necessary, that we review and refresh legislation, reflect upon the sophistication of organised crime groups, and make every effort possible to ensure that the legislation continues to be robust and effective into the future. Like my colleagues, I welcome the changes that are being proposed, in particular the expedition in the seizing of illegally acquired assets from serious criminals, the closing-off of avenues to delay and obstruct the legal process, and enhancing the investigative powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau. I look forward to looking into the 19 sections in more detail in the later Stages of the Bill. On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the changes being proposed.”
“Given the success of the Criminal Assets Bureau, it is hard to imagine that at the time of its establishment, it was not universally welcomed as a necessary and positive move in the right direction to target those involved in organised crime, but was looked upon by some as being anti-human rights and civil liberties. In this regard, it is important to acknowledge the rights of all people to do what they want themselves with their own money, but only as long as this money has been earned or received legally. When this legislation was initially introduced, I understand there was a limit on bank deposits of somewhere in the region of £13,000, but that was circumvented by people looking to lodge lesser amounts. That emphasises the importance of the continuing evolution and review of legislation, which is what we are doing today.”
“I know, having spoken with former Minister for Justice, Nora Owen, that she would give an awful lot of credit to the then Minister for Finance, Ruairí Quinn, with whom she worked closely to ensure that what was being delivered was robust and effective. That it has stood the test of time is a testament to both of them and their close co-operation together in government. The fact is that it came as a result of a multi-agency approach. Huge credit must be given, both for the establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau and its success over the past three decades, to the work of An Garda Síochána, as has been acknowledged, and to Revenue for its collaboration with what was the Department of Social Welfare and is now the Department of Social Protection. As an example of collaborative work yielding such positive results, it cannot be overstated.”
“Both of these horrendous murders took place in the same month, June 1996. As well as being unimaginable tragedies for the families of the two victims, who had in their own ways done so much for the Irish State, both murders were also considered to have been serious attacks upon the State and the rule of law in Ireland. It was recognised that a new and more effective approach needed to be taken against those involved in organised crime and terrorist and paramilitary activities by hitting them where it hurt, increasing powers to seize assets, undermining and weakening criminal networks, and preventing the further investment of the proceeds of crime. The establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau was, at the time, an example of close co-operation between Ministers in different Departments.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta O'Callaghan. Gabhaim buíochas leis as ucht teacht isteach chun an Bille tábhachtach seo a phlé linn. In Ireland, as was said, we are fortunate to have what is internationally regarded to be one of the best systems of civil forfeiture, overseen and implemented by the Criminal Assets Bureau, which was established in 1996 by the then Minister for Justice, Nora Owen. The decisions to introduce the Proceeds of Crime Act and to establish the Criminal Assets Bureau came following the high-profile murders of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in Adare by the provisional IRA and the courageous, well-respected and widely acclaimed investigative journalist, Veronica Guerin, whose pioneering and tenacious reporting had done so much to expose Dublin's drug cartels and those involved in organised crime.”
“It is the very antithesis of democracy when sectional interest groups demand that their interests be served first, without due regard for the interests of everybody else. We cannot allow this to be accepted and we all need to stand up for our democracy.”
“At this point, nobody can say with any certainty how long the conflict will last, or the extent to which it will escalate, both of which have huge bearings on the appropriate Government response and the implications of the response on budgetary commitments made. One thing which is certain, however, is that blockading our refinery and fuel depots is not the way to go. This only exacerbated an already difficult situation and hurt everybody, particularly our most vulnerable. While it is important to defend and respect the right of people to protest, as I said, no Government can yield to unelected, self-appointed people, however well-intentioned, in deciding vital national policy.”
“Tá an t-ádh linn go bhfuil cónaí orainn sa tír seo, atá ina poblacht agus ina tír daonlathach. Tá an t-ádh linn go bhfuil rogha againn gach cúig bliana, ar a laghad, faoin dream a theastaíonn uainn a bheith sa Rialtas ag oibriú ar ár son. Ní fíor é sin i ngach tír ar fud an domhain, áfach. Is cuid lárnach den daonlathas é an ceart chun agóide, go síochánta, agus caithfimid an ceart sin a chaomhnú. Tá sé sin feicthe againn i rith na seachtaine ach is léir gur thrasnaigh na hagóideoirí línte i gcásanna airithe. Ba cheart dúinn go léir a bheith buartha mar gheall ar an mbagairt sin don daonlathas, is cuma más ar son nó i gcoinne an Rialtais atá muid. It is important not to lose sight of the fact that the primary cause of the escalation of fuel prices globally was the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, something which is beyond our control.”
“We need to legislate effectively to close the current loophole and to enforce stricter and more effective laws in the area of alcohol advertising in sport for the benefit of all, particularly the young people of the country.”
“Alcohol, when consumed to excess, does enormous damage to individuals and families, particularly when a pattern of consumption is established at an early age. Alcohol Action Ireland recently published a new report, Drinking it in: How alcohol sports advertising influences child and youth consumption behaviour, which informs us that during recent high-profile televised rugby matches in Ireland, alcohol references are occurring at a rate of up to one every eight seconds. The report also finds that children do not distinguish between advertisements for 0% products and alcohol products, seeing them all as alcohol references.”
“Níl aon amhras agam ach gurb í seo ceann de na cúiseanna go bhfuil líon na ndaoine atá ag caitheamh tabac sa tír seo tar éis titim le blianta anuas agus is maith an rud é sin dúinn go léir. The reason I say all of this is to put into context the similar challenge we face today in relation to the advertising and promotion of alcohol brands in sport and at sports events. I refer specifically to the advertising of 0% alcohol products by well-known and widely recognised alcohol companies. Those companies deliberately use virtually identical branding for non-alcoholic products as they do for the equivalent alcohol products. This strategy enables these companies to exploit inadequacies in the current legislation and effectively circumvent it to boost alcohol sales, particularly among younger people.”
“Is cuimhin liom go maith agus mé ag fás aníos sna hochtódaí agus sna nóchadaí a bheith ag féachaint ar an Carroll’s Irish Open sa ghailf nó an Benson & Hedges Irish Masters sa snúcar. Ag an am sin, bhí urraíocht forleathan in imeachtaí spóirt ós na comhlachtaí móra tabac. Cén fáth go raibh an urraíocht sin chomh láidir is a bhí? Go simplí, ós rud é gur éirigh leis na feachtais urraíochta sin na milliúin punt sa bhreis a thuilleamh dos na comhlachtaí tabac agus daoine ag caitheamh toitíní áirithe. Diaidh ar ndiaidh, tháinig athruithe ar na rialacha agus ar na dlíthe a bhaineann le cúrsaí urraíochta sa spóirt. Shocraíomar, agus shocraigh tíortha agus rialtais eile ar fud an domhain, stop a chur leis an urraíocht tabac sa spóirt.”
“I believe the majority of Irish people want to see this fairer and more effective rules-based system introduced. It will grant people the right to remain in this country and contribute if their application is successful, and if their application is unsuccessful, this decision will also be arrived at more quickly than we have seen recently, without long periods of uncertainty and waiting in IPAS centres. That this is far fairer all round. Mar sin, ba mhaith liom mo chuid tacaíochta a thabhairt don Bhille. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit.”
“If we pass the Bill, we will significantly reduce the time taken to process international protection applications, to less than three months, and we will greatly reduce our current dependency on hotels and guesthouses to provide accommodation for international protection applicants, thereby enabling those venues to be used for tourism and attracting new visitors to towns, villages and communities across the country. In laying the legislative groundwork for the EU migration and asylum pact, the Bill ensures that we will play our part in establishing a common European approach to addressing migration and to processing international protection applications in a firm and fair way that gives clarity and certainty to applicants in a more timely manner than we have seen in recent years.”
“The cumulative total of over 55,000 applications received in this three-year period from 2022 to 2024 was approximately equivalent to the overall number of applications received for the previous 16 years. In an effort to deal with this and to provide a humane response to the sharp increase in applications, the State had to act fast in its efforts to offer those seeking asylum accommodation and shelter while their applications were being processed. Given the scale and the timescale of the increase in applications, many of the solutions provided were temporary in nature and were never intended to be long-term solutions.”
“I know that I and others have made reference in this Chamber to the exponential increase we saw in the numbers of international protection applications in recent years. However, I feel it is worth repeating this to provide context for the introduction of the Bill before us. In the four years from 2016 to 2019, the average number of international protection applications received by Ireland was approximately 2,500 per year. In 2022, the number of international protection applications received rose dramatically to 13,500. The year 2023 saw a similar number of applications and in 2024 we again saw an increase in the number of international protection applications, which rose to over 16,500.”
“Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Brophy, go dtí an Seanad tráthnóna inniu chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn mar gheall ar an mBille um Chosaint Idirnáisiúnta, 2026. I welcome the International Protection Bill before us. I believe that, as detailed by the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, it provides the reforms needed to ensure that our asylum system in Ireland is both fair and effective. The Bill lays the legislative groundwork, as detailed by the Minister of State, for the implementation of the directive on reception conditions and the six regulations referenced by the Minister of State in his opening remarks under the European Union pact on migration and asylum.”
“Tá líon na ndíolúintí beagnach tar éis dúbailt le seacht mbliana anuas, agus de réir figiúirí do 2025, tá breis is 60,000 dalta - thart ar 14% de dhaonra na n-iarbhunscoileanna - díolmhaithe anois. Is gá dúinn féachaint ar sin agus iarracht a dhéanamh smacht a choimeád ar líon na ndíolúintí ar fad, agus gan bheith ag brath ar na príomhoidí, múinteoirí agus na foirne bainistíochta sna scoileanna chun na cinntí mar gheall ar dhíolúintí a dhéanamh. Caithfimid tacaíocht níos láidre a thabhairt dár scoileanna leanúint ar aghaidh leis an tsárobair atá á déanamh acu chun todhchaí na Gaeilge a chosaint agus seans níos fearr a thabhairt dóibh leanúint ar aghaidh chun an Ghaeilge a fhorbairt. Tugaim ardmholadh do na Seanadóirí ar fad as ucht an díospóireacht a dhéanamh, go háirithe an Seanadóir Craughwell.”
“Bhí an-bhéim á cur ar sin ag na daoine lena rabhthas ag caint leo, agus an ghéarghá déileáil leis sin. Ó thaobh chúrsaí oideachais de, is iontach an rud é a bheith in ann a rá go bhfuil feabhas mór tar éis teacht ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge sna meánscoileanna ar fud na tíre le blianta anuas, go háirithe ón am a bhíos féin sa mheánscoil sna nóchaidí. Is maith an rud é go bhfuil tuilleadh béime á cur ar an nGaeilge labhartha inár scoileanna sa lá atá inniu ann, seachas an iomarca béime a chur an litríocht agus ar an bhfilíocht nuair nach mbíonn caighdeán ard a dhóthain bainte amach ag daltaí agus iad ag labhairt na teanga. Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá mar gheall ar dhíolúintí, ait ina gcaithfimid tuilleadh oibre a dhéanamh. Tá díolúintí ó staidéar na Gaeilge sna hiarbhunscoileanna tar éis leibhéal nua is airde riamh a bhaint amach.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, as ucht teacht isteach go dtí an Seanad anocht chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn. Ar an gcéad dul síos, aontaím leis an méid atá ráite ag na Seanadóirí sa díospóireacht go dtí seo, an méid atá ráite ag na Seanadóirí Curley, Mullen agus Kyne ach go háirithe, mar gheall ar an gá atá ann díriú isteach ar an obair atá le déanamh ag an Rialtas agus againn mar pholaiteoirí le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus leis na comhairleoirí contae go léir do na contaetha ina mbíonn Gaeltacht nó Gaeltachtaí ann chun dóthain tithíochta a thógáil do chainteoirí Gaeilge agus do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus an teanga a fhorbairt sna háiteanna ina mbíonn sí á húsáid mar ghnáth teanga cumarsáide laethúil. Bhíos thuas ag Ard-Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste an deireadh seachtaine seo caite.”
“Chomh maith le gach éinne eile, cuirim fáilte roimh feisirí Pharlaimint na hEorpa. Tá sé an-tábhachtach iad a fheiscint istigh sa Teach seo. Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur mar gheall ar mhéadú an Aontais. I ask for an update on the current status of the applications to join the European Union by ten accession countries, in particular, the applications of Montenegro and Ukraine. Is it envisaged that progress will be made during the term of Ireland's Presidency in the latter half of this year?”
“I cannot stress enough that it is imperative, in the case of Scoil Barra, the history that it has, its proportion of diversity and in the work it does to support its pupils in the school community with additional needs, that the cuts that were proposed in the initial letter are not followed through upon. Again, I welcome the pause in the review announced by the Minister yesterday. I hope that when it comes to it being looked at again, the needs of Scoil Barra will be given the attention they deserve.”
“It has a long history of promoting a neuro-affirmative environment in the school and in providing supports to its pupils with additional learning needs and challenges. For the incoming school year, Scoil Barra has 75 junior infants' pupils enrolled, a high cohort of whom have additional needs, including some pre-verbal children. In line with the NCSE's recommendations for schools to focus on early intervention with primary schools in its allocation and deployment of special needs assistants, it is the school's intention to deploy three special needs assistants for the incoming junior infants classes. If the proposal that was made in the letter that they received was to be followed through on, that would leave only three whole-time equivalents for the entire remainder of the school population.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an gcinneadh a thóg an tAire Oideachais agus Óige, an Teachta Hildegarde Naughton, inné mar gheall ar chúntóirí riachtanas speisialta sna scoileanna ar fud na tíre. With specific reference to an outstanding community, which has been at the heart of the community which I represent for over 40 years, Scoil Barra National School in Ballincollig, I received a high volume of emails and phone calls from school management, teachers, parents and other members of the wider school community in relation to their well-founded concerns about the proposal to reduce the school's allocation of special needs assistants from 8.33 whole-time equivalents to 6.33 whole-time equivalents. Scoil Barra is a school that prides itself on the culture of inclusion and respect for diversity, which it strives to foster.”
“Sula nglaoim ar an gcéad Seanadóir eile, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh cuairteoirí. I welcome the residents group from Ballytarsna, County Carlow, who are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and Senator Daly. They are very welcome and we hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. Glaoim ar Sheanadóir Clonan.”
“Sula n-iarraim ar an Aire Stáit freagra a thabhairt, cuirim fáilte roimh Cara Donnelly. Cara is very welcome to Seanad Éireann. Cara is a niece of the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth. Anois, glaoim ar an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Butler.”
“I call on Senator Cosgrove to speak, but before I do so, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has indicated that after the contributions of the proposer and seconder, she wishes to speak on that point.”
“By comparison, Dublin received 62% of the overall allocation when its population is less than 30% of the country's overall population. The Cork Development Forum recently visited Leinster House. The group commented on how great a visible Garda presence is for confidence in the city centre in Cork and in businesses in the city. We need more gardaí in Cork. All we are asking for is our proportionate share.”
“With regard to the recent announcement of probationary gardaí to be allocated around the country, while it is fantastic to be in a position to welcome the successful passing out of 168 probationary gardaí from the Garda College in Templemore, it is concerning that a disproportionately high number of those 168 gardaí have been allocated to the Dublin metropolitan area. Cork city and county, the population of which accounts for about 11% of the overall population of the country, received an allocation of five probationary gardaí, two for the city area and three in the county. The two in the city are to be based in Togher and Gurranabraher and, of the three for the county, two are going to Midleton and one to Mallow. If Cork were to receive a proportionate share of the probationary gardaí, it would receive 18 or 19.”
“Ba mhaith liom rud éigin a rá mar gheall ar líon na ngardaí i gCorcaigh go háirithe. On previous occasions, I have listened to the Leader speak about disproportionate capital investment in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area. I have made the same point in relation to the Southern Regional Assembly area. When compared to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly area, this area receives disproportionate capital investment, which is very important for infrastructure. The allocation of gardaí in our areas is also very important.”