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.”
The complete record
Every one of 305 lines we hold for Garret Kelleher, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 7.
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I dtosach báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, and I acknowledge the work he has done in the area of migration to date and wish him every success in his term in office. The Minister of State outlined plainly what we are considering, namely an opt-in that does not necessarily tie us to a particular course of action. Neither will it amount to a commitment by Ireland to any agreement. We will engage in a process and by doing so now rather than at a later stage, we will have more say on the agreement with our European partners, should we choose to opt in. The Minister of State cited the fact that between 2019 and 2023, in the region of 1,000 such individuals were subject to readmission and would have benefited from an agreement.”
“At EU level, this is something we need to address because it is a definition that is commonly adopted and accepted in a lot of our EU institutions. The atrocities we have seen, and which have been referenced by the Tánaiste and Senator Ahearn, the blockade of aid and food into Gaza, the starvation of people in Palestine, the recent deliberate shooting in the direction of diplomats and horrific events such as those on the news the other evening of the murder of nine of ten children in one family, the mother of whom is working in a hospital as a paediatrician, is not strong leadership. It effectively ensures that the next generation of Palestinians will be prepared to take up arms against Israel. This is something that we need to take a strong stance against. As well as the importance of international-----”
“I also welcome the indication from the Tánaiste that he and the Taoiseach favour suspending the agreement pending the review. I also welcome the stronger stance being taken in recent days by the new Bundeskanzler, Friedrich Merz, and the German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, on sanctions against Israel. They have said Berlin would not export weapons used to break humanitarian law. I have strong concerns, which I have articulated to the Tánaiste on a previous occasion, about the widespread adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, IHRA, definition of antisemitism because I feel the definition and the reasons articulated in it are being misconstrued and abused in order to stamp out any legitimate criticism of the actions of Israel.”
“We must also recognise that there is a significant majority of people in Israel who are opposed to an awful lot of what is happening, and are instead in favour of the return of hostages and bringing the war to an end. I have spoken in this Chamber on two occasions recently about the importance of the EU in the area of conflict resolution. The EU must step forward and play a central role in helping to bring the war to an end and working with other international partners to create the conditions necessary for Israel and Palestine to emerge from their decades-long conflict and exist side-by-side as two separate states. Many news outlets regularly report on this as the Israel-Hamas war. It is not Hamas that is being obliterated; it is Palestine. I welcome the review of the EU-Israel association agreement, as referenced by the Tánaiste.”
“Over 30 years later, that has proven not to be the case, but we must look at the strong international leadership that was shown prior to that point in 1993 when we arrived at the historic handshake and try to provide that leadership at an international level, in particular among our EU counterparts. I am sure we all agree with the Tánaiste's remarks that not enough is being done at an international level. Strong leadership is something that is needed on the Israeli and Palestinian sides. Regular polling in Israel shows that over 70% of people oppose the course of action being led by the incumbent Prime Minister. That is a cause of concern.”
“I am opposed to the horrific attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel on 7 October 2023, but I also oppose the massively disproportionate genocidal response we have seen from the Israeli Government and defence forces, the latter of which seems to have become a misnomer for over 18 months. I remember as a 14-year-old boy in September 1993 watching the historic handshake between Yasser Arafat, the then leader of the PLO and Fatah, and Yitzhak Rabin, the then Prime Minister of Israel. I remember the hope we all had that this would lead to a lasting peace.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste as ucht teacht chuig an Teach inniu chun labhairt agus éisteacht linn mar gheall ar na heachtraí ar fad i nGaza agus conas is féidir linn, mar thír bheag i bhfad ón gcoimhlint, tionchar dearfach a bheith againn ar chúrsaí agus ár mballraíocht den Aontas Eorpach a úsáid chun dul i mbun oibre leis na ballstáit eile chun todhchaí níos fearr a chruthú do mhuintir an Mheánoirthir go léir. To put my contribution in context, I will clarify that I and pretty much all of those with whom I have engaged on the subject over the past 18 months are neither antisemite nor pro-Hamas.”
“As the Minister outlined, there are now concerns about the unintended potential impact of the accommodation recognition payment scheme on the rental market. This is something we are looking to address today. On the whole, the Fine Gael group in the Seanad is happy to support the resolution approving the order in the House today. It is something we would be very much in favour of.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire as ucht teacht chun an tSeanaid arís chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé. Is dócha go bhfuil sé mínithe go soiléir ag an Aire agus ag Seanadóir Ó Gallchobhair díreach cad atá i gceist againn anseo inniu. As the Minister outlined in his opening remarks, following the illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ireland has been very strong and generous in the response to the invasion. We have seen more than 117,000 Ukrainians come to Ireland. Of those 117,000, almost half of them - slightly over 54,000 - have received accommodation from those who have benefited from the scheme. It was the correct and appropriate action to take. It is a scheme that has been very successful. It has served us well to recognise the enormous contribution made by host families.”
“This Government is committed to a radical overhaul of the criminal justice system and we need to see more gardaí on our streets. We have seen the appointment of judges, which is crucial to the criminal justice system. I commend Senator Ruane on her work. I will not go into the detail because she articulated what exactly is involved very well in her opening remarks, but it is about fairness and ensuring those applying for parole are given due process. As I said a moment ago, and as Senator Ruane alluded to, it is important to consider the victims of crime and survivors. The proposal to defer this for six months is the right one and something we are happy to support. Once again I commend Senator Ruane as well as her office. It is very important and I look forward to revisiting the issue after the period of deferral.”
“I welcome the Minister to the House and second the proposal for a six-month period to give us an opportunity to reflect more on what exactly is entailed and to arrive at the conclusion that will best fit us and also take into account the concerns and considerations of victims of crime and of survivors, as Senator Ruane articulated in her opening remarks. In the more than 100 years since the establishment of An Garda Síochána in 1923, we have seen the service be of immense importance in protecting the State and her people. We were reminded as recently as Sunday last of the dangers and perils faced by members of An Garda Síochána when they go about their duty. I take this opportunity to express my condolences to the family of Garda Kevin Flatley and members of An Garda Síochána on his tragic passing.”
“The primary focus of this is on institutions and companies, but we have seen the extent to which people have engaged in bankruptcy tourism, whereby they seek to receive preferential treatment in one member state over another. This needs to be looked at and fine-tuned. From a Fine Gael perspective, I welcome the recommendation proposed by the Minister of Justice. I am also heartened to see the co-operation between the Minister and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke, on the matter. We will support the proposal.”
“Ar an gcéad dul síos, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Dlí agus Cirt atá istigh sa Seanad inniu chun an t-ábhar seo a mhíniú agus a phlé linn. Gabhaim buíochas leis as an méid sin a dhéanamh. I thank the Minister for his opening statement clarifying the advantages to accepting the proposal before us today. As the Minister outlined, the proposal relates to technical updates to Protocol 21 arising from new insolvency proceedings, new insolvency practitioners and changes to national insolvency law in seven member states of the European Union, including Slovakia, Belgium, Estonia, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain. The mutual recognition and enforcement of insolvency proceedings among EU member states is critical and just another example of the co-operation that is required.”
“Undoubtedly, and as alluded to during this discussion by a number of Senators, the EU will face challenges in the areas of tariffs and trade, particularly with the Mercosur deal. Again, it is by working together that we will deal with these challenges and manage to overcome them. Over the five decades since our accession to the EEC in 1973, Ireland has played an important role. I will conclude by congratulating Mairead McGuinness, who became vice president of the European People's Party during the week. That is very important for Ireland in terms of exerting influence at European level.”
“The new CAP reform will look to address newer challenges, particularly in the areas of climate action, food preservation and free trade. These are better faced together, with a population of more than450 million, as we approach the likelihood of a global population in the region of 10 billion by 2050. The high global demand for Irish food has been based on our international reputation for high quality, and that is particularly true of our leading agri companies, such as the Kerry Group, Greencore, Tirlán and Dairygold. In the first four months of the current year, we have seen live exports of cattle exceed 100,000, which is significantly higher than any previous year for the equivalent four months.”
“We need to learn from the example of the European Union in working together in a spirit of inclusion, respecting and embracing our differences and diversity to create a better future for everybody on our own island as well. It was encouraging to hear the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, reference the recent Eurobarometer survey in his opening statement, particularly that 91% of Irish people look upon our EU membership as having been positive for Ireland. In the area of agriculture and food, our EU membership has been tremendously positive and progressive for Ireland. To date, the Common Agricultural Policy has supported our agricultural sector in numerous ways, such as in the beef industry, agritourism and live exports.”
“The recognition of and respect for our differences was always at the heart of John Hume's work and was also at the core of the Schuman Declaration, which we celebrate. Senator O'Loughlin mentioned that today is national poetry day. I will quote from a poem by Friedrich Schiller written back in 1785, which was subsequently adopted by Beethoven in his ninth symphony, which is now the EU anthem. The poem reads: Deine Zauber binden wieder, Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. The idea is that binding together is far more important than division. That is very much at the core of what the European Union is about.”
“They sought to put the conflicts of the past behind them by working together on a common market in the area of coal and steel to prevent future war, which was at the core of what they set out to achieve, particularly with the Schuman Declaration, the 75th anniversary of which we are commemorating on Europe Day next week. We subsequently saw further strengthening of ties with the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which marked the establishment of the EEC, later the EC and the EU, which came into being in 1993. Senators O'Loughlin and Murphy spoke about the late John Hume and how he took inspiration from the success of post-war Franco-German relations in strengthening his belief in the possibility of bringing about peace and stability on our island during a time of conflict, violence and division.”
“Indeed. Welcome, guests. In a statement to the House in April on the back of the tariff announcements from the new Administration in the United States, I spoke of the importance of the European Union and co-operation with our EU partners in dealing with the challenges we face at a global level. It was in stark contrast to the Paris Peace Conference and subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1919 in the aftermath of First World War, where leadership and vision was shown by people like Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, Alcide De Gasperi and Konrad Adenauer.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Byrne, chuig an Seanad chun éisteacht agus labhairt linn inniu mar gheall ar an Aontas Eorpach agus cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé don tír seo le breis agus 50 bliain anuas. I thank everybody in attendance for coming in for my speech today. There is a massive crowd.”
“The Government’s approach must continue to be one that is aimed at preventing young people from coming into contact with the criminal justice system and that encourages them to positively engage with their own communities. Such an approach is the route to stronger and safer communities.”
“As the Minister of State comprehensively outlined, there is impactful work being done in youth justice and it needs to be better resourced. With more funding, much more can be done. One area that is hugely important is the implementation of diversion-based responses to young adults in the 18 to 24 bracket, as the Minister of State alluded to in his opening remarks. Once a person turns 18, it does not automatically mean they do not need youth justice interventions and it is important this cohort is not ignored or overlooked. Mar a dúirt mé i dtosach, mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. Young people should be helped to reach their potential and should be empowered to take the life choices that best fit for themselves as individuals to prevent them from falling into a life of crime.”
“Visits to the youth diversion projects in Cork would be greatly appreciated and I would welcome the opportunity to accompany the Minister of State should such visits be organised. At the heart of all of the issues raised in the debate today is funding - the need for increased funding for community initiatives, sports, youth clubs and additional gardaí. Youth justice funding, as the Minister of State alluded to, increased in last year’s budget and is now more than €36 million, which is very welcome. I believe, however, that there is broad agreement in the House that it should be increased again in this year’s budget. The difference this funding makes to the young people most at risk of engaging in criminal activity cannot be overstated.”
“We are very fortunate to have a superb family resource centre in Ballincollig, which, with the additional financial support that has been provided, is now in the position to provide the likes of one-to-one counselling and child psychology, which is of enormous help to people in our community. The importance of youth diversion projects in our communities, as emphasised by the Minister of State, cannot be overstated. Several of these operate in Cork. The Minister of State is scheduled to visit various youth diversion projects around the country. These visits are vital, crucial and important to understanding exactly what is involved in projects and initiatives that have life-changing, meaningful and tangible results.”
“The preventative rather than interventionist approach is also at the core of the work carried out by Youthreach in our community. Our Youthreach co-ordinator, Karen Hogan, emphasises the importance of the development of life skills in helping to build confidence and empowering young people with whom they work. These are often the people who feel they do not fit in with mainstream community organisations, schools and clubs and are looking beyond these for the help and support they need to reach their potential. Like Senator Comyn, I also commend our family resource centres.”
“We are fortunate to have two superb community gardaí in Anthony McSweeney and Paddy Casey, who, along with Sergeant Jim Morrissey and our juvenile liaison officer, Liam Linehan, are very much in tune with the needs of young people throughout our community, in particular those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or complex or difficult family situations. Our local community gardaí, along with local volunteers, are also directly involved in the organisation of under-12 inter-estate soccer leagues, which help to build public confidence and trust among young people in An Garda Síochána and community leaders and activists. It is vital that the role of sport continues to be recognised and investment continued in future Government strategies and initiatives.”
“Gan amhras ar bith, is ceart agus is cóir breis airgid agus acmhainní a chur ar fáil do thionscnaimh agus scéimeanna atá dírithe ar dhaoine óga a bhfuil an chabhair riachtanach seo is mó ag teastáil uathu. I was heartened to hear all of what the Minister of State had to say in his opening statement. I absolutely agree with Senator Gallagher that it was one of the most positive contributions we have heard in this House. In my community in Ballincollig in Cork, we have seen the fruits of a collaborative community approach.”
“Ar son Fhine Gael, cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Collins, chuig an Seanad chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé - conas is féidir linn daoine óga a atreorú ó ghníomhaíocht choiriúil. Ó toghadh mé chuig an Teach seo i mí Feabhra, tá an-chuid seanfhocal cloiste againn ó Sheanadóirí éagsúla, agus go minic bíonn an-chiall ag baint leo. Is iad an dá cheann a sheasann amach dom agus a théann go mór i bhfeidhm orm ná "mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí" agus "tús maith leath na hoibre". Is fíor an dá sheanfhocal seo nuair a smaoinímid ar dhaoine óga nach mbíonn an t-ádh leo túis mhaithe a bheith acu sa saol, agus go háirithe nuair a smaoinímid ar pháistí a thagann ó theaghlaigh nó ó phobail a mbíonn míbhuntáistí ag baint leo.”
“Meaningful and closer co-operation with our three regional assemblies and with our 31 local authorities - given the local and regional knowledge and expertise that they possess - will inevitably result in more effective delivery of the key projects we seek to deliver for our communities and regions under the national planning framework, the national development plan and Project Ireland 2040.”
“I welcome the inclusion of this objective but I take this opportunity to stress the importance of backing up the objective with budgetary commitments, particularly for projects identified as key priorities across each of our regions. From a Cork perspective, we have just begun a public consultation process relating to the emerging preferred route for our new light rail or Luas system. If we are serious about balanced regional development and the importance of strategic capital investment outside of our capital city, it is vital that ambitious plans, such as Cork Luas, are supported by specific budgetary commitments and delivery timelines. This will boost public confidence and buy-in to hugely significant capital projects of this nature which, if delivered effectively, will transform the way we live.”
“This point was made in a recent Council of Europe monitoring report, which recommended that Ireland should seek to reduce the current centralised nature of government by looking to strengthen both local and regional government throughout the country. One of the national policy objectives in the revised national planning framework, NPO 95, states: Metropolitan Area Strategic Plans for the Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford Metropolitan areas and in the cases of Dublin and Cork, to also address the wider city region, shall be reviewed by the Regional Assemblies in tandem with the appropriate authorities and as part of a review of the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.”
“It is crucially important that the NPF specifically targets the delivery of key infrastructural projects that will dramatically transform the communities in which we live. One concern I have relating to the NPF process to date is the lack of direct involvement from our three regional assemblies and the extent to which the suggestions made in the submissions of the three regional assemblies were included in the final draft of the NPF. The principle of subsidiarity is based on recognition that decisions impacting on our regions are best made at regional level and likewise that decisions impacting on our counties, cities, towns and rural areas are best made at local level.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O'Sullivan, agus an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Cummins, a bhí sa Teach níos luaithe, as ucht teacht isteach chun an rún seo a phlé. It should be noted that Ireland is one of only a small number of European countries with a coherent and overarching plan for sustainable development. In general terms, I am supportive of both the revised national planning framework and Project Ireland 2040. With the significant population growth Ireland has been experiencing in recent decades and the challenges that this and future population growth presents in areas such as transport, renewable energy and climate action, it is vital that the national planning framework is comprehensive and inclusive of regional strategies, metropolitan area strategic plans and our 31 city and county local development plans.”
“I ask the Minister for Health to consider the impact of the advertising of 0.0% alcohol products throughout Ireland, particularly in areas where, and at times when, the advertising of alcoholic products is prohibited, and to address the question as to whether this advertising is helping to drive the sales of alcoholic products in Ireland.”
“One well-known drinks company, which has a close association with the rugby international Six Nations Championship, cited in its annual report of 2024 a 15% year-on-year increase in the sales of its alcoholic products in the venues hosting the matches, while it saw a 26% increase in its sales of non-alcoholic products over the same period, although from a far lower revenue base. It is estimated that 0.0% alcohol products account for less than 2% of revenue generated by drinks companies, while an estimated 25% of their advertising spending is committed to the promotion of 0.0% alcohol products. If accurate, this expenditure is clearly massively disproportionate and needs to be investigated.”
“There is an unintended loophole in the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, which came into effect in January 2022 and needs to be amended. The stated intention of the legislation was twofold, namely, to reduce alcohol consumption nationally in a country where we lose an estimated average of four people per day to alcohol-related deaths, and to provide protection for children throughout the country from the exploitative and predatory marketing practices of the drinks industry. The loophole to which I refer is the targeted marketing of 0.0% alcohol products by alcohol companies in areas where the advertising of the same companies' equivalent alcoholic products is prohibited.”
“The school community is grateful for the Minister of State's recent commitment to engage with them. I ask him to revert at the earliest possible opportunity to clarify the exact position and to help the school to plot a path forward in its funding request for the ASD classrooms it is looking to provide.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I emphasise the importance of direct engagement with the school on the issue of available funding. Much of the school's current accommodation is outdated and not fit for purpose. For example, the building that currently accommodates fourth, fifth and sixth classes does not have a wheelchair-accessible toilet, which has meant these classrooms cannot accommodate the needs of some pupils in the school. Of the school's junior infants intake for the coming 2025-26 school year, a number of pupils have already been diagnosed with autism. Without a suitable alternative plan, these pupils will be taught in mainstream classes without access to a special class and the additional supports it would provide.”
“The knock-and-rebuild proposal remains the only viable option for Scoil Eoin to provide the much-needed ASD classroom spaces for the school and our community. The school has been frustrated by the lack of progress or information from the Department of Education since its meeting with the then Minister for Education in May 2024. I was delighted, as was the school community, to hear the Minister of State's recent commitment, in response to a question put forward in the Dáil, to engaging with the school, for which the school is very grateful. Will he clarify the Department of Education's position so that Scoil Eoin can plan for its future with the certainty and support it deserves?”
“However, in September of the same year, the school received a follow-up email from the Department of Education stating that the Department’s technical team had completed an in-depth review of the site and had, unfortunately, determined it would not be possible to provide the requited accommodation on-site unless vast amounts of existing single-storey accommodation was demolished and replaced with two-storey accommodation. Further, the email stated the Department was not in a position to provide funding for the significant demolition of the school building. Notwithstanding this setback, the NCSE reiterated its stance. An email dated January 2024 stated that the original sanction for the three autism classes, dated 2 February 2021, still stood due to the demand for the opening of special classes in the Ballincollig area.”
“On two occasions, in 2013 and 2017, the school explored the possibility of providing autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classrooms but on both occasions felt it was not in a position to do so due to a lack of accommodation and space. In 2020, the NCSE, through its local special educational needs organiser, SENO, met the school principal and vice principal to discuss the possibility of providing ASD and special education classes. On that occasion, heartened by the positive and supportive stance of the NCSE and the SENO, the school's board of management decided that it did wish to express interest in providing the much-needed ASD classrooms. In February 2021, the SENO informed school management that three ASD or special classes had been sanctioned by the NCSE. This was confirmed in correspondence from the Department of Education in April 2021.”
“The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has long highlighted the lack of special education places available for both primary and secondary school pupils in the greater Ballincollig area, which now has a population exceeding 25,000 people. One of the unfortunate results of this is that local children often have to travel far from their homes to locations such as Cork city centre, Berrings, Farran, Kerry Pike or Macroom to attend school, often involving long bus or taxi journeys of up to 45 minutes. This is a significant additional burden on top of the difficulties and challenges being faced by these pupils each day.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Ó Múineacháin, as teacht chuig an Teach inniu chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé. As the Minister of State is aware, Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig is the oldest primary school in our rapidly expanding town and can trace its roots back to the establishment of a school on Station Road in 1862. It is a primary school that caters for the educational and developmental needs of boys in our community, and the school's principal and management team work in close co-operation with their counterparts in Scoil Mhuire Girls' National School, which is directly across the road from Scoil Eoin.”
“He cited the European Union as the best example in the history of the world of conflict resolution. Let us not forget the importance of continued co-operation and working together for the collective benefit of all.”
“The fact that political leaders abroad and some at home seem intent on sowing division and pitting people in groups against one another for perceived political gain is regrettable and causes great concern. I was heartened to read the Tánaiste's statement on the US tariffs announced yesterday evening and was delighted to see him reference unity with our EU partners as our greatest strength. The importance of diplomacy, soft power, negotiation, co-operation and working together to resolve conflict and disagreements and to develop and improve our trade links is as relevant today as it ever was. Ireland's greatest ever European, the late John Hume, often spoke of the importance of recognising and respecting our differences while working together.”
“Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an Aire Stáit agus an Tánaiste chuig an Seanad inniu. Táimid an-bhuíoch díobh as ucht a bheith anseo chun cúrsaí idirnáisiúnta agus trádála a phlé linn. Guímid gach rath orthu lena gcuid oibre don téarma Rialtais atá faoi lánseol anois. I will speak about the importance of the basic concepts of co-operation and working together. In our local Tidy Towns group in Ballincollig, we speak about the importance of a bheith ag obair le chéile dá chéile and doing the best we can collectively for our community. As well as the spirit of the meitheal being important at a local level, it is every bit as important at national and indeed international levels. We are living through a time of increased global uncertainty, with escalations of conflict and war in many countries throughout the world.”
“Collins, who was a candidate for election to this Chamber on one of the university panels, to ensure that we improve services and that this aspect of elderly care is not overlooked. Reference was made to Tidy Towns organisations. I am a member of a Tidy Towns organisation in my community. We are very much reliant on older people. We have volunteers in excess of 90 years of age who are actively working. The contribution they make to the likes of Tidy Towns organisations, men's sheds and women's sheds was mentioned.”
“Also in the case of nursing homes, we must address the disadvantage for residents when it comes to accessing services and supports such as physiotherapy, etc. That is something we need to look at. Loneliness is something that has been referenced by a number of speakers in this debate. It is very important. I remember listening with interest during the course of the pandemic to the contributions that were made by the likes of Dr. Rónán Collins, who spoke about social isolation during the pandemic. That is not something that is unique to the years of the pandemic and we must look to act in that regard. It would be a positive move to seek to include the likes of experts such as Dr.”
“It is now not uncommon for older citizens to live well into their 90s and beyond, and we must make adequate provision to ensure that policies and supports adapt accordingly. As has been alluded to by Senators Kyne, Rabbitte and Murphy O'Mahony, we must address some of the issues that exist in the nursing home sector. The disparities that exist between HSE nursing homes and private and voluntary nursing homes are something that must be addressed. For example, a disparity in pay exists between professionals. There is a need to recognise the qualifications of healthcare assistants as well as to recognise them as healthcare professionals in multidisciplinary teams that are looking after the elderly.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O’Donnell, as ucht teacht isteach chun buaileadh linn chun na hábhair thábhachtacha seo mar gheall ar chúram tacaíochta agus seirbhísí níos láidre a chur ar fáil do dhaoine aosta. Cuirimid go léir fíorfháilte roimhe. It was Mahatma Gandhi who said the true measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. That point was made by a previous speaker. At a time of budgetary surpluses and relative economic prosperity it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we do everything we can to support elderly people and their families to the very best of our ability. I remember being in primary school in the late 1980s and early 1990s when I learned that the life expectancy of Irish women was around 72 years and Irish men was perhaps slightly less at 71.”