Joe Flaherty
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“To his credit, the responses are skilfully crafted, and if you were not familiar with the situation, you would say there is nothing wrong here, move along. However, that simply is not true. The entire Lanesborough community is aggrieved and feels that it is now being used as a mere pawn.”
“Patients tell me that, in many cases, they are not given the option of booking the surgery in Lanesborough, but instead are being encouraged to attend the Longford clinic. I would be more than happy if Dr. Booth wants to continue his five-day service in Longford, but it cannot be at the expense of a rural surgery.”
“Regrettably, I have to raise this issue for a second time. It relates to Dr. Booth, who has taken over a GMS contract for two surgeries servicing Lanesborough and the larger Longford town in County Longford.”
“It is a dangerous generalisation the Senator is putting forward and she is forgetting that in the front line of dealing with housing and difficult cases are staff and housing departments across the country. From my experience, housing staff generally think through each case.”
“The consultants at the Rotunda were quickly brought to heel when they were not complying with their contractual obligations. It is critical that we do not allow this situation to continue any longer in Lanesborough. A contract is a contract, as I said. What we are seeing here is a concerted effort to close a rural surgery by stealth.”
“They did not write the legislation, but we need legislation to frame what we are doing. We are, on a daily basis, tackling a crisis. On the front line in that effort are our housing staff. We should commend them at every opportunity rather than throwing out gross generalisations that are deeply hurtful.”
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“They have been great champions in this area, and there should be no impediment to those schools delivering that service. The school that I reference - and I have sent the details to the Minister of State - is very much a role model in this regard. However, it is now faced with a challenge. It has been allocated 1.6 full-time posts. It is slightly short of that but it can resolve that if it is allowed to include English as an additional language, the 0.5 full-time role. That would bring it up to the number it needs. I hope the Minister of State can come up with a solution in that case as well. I have two final points to make, one of which is in relation to additional places at St. Christopher's special school in Longford. It is a champion in the delivery of special education.”
“She is now looking at her options and has contacted the Minister of State directly in relation to her application for the Middletown Centre for Autism. As he Minister of State is well aware, places there are at a premium. I ask him to take a look at the case to which I refer to see what he can do to assist this young man and his family. I have also discussed with the Minister of State the situation in relation to a rural school in County Longford. As I said earlier, many school boards of management have to step up and accept responsibility. At the same time, we have absolute champions in some schools. Many small, rural schools, faced with the prospect of declining numbers and the loss of a teacher identified that there was a need for special education in their area and are now attracting pupils from right across the wider hinterland.”
“It does not have access to a CDNT behavioural therapist. The parent offered to provide this service herself, privately, in the school setting but that was not possible. The school was not prepared to work with that. She subsequently contacted CAMHS but was informed that due to the lack of a behavioural therapist in Longford and the absence of senior psychologists in the area, the CDNT would not realistically be able to provide the supports her son needs. To her great distress, she was advised that she should perhaps consider residential care as an option. This is a woman who has given up her career to care full-time for this young man. He is a wonderful young man. I have a daughter the same age. It must have been a crushing blow for his mother to get a call advising to consider residential care.”
“In reality, however, it will be special education, how we deliver it and how we look after the disabled community right across Ireland that will define us. Covid was extremely challenging. The scars of the pandemic can be seen right across the country. The greatest impact was on the disability sector. We need to row back on that. Many people need to put their hands up and accept responsibility. I lay the blame firmly on some school boards of management and trade unions in that regard. I want to reference a couple of local cases that I have already discussed with the Minister of State. One of them concerns a parent who has contacted the Minister of State directly about her non-verbal 13 year old son. Unfortunately, the child's school is not providing the necessary supports for his needs.”
“A full 25% of the education budget is spent on special education but we also need to call out many school management boards and unions regarding their resistance to the delivery of special education over the years. I do not believe money is the issue here. The issue is a willingness and eagerness to really bed this in. There is nobody in this House who is not affected by the need for special education at various levels. Every family has its own experience and can relate a tale. We are in a very privileged position, as elected representatives, because we see at first hand the many challenges that so many families are facing across Ireland. Many say that housing will define this period of government and elected representation in this country.”
“I welcome Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan. He has been a long-time advocate for and champion of the disability sector, which has been a great pillar of his political life to date. I have great expectations that he is going to do well in his role. It would be remiss of me, but not because she is sitting in front of me, not to acknowledge the huge work that former Deputy and now Senator Anne Rabbitte did during her time as Minister of State in this area, often against fierce resistance within her Department and the disability sector. That should not be forgotten today. While I would be the first to put my hand up to acknowledge the deficits in the delivery of our special education, it is the case that we are spending a huge amount of money on it.”
“We need to give assurance to them as they grow old that there is certainty and that there will always be the warm embrace of the State to look after them into their old age. This is very important legislation. As I said at the outset, I commend the Minister of State on his work on the Bill to date. I look forward to its successful passage.”
“It will also clarify the process for appointing an acting ombudsman in the event of the absence of the ombudsman and provide that the Minister for Finance may make regulations requiring financial services providers or certain classes thereof and pension providers to establish internal dispute resolution, IDR, procedures for dealing with complaints and to publish their internal IDR procedures. This is very important legislation. We are very aware of the challenges we will face in the coming years. Many would say we have a potential pensions timebomb coming. It is very important that we make people aware of pensions and that the State take significant action to address this. The country has a changing demographic. Foremost as a State, we need to be able to provide for older people.”
“The Bill when enacted will introduce several amendments directly arising from the Zalewski case and, as alluded to by the Minister of State, will set out mediations that can be conducted in private. It will also provide that the ombudsman is equipped to take a decision on whether to hold oral hearings in public or clarify processes around oath taking in oral hearings. The Bill sets out a limited number of further amendments to the 2017 Act. The purpose of these amendments is to clarify the ombudsman's ability to investigate firms that may no longer be regulated, make provision regarding the calculation of expenses incurred by the ombudsman in the performance of his or her functions, address cross-referencing errors that have been identified and clarify the respective remits of the FSPO and the credit reviewer.”
“The Bill, once enacted, will also ensure the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman can continue its important work in helping consumers and small businesses resolve complaints against financial services providers and pension providers. This is extremely important given the exit from the market of a number of financial services providers. These targeted amendments will better equip the FSPO to withstand any potential challenge to its operations, and the improved legal clarity will reinforce the statutory basis of the FSPO, a key element of the consumer protection framework in Ireland. The Bill, additionally, amends the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017, which underpins the operations of the FSPO.”
“The need to introduce these targeted amendments, as the Minister of State alluded to, resulted from a Supreme Court decision in the Zalewski case regarding the WRC and its quasi- judicial role. In addition, the Bill clarifies that the customers of financial services providers who have left the Irish market will continue to be able to access the existing services and consumer protections afforded by the aforementioned FSPO. This is an important Bill that will, when enacted, provide enhanced legal clarity for the statutory operation of the FSPO. It will also provide strong reassurance for customers about their ability to access the services of the FSPO, given recent bank exits from the Irish market.”
“I concur and welcome the pupils from St Peter's. I am sure they were enthralled by that riveting discussion on pensions, but it is very important and, in 40 years’ time, they will reflect on it and say we made very wise decisions here. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, my constituency colleague, to the Chamber and wish him well in his role. I know he is very passionate about this sector, and he is determined to get this legislation finalised as soon as possible. This is a very important Bill for many reasons but, crucially, it strengthens the protections for financial consumers in Ireland by introducing amendments to the legislation that underpins the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, or, as it more commonly known, FSPO, in order that it can continue to carry out its statutory functions in line with the Constitution.”
“If the Minister of State can indulge me, he might address one point for me as he makes his contribution. It relates to the major capital funding for TII for national development plan projects. We normally have sight of it by this stage of the year. The funding is for a number of projects nationwide. Foremost among them, I suppose, is the upgrade of the N4 from Mullingar to Roosky, a very important project for County Longford, Westmeath and, indeed, Leitrim. As referred to by several speakers, there was an horrific accident in a village on the roadway at the weekend. The N4 road safety project is critical, so the Minister of State might refer to it in responding to the many queries raised.”
“Tá mé ag súil roimh Sheachtain na Gaeilge na bliana seo chugainn go mbeidh mé in ann filleadh ar an Chamber agus labhairt i nGaeilge gan nótaí.”
“I am personally committed to endeavouring to improve my Irish on a weekly basis and to trying to speak at least once a week as Gaeilge in this Chamber. I think there is an onus on all of us to do that. We need to take the lead. There is no point paying lip service to our language for one week in the year and then going tríd an doras and doing nothing else about it. Certainly, that is my commitment. I would like to think I could come back to the Chamber in 12 months' time and be able to speak without the notes and with the Google Translate and give the language the justice it deserves. It is a very passionate and colourful language. There is an onus and a responsibility on us, indeed, we have a responsibility, to help preserve the language and we need to take a leadership role.”
“Braithim go bhfuil deis ann tacaíocht a thabhairt don teanga agus do ghnólachtaí beaga le tacaíocht a thabhairt do chomhpháirtíochtaí agus do thograí eile chun an teanga a chur chun cinn. I am pleased to be able to speak our national language here today, albeit very poorly. It is a great honour and, like everybody else, I probably owe it to a few teachers who persevered with us and did their very best. Unfortunately, as soon as we left those school gates in Longford we abandoned Irish. We are in a very privileged position in this Chamber and this House in that we are paid very well and we are able to speak Irish. There are a lot of work places where it is probably not encouraged to speak Irish. If we are serious about Seachtain na Gaeilge and about our teanga náisiúnta, we have to take the lead.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, agus guím gach rath air ina phost nua. Tá áthas mór orm a bheith in ann ár dteanga náisiúnta a úsáid i bhfoirgnimh an Rialtais. Cosúil leis na cainteoirí go léir, bhí tionchar ag mo thaithí Gaeilge ar scoil d’fhonn iarrachtaí bheirt múinteoir iontach, Pádraig Ó Flannagáin agus Tomás Mac Aonghusa i Scoil Naomh Mel i gContae Longford. De réir mar a théim in aois agus go bhfeicim cé mhéid comhghleacaithe a úsáideann an teanga gan stró, tá rún agam iarracht níos fearr a dhéanamh. Glacaim rún go labhróidh mé Gaeilge uair amháin sa seachtain ar a laghad. Ní mór dúinn mar Rialtas níos mó a dhéanamh chun gur féidir rochtain níos fearr a fháil ar an teanga sa ghnáthshaol laethúil.”
“I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. It is evident that he engaged in great detail and with great enthusiasm with today's debate and we are seriously heartened by what we can expect from him in the lifetime of the Government.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him on his new role. I worked closely with him on the housing committee in his previous incarnation. I saw at first-hand the volume of work he got through. I have great expectations and hopes for him in his new role. The floor is his, with 15 minutes to respond to the debate.”
“It covers 16 conditions. With the stroke of a pen, the Minister could make it an awful lot easier for countless thousands of women across this country if she reviewed the scheme in the context of conditions such as that to which I refer but also the many others to which previous speakers referred. Reviewing the scheme could prove to be innovative, ground-breaking and a seismic step forward for our health service. I hope the Minister will take what I am saying on board. I genuinely hope she can look at this scheme. In 1975, I was a small, fat six-year-old boy. That shows how long ago the scheme was introduced. Hopefully, the Minister can have a look at it and change it. Changing it would have a meaningful impact for many women.”
“I appreciate the Cathaoirleach letting me in, particularly as we are over time. I commend the Minister on her appointment. She will do outstanding work. I was delighted to see her appointed. She will bring a lot of energy to the job but, more importantly, as we see today, she brings an important dimension to a challenging office. It was inspiring to hear so many heartfelt and personal contributions from many colleagues. Sometimes, as public representatives, we can feel powerless when people come to us. In one such situation, I am dealing with a mother and daughter who have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is connected to hypermobility spectrum disorder. It is a degenerative, life-long condition which, unfortunately, is not covered under the long-term illness scheme. As the Minister will know, that scheme has not been reviewed since 1975.”
“As a nation, we should never forget them and we can never do enough to celebrate and support them in all corners of the world.”
“He was also on hand to assist Danny's family with the return journey of his remains when that unfortunate event occurred. Danny has not been forgotten in New York or Longford. Friends in the New York-Irish community rallied for a major fundraiser in his memory and raised a large amount that, in turn, helped to fit out a new day service centre for St. Christopher's services for people with special needs in Longford. It is a matter of great pride for our Longford community in New York that to this day a plaque celebrates and remembers young Danny on the wall of that building. That is something that he and his family can be immensely proud of. We can be incredibly proud of our diaspora. They are people who brought the best values and principles of this great country to the four corners of the world.”
“In the 133-year history of the Longford association he had the distinction in his time as president as being the longest serving member. I remember also his wife, Elizabeth Kenny, of Clontumpher, Ballinalee. They were married for 58 years. It was a wonderful love story and a great partnership. They had three children, Michael, Michelle and Kevin and their beloved grandchildren who took great pride in their grandfather's many achievements. To bring the diaspora story full circle, I should also mention a young man called Danny McGee who sadly lost his life on the streets of New York in an assault in 2018 and who was a very good friend of Mike Prunty. It was Pat Yorke who took young Danny under his wing when he arrived in New York and helped him to get his first job.”
“He was born in 1940 in Ballincurry, Drumlish. He went to New York in 1959 and lived with his sister in the Bronx. He got a job the day after arriving and worked every day until his retirement thereafter. As dedicated as he was to his work, he was equally immersed in the growing Irish community in New York and he leveraged his many connections in building management to secure jobs for many people arriving over from Ireland in search of a better life. The main criterion was that you had to be from Longford, but he did occasionally help people from Leitrim and Cavan so he was not totally committed to Longford it seems. He encouraged them to join Irish associations, namely, the Longford Football club and the Longford association.”
“There we have one of the largest, most enthusiastic and committed expat communities. It would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to remember the late Mike Prunty who sadly passed away before Christmas. On news of his death the current president of the County Longford association New York, Pat Yorke, paid tribute and described him as a colossus and a legend in the Irish community in New York for many years. No person has ever done more for Longford causes than Mike Prunty. He opened his doors to many people, be they footballers out for the summer, or dignitaries for the annual Saint Patrick's day celebrations, or young people out for work. Pat Yorke spent his first two years in the United States working with Mike at an apartment block on Park Avenue. Mike Prunty's story was typical of so many immigrants.”
“I had occasion last year on the death of a County Longford man who had lived in London all his life to contact the London consular office and they immediately linked in with the deceased man's sister and were there, on hand, every step of the way to help her make arrangements liaising with the morgue and police in London to get his remains back home. This is a man who might have died largely unknown in one of the biggest cities in the world but it mattered greatly to his family that the Irish State never forgot him and was there at the very end to support his family. That is something for us as a society and a country we can be immensely proud of. Longford might be one of the smallest counties but we have consistently outperformed our neighbours and nowhere more so than in New York town.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber, congratulate him on his appointment and thank him for his generous assistance and support throughout his previous Ministry. I have no doubt he will make a great impact in his new role and I wish him well in that. With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner it is timely and proper that we celebrate and acknowledge our unique place on the world stage. We remember the many people who make up our diaspora, but also the handful of people working in our embassies and consulate offices across the world who provide unrivalled support.”
“I ask the Minister of State to comment on this personally, make a strong statement and let Eir know we are deeply unhappy with its position on this and that how it is treating the elderly people is unforgivable.”
“I appeal to the Minister of State to call out Eir and the phone companies on this and ask them without delay to rectify the situation. The affected people are elderly and are not able to resort to social media or post on Instagram or Facebook to criticise the companies. Invariably, these are the people in their 90s who did the heavy lifting, built this country and provided the building blocks for one of the most progressive, modern countries in Europe, which we now have. We have a country of untold wealth thanks to the efforts and toil of these people. We are now failing them as legislators and as a society. Ultimately, I am most aggrieved over how they are being treated by Eir and the phone companies.”
“I believe her house is the only one on the road. Her daughter was told that it will be another three weeks before she has her phone line back. It is unforgivable that a corporate company that makes millions in this country can be allowed to continue like this and not provide the service. The most galling and telling aspect was that the three elderly residents in Ballinalee got a dispatch from the phone company today not offering an apology or stating it would be around next week to fix the phones but telling them their monthly bills were due – bills for a service they have not had for the past four weeks. This company is failing us. Elderly people depend on panic alarms, which are their connection with the outside world.”
“It is a huge failing on the part of the responsible companies, predominantly Eir, which provides the network and the cables across the country that service the phones. I am aware that many other phone operators depend on Eir, but ultimately the responsibility rests with it. What it is doing to the affected communities is nothing short of reprehensible. There are elderly people who cannot sleep at night and who feel isolated. They turn on the local radio for updates. I have listened to Shannonside FM for the past few mornings and noted that people are consistently ringing in on behalf of elderly parents and grandparents, irate that their phones have not been reconnected five weeks after the storm. In Lanesborough, where I am from, there is a woman in her 80s living on a very isolated road whose phone is still not working.”
“We have seen a huge failing in this regard over recent weeks in the aftermath of the storm of 24 January. Across the country, there are still 3,500 people without phone coverage and broadband. Many of these people are in the midlands, north west and west and many are elderly and live in isolated communities. They are denied access to their panic alarms now because they do not have phone access. I have been contacted by three elderly people living in the Ballinalee area, all in their 90s, who have been without full coverage since the storm and who have been told it could be two weeks before their phone coverage is returned. They are feeling isolated. They are not sleeping and are worrying, and they are suffering from the consequences of what is nothing short of absolute corporate greed.”
“I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and wish him the very best in his new role. He will bring great energy and ambition to it, and will achieve great things. It is fair to say we have heard a very informed and well-rounded debate on the issue of crime. The overwhelming view right across the political divide is that the solution to crime is not one-dimensional but multifaceted. While the Department of Justice has to ultimately do the heavy lifting, there are many other components to this, including social services intervention, community work, housing, poverty and deprivation. All those things needs to be looked at in the round. One of the things we probably do not mention enough regarding crime and that has really come to the fore in recent weeks is corporate responsibility.”
“On that point and in respect of other housing issues, I want the Minister for housing to come to the Chamber as soon as possible.”
“Auctioneers will tell you that the starting point for a valuation for any derelict or old property in rural Ireland is €70,000 before they even look at it. That is fuelled by the scheme. Equally, construction costs have soared. There is momentum building behind the scheme and there is considerable interest in it because it is one of the quickest, most secure, easiest and most cost beneficial ways to get a new home or a starter home in Ireland at the moment. It is great for rural communities because it brings life back to them. However, we urgently need to review the scheme. If we are going to review it, we must send out a clear message to let people know that a review is coming, that it will be timely and we will make a quick decision in that regard.”
“I echo the sentiments of several of my colleagues by requesting the presence of the Minister for housing as a matter of urgency. Housing was the stand-out issue during the term of the previous Government and will be again in the lifetime of the current Government. There are obviously outstanding issues. It was heartening this morning to hear positive numbers for the Croí Cónaithe scheme, which is gathering momentum. Donegal is the county with the highest take-up of the scheme. At a parliamentary party meeting, the current Taoiseach tried to lay claim to the project. He said he had a Eureka moment when he was walking around west Cork. I had to remind him that every rural councillor came up with the same idea over the past generation. Either way, we have a good scheme, although we need to review it.”
“While the people of Longford will remember Jude as a remarkable historian and remarkable community man, his family will remember him as an outstanding father who always put his family first. Jude was truly a unique man and represented the very best of what Longford and indeed rural Ireland have to offer.”
“It is a sad day for us in Longford as we mark the passing of Jude Flynn, one of the country's foremost self-taught historians and native of Gortletteragh. He worked all his life in Longford post office and was a founding member of the Longford Historical Society in 1967. The historical society honoured his life work in 2022. He donated his extraordinary collection of recordings, which he first conducted in the 1980s, to the Longford library service. I have no doubt this will be an invaluable service and a vault of memories for multiple Longford families over many generations. I was delighted to attend his 90th birthday party two years ago along with his sons Ciaran and Joe, his daughter Gráinne who travelled from Australia, his sister Peggy and his beloved seven grandchildren.”
“I would welcome the Minister for Health coming to the Chamber to discuss an expansion of the long-term illness scheme to include a number of lifelong and hereditary diseases. Specifically, I would like to look at Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, which can require multiple hospital stays, ongoing medication and treatment. I appreciate that some of the medications can be accessed through the drugs payment scheme but there is no recourse for recouping treatment therapy or specialist costs for those not eligible for a medical card. I am aware of a case where both a mother and her young daughter have the condition. The mother has had to give up work and it has huge financial and emotional implications for this family. I would welcome the Minister coming before the House to give her views on this. I ask you, a Chathaoirligh, to indulge me.”
“We need to do the same in relation to the storm. One specific fallout from it was the area of forestry. I was on the agriculture committee under the last Government and one of the most vexatious issues during the lifetime of that committee was forestry, the challenges for people who had invested in it and trying to get licences. Then overnight we had an unprecedented storm that has wiped out several plantations. If that sector came into this Government in a crisis, it has now plunged into a deeper one. We need the Minister for agriculture to come to the House to discuss what emergency powers we will give to the agriculture sector to safeguard the people who made those investments so that prices do not plummet and they are not taken advantage of by producers.”
“Like many other speakers, I will reference the fallout from the storm. We have a large concentration of rural representatives in the House and it is only we who can really voice the anger in the aftermath of the storm about the unpreparedness. It manifested across the country. There is a lot of anger and annoyance, particularly among families of elderly people who were left isolated and of youngsters who were trying to study for exams and could not. The reality is that we will have these events and the catastrophic impact of storms again further down the line. I already wrote to the Taoiseach to recommend we convene a special committee to look at what happened in the storm, how we were so unprepared for it and what actions we need to take. We did something similar for the Covid-19 pandemic and we responded with emergency powers.”
“His predecessor, Eddie Bohan, had a more endearing feature in that he was a member of Fianna Fáil. He was an excellent Senator. He was jovial, and came from an era when this Members of this House set themselves apart and identified the important role we have as legislators. I am delighted Paraic is here, and wish him and Joe well. Longford abú.”
“The morale of the story is that perseverance pays off. Whether it is trying to stay happily married or go into politics, persevere at it and it might work out. I am especially honoured to also welcome - I have to cross the party divide for this - Senator Paraic Brady, who I am sure is here beside me, to the House. If he is quiet now, he will not be quiet in the ensuing months. Senators will certainly hear him in this Chamber. Be it on farmers' rights or farm prices, he will be very vocal. He is indicative of a very strong tradition of public service in this country. Both his grandmother and his late father were excellent county councillors in Longford, as was Paraic. I am delighted to see him take up this role. He is also the second Senator from Drumlish in this House.”
“Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach. He did excellent work in his last term and I am sure he will continue that in his role in this House. I heard several people from larger counties refer to how many Senators they have. Longford one of the smallest counties in the country, but we have an unprecedented situation today where we have three Senators in the House. It is an extraordinary turnaround. I welcome Senator Joe Conway to the House. He is on loan to Waterford at the moment but he is originally from Culleenmore and Colehill in south Longford. Three of his sisters, who still reside in Longford, are immensely proud of his achievement. I know it was mentioned that he has had a long trek here. I think he has fought three Seanad elections, and ultimately, he got here. It was four Seanad elections.”