John McGuinness
Carlow-Kilkenny · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“That concludes our business for this morning. I thank all the Members, the staff, the press and everyone involved in the House for their co-operation during the term. I want to acknowledge the fact that we had Cara Darmody in the Public Gallery this morning. I omitted to mention that. I wish her well in the campaign and in her efforts.”
“For the information of Members, the Poole family are in the Public Gallery. The Ceann Comhairle has already extended a welcome to the family, but I want to bring it to the attention of the Chamber, now that there are so many of us here, that they are here. They have achieved a lot. I acknowledge their presence.”
“Letting time pass to build up evidence for a case is having horrific impacts on women. I do not know when it began to escalate, but it is now the situation that the sexual, physical and financial abuse of women is out of control.”
“I join the Ceann Comhairle in extending the welcome to you. You have come through a harrowing journey to this day and you have exposed the State, as has been recorded by the Taoiseach, the Minister and others, in terms of the most awful failings, which have had terrible consequences on your lives and the lives of your families.”
“There are support services, but we need to fund them more extensively. The refuge centres serve a great purpose, but they need to connect more directly with local councils to ensure that whatever housing is needed is delivered.”
“I commend the Minister on bringing forward this stand-alone legislation. It is important that he continue his work reforming the various aspects of legislation that need to be examined and updated in the context of what society faces today.”
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“I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Transparency and Social Value in Public Procurement Bill 2024, taken on Thursday, 26 June 2025. On the question, "That the amendment to the motion be made", a division was claimed, and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now.”
“I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025, taken on Thursday, 26 June 2025. On the question, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now.”
“As the time permitted for this debate has expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the Dáil of this day: "That the Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.”.”
“Amendments Nos. 18 to 20, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 are physical alternatives to amendment No. 18. Amendments Nos. 18 to 20, inclusive, may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“Amendment No. 25 arises out of committee proceedings. Amendments Nos. 25 to 33, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together. Amendments Nos. 28 to 33, inclusive, are consequential on No. 25.”
“We can argue about who is right and who is wrong in relation to what is happening, but the bottom line is that it is not the fault of the women, children and men we see being murdered on our television screens. Whatever is going on, it should be put aside. Permission should be given for the humanitarian aid to pass freely to where it is needed. Because we are not getting that direction from America, the European Union needs to take that strong hand. While there is still time to do it, I hope that Ireland will correct its pretty weak position, take a strong leadership role within the European Union and do the right thing on behalf of the citizens of this country.”
“People feel they are being overlooked and not being heard and that we are playing to the gallery in relation to the bigger group within the European Union. The time has come; people would like to see democracy in action. They would like to see the European Union listening to them, for once, and they would like to see the Members of the European Parliament coming together with the countries they represent and making this statement that is now urgently required. It is shocking to think the great powers in this world - bigger powers than Ireland certainly - and the collective power of the European Union have not achieved a free track of supply of humanitarian aid to where it is most needed.”
“I do not know what it takes for this House to come together with one voice and state exactly where we stand, without any dressing up or political packaging, just to say it clearly and to encourage others to take the same position as us. The occupied territories Bill has gone around and around. I commend Senator Black on her work in this area. We have left the legislation and long-fingered it for far too long. Services need to be included in the Bill. Let it be taken to whatever court anyone might want and challenged in whatever way it has to be, but we need to make this very definite statement as a country to ensure our voice and the voices of the people we represent are heard. I read deep disappointment in the emails and communications to me.”
“Nobody can condone what we see on our televisions and in the print media every day of the week. It is horrendous to think that in the modern world we can have that type of murder and mayhem going on, that we are reluctant to call it genocide and that we are reluctant to take action against another country by highlighting our views simply because we may lose economically. There are times when one has to put aside any economic advantage or consideration of any economic disadvantage and do the right thing. At the weekend, I met a lady who was upset about this whole issue, about the Government and the European Union not doing what is expected of them and that the genocide and murder continues.”
“It has taken from before the last general election until now for the Government to be brought to the point where it is using words it did not use before, even though those words are meaningless and not strong enough at all. One of the things that came across in the course of all the emails I read was the failure of Europe to deal with this situation and the failure of Ireland - even though we are a small country in that Union - to convince those in Europe that there is a serious issue here for the country and Europe to deal with. I condemn the European Union for some of the actions it has taken and for not taking some of the actions it should have taken. What is required now is a huge effort on the part of Europe, and on the part of Ireland within Europe, to convince others that action is being demanded by the people we represent.”
“Over the last few weeks, I have been looking at the emails and telephone messages I have received from constituents. A lot of the names would be familiar to me. I have never heard from them previously and never thought they would be as animated about this issue as to come forward and to put in two pages of an email what they felt about it, but they did. Over time, those numbers have grown significantly. It is not that we cannot ignore them anymore, but that they are telling a truth we do not want to listen to. Last year, on the finance committee, we dealt with the Central Bank and the bonds. We also dealt with several other issues concerning Israel.”
“Engineers have visited while the Minister has been down there as well. Iarnród Éireann must take the first step to provide the safety that is required. I am asking the Minister of State to intervene and demand of Iarnród Éireann the action that is required to make that part of O'Loughlin Road railway bridge safe and to provide us with the times to facilitate those who wish to travel on public transport to and from Dublin or the locations along the route.”
“I ask the Minister of State to intervene with Iarnród Éireann and ask it to upgrade the station buildings that are lying derelict. I would like the Minister of State to ask Iarnród Éireann to bring them up to a standard that will meet that of the neighbouring properties such as MacDonagh Junction or the hotel that will be built there. It is not right that a company like Iarnród Éireann would not invest in its property and try to keep the image of the city in which it is located to the standards to which we are accustomed. I ask the Minister of State to tell Iarnród Éireann to approach the problem at O'Loughlin Road railway bridge and deal with the wall for which it is responsible. It is creating a problem for those who are driving or walking the footpaths. It has gone on for decades.”
“If we are going to change as a country, there is an opportunity for us to introduce a dynamic rail structure to accommodate the communities that are anxious to use the train rather than the car, and to allow those who do not have a car to commute properly and efficiently to a job, school or college. We have to think of those who are studying or working in Dublin and need that transport timetable to meet their needs. I wish to raise another issue relating to infrastructure, namely, the fact that the railway stations in Kilkenny and Thomastown need investment. The property held by Iarnród Éireann in Kilkenny city is in a disgraceful condition. People, including tourists, arrive there on the train and see nothing but a derelict building with an asbestos roof, a building that is falling down and a very poorly maintained station.”
“Like most Members of the House, I met with Iarnród Éireann recently when it gave a presentation and made its officials available to Members to put their case and highlight the issues in their constituencies. I will get directly to the point. The south east, particularly Carlow and Kilkenny, has very poor connections. Regardless of whether one is en route from those locations to Dublin or down to Waterford, not enough times are available. I can get to the Oireachtas at one time but I cannot get home at the time when we might conclude. That is very unreasonable in terms of what we are trying to achieve in the economy and the challenges we face regarding climate action. That people cannot get trains at the appropriate times to suit them is also unfair to those who work in Dublin or along the route of the train service.”
“Another child who needs special support has been told he cannot go to transition year in secondary school. That is appalling.”
“That should not be put on the long finger. These children should not have to be overly examined. It is obvious that the transport is needed and the child has special needs, yet they are still being asked to wait. I want to make a special case for foster carers, a group that has not been acknowledged for the work they do. They too look after children with special needs. They should come first and foremost in terms of what is required because foster parents are doing their best. A lot of changes need to be made in that area. I will also be asking that there are changes to the budget in the context of the support for their needs. I wish to highlight the case of a child in Kilkenny who does not have a place. The child is non-verbal and needs immediate intervention but nothing is arranged for that child.”
“That is the obvious thing to do. I have raised Jonah Special School in County Kilkenny on a number of occasions. It was promised a new building but because it could not build it in the way the Department wanted, the school was deprived of any form of building or extension. It has a fine site. It is a special school and does fantastic work. The Department is putting the building before the rights of the children who attend the school and those who are waiting to get into it. It is unforgivable that the Department would act like that. The very same Department does not even respond to some of the queries that are put to it. It certainly has not responded to my queries, which I have raised on the floor of the Dáil, and I have now raised a particular query today. The other issue is transport for children to get to these schools.”
“I welcome the review. I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, the best in office. I know he is committed to this area and will ensure that change takes place in the best interests of the children and schools concerned. While the review is being studied, there is no need for a delay or a waiting process. We have to respond immediately to the concerns expressed by parents and others about what they are not receiving for their children in schools. I always find it difficult to understand the reason Departments tend to wait for legislation and then to act. We have children in very difficult circumstances today. Many speakers have recognised their difficulties and the House has said clearly that we want each child to reach his or her full potential. I ask the Minister of State to look at where the problems are.”
“When we commenced, and I called Deputy Carthy, we had Ministers from the Government and so on here. That is why I allowed the matter to proceed. Now I have to put the question that the Deputy asked and whether the Bill should be considered, that question being: “Is the Bill being opposed?””
“Before I call on Deputy Rice, I want to reply to Deputy Smith. When we have an exchange such as that which eats into the time available, I assure the House that the time of the Deputies who follow will not be cut. They have the right to speak in this House regardless of what happens.”
“I ask for the focus to be taken away from private homes, that we would not support them and that we would be very critical and emphatic in our actions against them when they breach the rules.”
“At the end of that, the person goes to a nursing home. It is shocking the way recent Governments have behaved in that they have not recognised the true value of community homes. I remember during Covid that the Taiwanese funded a lot of the equipment that went to care homes throughout the country. That needs to be put on record, as does the issue of care champions and what they have done. Where is the Covid inquiry? We want to know what happened. That Covid inquiry is probably on the long finger somewhere and it needs to be addressed. It is not right that we would announce it and talk about it, and then not get into the detail of what happened to families and elderly people in the course of the Covid times. I ask that this also be looked at.”
“Yet, we totally ignore that and we make them fight for every shilling or euro that they get. Big business seems to be the favoured way of delivering nursing homes. It is not a good way because it is driven by profit where the profit is euro, whereas in the community setting, it is not euro but it is seeing the smile on the resident’s face. That is what it is. It is about choice. The Government can have its big business model and it can also have a well-funded option in terms of community care. I urge the Minister to tip the balance in favour of community care. I urge the Minister to tell the discharge nurses not to give the commitment that certain plans will be followed when the patient is taken home because they do not have the staff. They release the bed, the patient goes home and then the family have to carry the can fully.”
“We have been here before. We have expressed the same degree of disgust and anger at what we saw on the “RTÉ Investigates” television programme recently but we have not done anything in between times to make sure it does not happen again. There is a lot that we could have done. For example, the community nursing homes are a great idea, as outlined by Deputy O'Donoghue earlier. We have them in Kilkenny at Thomastown, Castlecomer, Kilmoganny, Graiguenamanagh, Freshford and Callan. Why do we not fund them? Why do we not give them the money to have a proper community facility to look after the elderly in our communities? I have travelled to those different homes and I have to say I have always been impressed by the business model and by the level of care that those in the homes receive.”
“The Select Committee on Agriculture and Food has completed its consideration of the following further Revised Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2025: Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine.”
“Before moving to the Social Democrats, I acknowledge the group from New Zealand in our Distinguished Visitors Gallery. They were welcomed formally yesterday. They were so impressed that they came back again today. They might mark a sheet for us about how people performed yesterday versus today.”
“What we should be talking about here is reforming the system, protecting the underprivileged and those who have nothing and making sure that those who have money pay in buckets.”
“We have to do more about them. How much smaller would the increases be if we were determined to root out the outrageous overspending on projects in this country? How much money could we save? How much hardship could we prevent for the people we represent by spending that money in a more co-ordinated and strategic way to help those in society who are less well off? We are happy to proceed on the basis that we know where people live and to tax them as a result. Those who cannot be caught too easily get away with it. The system that spends or even misspends a fortune can get away with it. Successive Governments have looked on, sat on their hands, and done nothing to reform the system.”
“It is essential that where we see a scheme like that relating to the N25 in south Kilkenny that needs money now, the Government has an obligation to keep people safe, to reach out and to ensure that whatever the chief executive of Kilkenny County Council asks for is provided on the basis of a legitimate plan that will deliver safety and save lives. I do not see anything wrong in asking for that. I do not see anything wrong in putting the case to the Minister in respect of the changes that are absolutely necessary. What we are doing here again is picking the low-hanging fruit. We are insisting on taxing people because we know where they live, which means that we can apply the tax. What about all the companies here, there and everywhere that are paying nothing? Some of these companies are offshore or are not subject to the tax system here.”
“The Government is putting the onus on local authority members to raise property tax because, no doubt, there will be plenty of chief executives who will want to do just that. They will be encouraging the members to do it now because we are so far out from an election. That is when the substantial increase is brought in. I rail against that because I want to protect those who are less well off, those who are suffering the consequences of this increase in terms of the bands and those poor people who are having to pay more and cannot meet their day-to-day needs. It is absolutely essential that the piece relating to the Revenue is put in place.”
“It is not good enough that they are being allowed to screw householders, collect 97% of the money and have total disregard for how those in a household might be feeling hard pressed in the context of putting food on the table or looking after the other bills they have to pay. People are still living in fear that the vulture funds will come and take their homes. Others fear that the banks will come and take their homes. Some of those vulture funds are not even taxed to the extent that they should be. Why not take the money from them? Why not take the money from the banks? The Government could then ensure, as it applies a reasonable property tax, that local authorities come up with a clear proposal to show how this money is being spent.”
“How many are living in fear because they think someone is going to come to take their house or cause them difficulties simply because they do not understand their circumstances? The Revenue Commissioners have offices in Kilkenny, Waterford and many other localities. However, they do not have staff available in their public offices to explain this tax to the people to whom I refer. They should be made to man those offices, provide a public service and explain to people what this tax is all about, particularly those who are not computer literate and cannot make their returns. These people should be assisted to understand what is meant by the word "deferral" or the fact that they can pay in instalments. The Revenue Commissioners need to come to the table on this.”
“I have tried time and again to get the Government to introduce a Bill that would make the Comptroller and Auditor General responsible for the local authority audit. I want to see that happen. In the context of the Bill, I want elderly people who own their homes, who are living in their homes and who have been affected by the increase in the value of their homes looked after. Even though some of those homes may have doubled in value, it does not mean that those who live in them will have the money to pay the new amounts that will be demanded every year. Nobody is interested in looking at that. Revenue has a great collection rate. It is either 93% or 97%. How many people are we pushing further into poverty because they cannot pay their bills today? How many are pushing the payment of their bills to a later date?”
“That is relevant to this tax because people are looking at it - with local problems to the fore - and are not seeing the county council spend the money collected on the works they require to have safety restored in their community. That is a big issue, particularly as the Government is collecting a significant amount of money by means of this tax. The Minister stated that an extra €45 million will be collected. I want him to look at how local authorities spend money that is collected. A considerable amount of it is wasted. There are benefits, including those enjoyed by communities and local projects are achieved. However, the value obtained in respect of this money is not being monitored.”
“To ensure he builds confidence with a community like that in south Kilkenny, the Minister needs to bring forward the €200 million or so that has been promised for next year. The Government needs to set it on course, to get delivery of the project to restore safety and to ensure nobody else dies on this road. A significant number of people have died on it. The Government needs to fast-track the delivery of the planning process, so that the bigger project is delivered. Relevant to this debate, the Government needs to make money available to carry out the improvement works that are essential now as a result of the fact that the road will not be delivered for eight years. It also must make sure that An Garda Síochána is well funded and well resourced to provide the safety that the community has demanded.”
“They were aghast to hear the presence of extra gardaí at that point on the road would be subject to constraints, with relevance to how the number of gardaí were being deployed around that area. The specific improvements the community asked for could easily be carried out, costed and done but that is subject to approval by the council and TII and funding is an issue. They then moved onto the bigger TII project and the delivery of that motorway as fit for purpose. They were told this was also subject to finance. In 2021 and 2022, when the finance should have been delivered to that community to get the project under way, in terms of TII, the Government failed to deliver the money because it was dancing to a greener tune at that time. This has now passed and we are into a new regime.”
“It is the most dangerous stretch of road in the country and is recognised as such. The local people - there were 400 or 500 at the meeting - wanted a number of things immediately. They wanted to see Garda presence increased along that stretch of road, with the appropriate cameras in place and visibility which would clearly show the driver they are entering a dangerous area that has speed cameras and is being monitored. They asked for specific improvements, such as the cutting back of ditches, provision of a fence, fixing potholes and some realignment here and there. They asked for some speed in the delivery of the necessary works to make the N25 fit for purpose and to take the dangers away, which would all be funded by TII and Government.”
“I listened carefully all contributions but to one in particular. Deputy Gould certainly struck a note with me in his description of local authority and local government, the spending of money and the delivery for constituents. He was right; we need to do something to adjust the balance in favour of the people we represent. I also listened to another contribution. We all get these briefs, but to come in here to read them out word for word and not have your own view on things does not say much about democracy or showing leadership. Members have made contributions and pointed to the benefits of the local spend and how the councils benefit our local communities but there is another side of the story. Last night in Kilkenny, there was a meeting about a road in south Kilkenny, which goes through Waterford, Kilkenny and on into Wexford.”
“I join with other Members of the House in extending sympathy to our colleague, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh, on the death of her mother. I am sure all Members would like to be associated with that. We also extend our sympathies to the families and all those affected by that air crash.”
“The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the Statute Law Revision Bill 2024 and has made no amendments thereto.”
“I must now deal with a postponed division relating to amendment No. 1 to Government amendment No. 1. On Tuesday, 10 June 2025, on the question, "That the amendment to the amendment be made”, a division was claimed. That division will be taken now.”
“Amendments Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, 21, 26, 42, 47, 48, 50, 52, 55, 57 to 60, inclusive, 78, 80, 88, 89, 102, 117, 159 to 164, inclusive, 166, 169, 174, 181, 183, and 274 to 277, inclusive, are related. Amendments Nos. 14 to 16, inclusive, are physical alternatives to amendment No. 13. Amendments Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, 21, 26, 42, 47, 48, 50, 52, 55, 57 to 60, inclusive, 78, 80, 88, 89, 102, 117, 159 to 164, inclusive, 166, 169, 174, 181, 183, and 274 to 277, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together.”
“It is shocking that tenants are forced to continue to live like this when the local authority, which is the landlord in this case, is not facilitating a proper standard within its own housing stock. I ask that this be part of the review of the activities of local authorities. The small solution of selling a big house, if you own it, and building a smaller house to accommodate a different family structure needs to be looked at. In many county development plans, if you build in one area, you are not entitled to build again. Yet, if you were allowed to build, you would downsize and make another house available to the market. It is that simple. All the stakeholders should be brought to the table to hear what all of us have had to say and they should be asked to do something about participating in the project fully.”
“I know many towns and villages throughout counties Carlow and Kilkenny that simply do not have the facilities to enable planning permission to be given because Irish Water will object and say it does not have the services there. This issue exists in every single county and needs to be addressed immediately. It is only by way of ministerial intervention that we will see any change in this area. I say to the councils around the country: for god's sake, do something to act as proper managers of your tenants. At present, there is no management and there are people in flats or apartments or groups of houses who are experiencing the sale of drugs on a daily basis, the abuse of their rights as a tenant or antisocial behaviour.”
“Likewise, insurance companies have placed many difficulties in front of those seeking a mortgage, particularly those who may have had health issues in the past. They are being told they cannot get mortgage protection and are not given any other options; that is it for them. This needs to be reviewed. The whole planning process regarding accommodation needs to be relaxed. When it comes to right-sizing in local authority housing, there are too many people waiting for a right-size to get a house that is smaller than the one they are in and for that house to then accommodate a family. This is not happening at any great speed and needs to be looked at by the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the various chief executives of the local authorities. The biggest problem here - I have heard it from other Members - is Irish Water.”
“It is my strong belief that all stakeholders responsible for delivering houses are not on the same page and do not share the one ambition. In this case, I separate out the banks. It is almost impossible for young people seeking their first mortgage to get a mortgage from the bank to build their own house or to purchase one. The mortgage approval rate may be high and may look impressive but when you look at the figures, there are the numbers drawing down mortgages and those just waiting because they have not been approved for enough or cannot afford it. The banks need to come up with various financial packages and mortgages to enable those who want to draw down a mortgage and to make it possible for them in respect of the amount and so on.”
“There are experts out there but we need to tap into them and learn from the mistakes of the past. I would encourage the Minister of State to drive the councils to get the job done, get plans into the system and get the money drawn down.”
“Some of those schemes, although completed, are now causing further difficulty because, as with the River Nore, there are now smaller streams, and lands that are being drained into those streams, that come into the flood relief section that has been delivered and then move quickly to flood the next area downstream. I have seen the OPW and council contractors ensure that nature is protected and that it is done in a very sensible way. Indeed, Alan O'Sullivan in Kilkenny is an expert in this area and reconstructed the Lacken weir in Kilkenny. He is a man who is into biodiversity and protecting whatever wildlife there might be along a stream or river and has given fantastic help in terms of planning. Indeed, he planned an outdoor pool on the River Nore in Thomastown.”
“One of the biggest schemes in the country was put in place right through the city of Kilkenny. It is often said that what we did was provide a scheme at a cost of millions of euro but the floodwaters now hit the villages downstream a hell of a lot quicker and therefore cause difficulties for them. I do not believe that is the case because there are various pooling areas along the route of the River Nore but at the same time, it does make some sense and needs to be examined. Likewise, we need to look at the schemes that have been completed, the smaller flood relief schemes, to see what we can learn about delivery and how best we might be able to improve the system and the funding mechanism as we go along.”