Johnny Guirke
Meath West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Extending the temporary reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel is welcome, but it needs to be extended until budget day and then reviewed. In my county of Meath, public transport options are limited and cars are necessity. For families, fuel is an unavoidable expense, whether for a car or to heat a home.”
“People are struggling right now. They cannot wait any longer. That is why Sinn Féin has called for an emergency budget to put €500 back in the pockets of workers, electricity credits worth €400, a €500 payment for people with disabilities and other measures.”
“Since first being elected to the Dáil, I have repeatedly raised water outages in Trim, Clonard and Ballivor in County Meath. Outages and disruption are causing huge frustration for residents in these areas, and rightly so.”
“Just yesterday, parliamentary questions seeking answer on this issue from the Minister were disallowed, stating that the Minister has no responsibility to the Dáil for this matter. Nobody is responsible for anything. Can the Taoiseach commit to coming back to me with a start date for the upgrade to Ballivor water storage project?”
“UEFA defends its stance by claiming that politics should play no part in sport but, hypocritically, has no problem in banning Russia from the competition. FIFA, UEFA and the Irish Government should not have put the football association in the position in which it finds itself.”
“As of 6 May 2026, more than 72,600 Palestinian had been directly killed by the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Thousands of those were women and children. The United Nations and many humanitarian organisations believe the Gaza health ministry’s figures to be a significant under count with thousands of Gazans still unaccounted for.”
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Every one of 170 lines we hold for Johnny Guirke, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 4.
“If the Government is worried about excessive water use, it should fix the broken pipes and all the leaks across the country.”
“The people of Meath West are tired of unreliable water services and the threat of being charged for the privilege of receiving water that should be a basic human right. Many people go home after a long day's work to find they cannot shower or even make a cup of tea due to their water being turned off on a regular basis. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot be trusted on this issue. Their history suggests that they may seek to reintroduce charges under the guise of excessive use. This legislation must be scrapped once and for all to protect our communities. Moreover if the Government genuinely wishes to keep our water services in public ownership, a referendum is needed to assure residents that the water network will not fall into private hands.”
“That has happened in many towns and villages across Ireland holding up housing developments. We need investment in water services through general taxation or Apple's €14 billion, which the Government did not want to take. While communities in Meath struggle to get basic water services, the Government parties are quietly pushing for the introduction of water charges. If they tell the people of Meath it is charging for water, they will tell them where to go. The ongoing outages over the years in Enfield, Clonard, Ballivor and Trim further illustrate that this is not just a localised issue. It is a widespread problem. If the Government truly intends to abandon water charges, why does it not show its commitment by supporting the Sinn Féin Bill that would eliminate any possibility of charging for water?”
“Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023, the EPA is responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of our drinking water. The audit revealed critical deficiencies in Uisce Éireann's performance, particularly in disinfection processes and the resilience of the Abbeyfields water treatment plant. The report calls for immediate action, including investigations into the chlorination system and measures to enhance the plant's capacity. We need to ensure the water leaving our treatment facilities meet safety standards. Without improvements, the health and well-being of our constituents is on the line. We all know we need more housing but if infrastructure such as water treatment or wastewater treatment plants are not fit for purpose and cannot cope with increasing demand, this will affect housing supply.”
“Lack of water supply is an issue affecting residents across the country and my constituency of Meath West, particularly in Enfield, Clonard, Ballivor, Trim and surrounding areas. These communities face ongoing water outages that simply cannot be ignored. The Clonard Water Action Group has reached out to me highlighting that more than 300 residents are dealing with daily water shortages and outages relying on water tankers to supply a pumping station. This is something I have highlighted since first being elected to the Dáil in 2020. Recently I received the latest water quality report from the EPA on water supply in Clonard and the wider area. While this report has yet to be published, the findings are deeply concerning.”
“The Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil has previously committed to not raising the pension age beyond 66, but many workers fear that commitments from this Government mean nothing. It is time to create a future where every worker has respect and a choice they deserve when it comes to retirement, having worked for most of their lives. For the Government to now increase the retirement age to 66, with a constant threat of increasing it further, is not good enough.”
“This would mean that workers would have the right to choose whether they stay in their jobs or retire, based on their own circumstances and preferences. We in Sinn Féin will continue to advocate for workers' rights until we see real change. It is time for the Government to stop avoiding this issue and to commit to allowing workers to retire at 65, with their pension, or to keep working, if they choose. If the Minister was listening to people, he would know that his constituents want the option to retire at 65. It was a significant victory for those who took part in the Stop67 campaign and those affiliated with it, particularly when we consider that Fine Gael previously supported raising the pension age to 68.”
“Currently, workers are being forced out of their jobs and onto unemployment benefits long before they are eligible for their pension. This can create a significant drop in income for these workers and their families, making it challenging to make ends meet amid the rising costs people face during this cost-of-living crisis. Moreover, we need to consider the social impact of forced retirement when workers are pushed out of their jobs. They lose not only their source of income but also the social connections and support that come from being part of a workplace. This can lead to feelings of isolation and can have serious effects on mental health. The legislation proposed in the past by Sinn Féin aimed to create a new right for employees facing a contractual retirement age below the pensionable age.”
“Not only is this unfair but it is also a violation of workers’ rights. Sinn Féin has been fighting for the removal of these mandatory retirement clauses for more than a decade. We believe that every worker should have the choice to retire at 65 or to keep working if they wish. It is about giving people the freedom to make decisions about their own lives and careers. During the 2020 general election, we made it clear that restoring the State pension to 65 and getting rid of mandatory retirement ages were key priorities for us. Unfortunately, it is a complete failure of leadership that this Government has not delivered on this to date. After a lifetime of hard work, people deserve to make the decision to retire with their pension at 65 or to continue working if they choose to do so.”
“It is essential to understand that the decision to retire is influenced by a combination of health, job type and personal choice. Each person’s circumstances are different and we must respect those differences as we discuss retirement policies. Sinn Féin has long recognised these complexities. We previously brought a motion before the Dáil to restore the right to retire at 65 with a full pension. We firmly believe that people should have the option to retire at the age of 65 based on their individual circumstances, while also supporting the right to continue working if they wish. For far too long, many workers have faced mandatory retirement ages in their contracts. This means that even if they want to continue working or are still capable and willing to contribute, they are forced to leave their jobs simply because of their age.”
“This dynamic highlights the importance of personal circumstances in the retirement conversation. Everyone’s situation is unique. We must recognise that health can be both a barrier and a facilitator in this decision-making process. Additionally, the nature of one’s job significantly impacts retirement timing. For instance, those in physically demanding roles, such as block layers or plasterers, often cannot work beyond the age of 65. The physical toll of these strenuous jobs can make it challenging to continue working as people age. In contrast, individuals in less physically demanding roles who are engaged in light work may have the flexibility to continue their careers well into their later years should they wish to do so.”
“I wish Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett the best going forward. Sinn Féin has long stood up for the right to retire at 65. We represent the voices of those who have worked hard their entire lives and deserve to retire at 65 if they wish to do so, rather than accepting the retirement age of 66 set by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. There are many complex factors that influence when individuals choose to retire. The decision to retire at pension age is not a one-size-fits-all situation. It varies greatly from person to person, shaped by a multitude of key factors. First and foremost, health plays a crucial role in this decision. For some, ongoing health issues may necessitate an earlier retirement, while others may find themselves in good health and capable of working beyond the typical retirement age.”
“It must expedite the recruitment of permanent driving test instructors, end the overreliance on temporary staff and conduct a thorough review of the RSA's capacity to manage this crisis. We need more driver test centres and a strategic plan to ensure we achieve the statutory waiting time of ten weeks and less. I feel sorry for the many workers who contact me having missed out on job opportunities because of this backlog. They deserve a system that works for them. Under the watchful eye of Government, the RSA was quick to increase prices, but slow to improve services.”
“This is a straightforward solution and could facilitate the return of skilled individuals. We already have similar agreements with other countries such as Canada, France and Germany. The Taoiseach spoke earlier about the diaspora and the undocumented. This is his chance to do something. We are crying out for construction and healthcare workers. We need to make it easier for returning emigrants. The recent allocation for road improvements is a drop in the ocean compared to what is truly needed. It is clear that these funds will not cover the urgent repairs essential for the safety of drivers. Government TDs should be ashamed of themselves. The people of Meath pay almost €60 million per year in motor tax. We need immediate action. The Government needs to acknowledge its responsibility.”
“People of all ages have had to turn down job offers and college places because they cannot obtain a full driving licence, which is often essential for employment and education. Imagine being qualified and ready to work only to be held back by an inefficient system. Students are left stranded and unable to get to college due to a public transport system that cannot meet their needs. How many potential workers are we losing when they are eager to contribute but simply cannot drive because of the lengthy driving test waiting lists? For example, those who wish to return from America face a lengthy wait in obtaining a full licence. The issue could be resolved with a simple bilateral agreement which would allow people to exchange their American licence for an Irish one.”
“The waiting time for a driving test in Meath is disgraceful. The Government has been warned about it for years. Many people are waiting for up to 35 weeks and in some cases even longer to do their driving test. This is completely unacceptable. Navan has the longest waiting list in the country, with an estimated waiting time of 35 weeks for a driving test, with some people waiting even longer. We now have 72,414 people trapped in limbo. This is an alarming increase of more than 60% since 2022. In just three months, the backlog has grown by nearly 10,000. Not a single driver test centre is meeting the statutory maximum waiting time of ten weeks. Learners are being forced to wait six months or more, with some waiting up to eight months. The repercussions of this backlog are devastating and far-reaching.”
“The lack of forward planning left key water infrastructure without back-up generating capacity after Storm Éowyn. I urge the Government to take immediate action by providing generators for the Civil Defence to distribute to vulnerable individuals or for financial support to be provided to businesses and community organisations affected by the storm. The Government also needs to ensure that essential services like water treatment plants have the back-up they need to operate during storm crises.”
“The Government did not step in with adequate help. Today, 19 days later, some people are still without power. We need a serious commitment from the Government to ensure that when disaster strikes, we have the resources and infrastructure in place to protect our communities. If we were proactive instead of reactive, many of these power outages could have been prevented with regular inspections and maintenance of roadside trees. Many farmers and constituents who have roadside trees cannot afford to have them removed. Other trees overhang electrical and phone cables across the country. In future, we need to look at where phone cables could be put underground. Simple measures like ensuring that Uisce Éireann has generators at treatment plants and pumping stations are crucial.”
“She could not access a community hub and she and her family had to depend on someone to lend her a generator to power the essentials for her, including charging her electric wheelchair and powering her hoist. Cases like this were not isolated ones. The Government needs to ensure that generators are on hand to distribute to those most in need, if and when needed. People who invested in forestry had large areas flattened. What supports are in place for them? There should also be some kind of a fund for SMEs. One small IT business near me with 15 employees told me the company was losing €15,000 per week. I have to speak about the Government's delayed response. Many businesses and community groups are still struggling and need support. It is unacceptable that people were left without power for so long.”
“I express my sincere gratitude to the staff of our local authorities and the hardworking staff of the ESB and the emergency services who gave so much during and after Storm Éowyn. Many of these people are still cleaning up after the storm. In Meath West, community hubs played a crucial role by providing support to many. They ensured that many people in Meath who were without power could charge their phones, work from the hub, shower and enjoy a warm building. This is why community centres and GAA clubs should be provided with generators should they be the ones without power in the future. A woman with multiple sclerosis who lives not far from me relies on hoist to lift her in and out of bed.”