Linda Nelson Murray
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Navan hospital always needs to be strengthened, not sidelined. We need investment in that to grow with the population that is growing in Meath, and that Meath people have a hospital that grows with their needs and does not fall behind. I am discussing this with the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.”
“The Irish Cancer Society is in the news today. We met its representatives last week and had a very good engagement over in Buswells Hotel where they were giving us some numbers. I wanted to home in on bowel cancer. There are 2,500 people diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in Ireland.”
“We have had amazing debates in here from all sides of the Chamber. Everybody, without a shadow of a doubt, is a pleasure to work with. We can achieve things together whether we are in opposition or in government. I thank everybody. It is really nice to come in to the Chamber and I look forward to it every Tuesday.”
“I thank everybody in that group, particularly the Senators in this Chamber who worked on the group, because it is a day to be acknowledged. Hopefully, we will see it come through quickly. I want to follow on from that by asking the Leader to speak to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who is working very hard on a baby loss register.”
“Senator Nicole Ryan and I, with other Senators, including Senators Patricia Stephenson, Tom Clonan and Evanne Ní Chuilinn, and many TDs - it was a complete cross-party Oireachtas group - came together and have been working on how to actually do this over the last year. Today is a very positive day for all of us in our group.”
“It was about a year ago that we had a very emotive debate in the House when Senator Nicole Ryan brought suggestions for a Bill on miscarriage leave. I was on this side of the House. It was very hard to actually be debating it when I think everybody in this House wanted to see something like that happen.”
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“We have had amazing debates in here from all sides of the Chamber. Everybody, without a shadow of a doubt, is a pleasure to work with. We can achieve things together whether we are in opposition or in government. I thank everybody. It is really nice to come in to the Chamber and I look forward to it every Tuesday. I wish everyone a very nice summer. I hope they drop loads of leaflets, go out to their constituents, talk to them all and fill the air with loads of positivity.”
“Navan hospital always needs to be strengthened, not sidelined. We need investment in that to grow with the population that is growing in Meath, and that Meath people have a hospital that grows with their needs and does not fall behind. I am discussing this with the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I think every political person who comes from Meath will always want to push for Navan hospital to be continually invested in. I acknowledge the great work the hospital has done when it comes to colonoscopies in the first quarter of this year. I wish the hospital well in its ongoing work in that space and we must ensure we continue the investment in that hospital. In my last 25 seconds, I say to everyone in this room as we go into recess today that it has been an absolute pleasure to work with them.”
“The Irish Cancer Society is in the news today. We met its representatives last week and had a very good engagement over in Buswells Hotel where they were giving us some numbers. I wanted to home in on bowel cancer. There are 2,500 people diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in Ireland. The target for the Irish Cancer Society is that not one patient should wait more than 28 days. Last year, in Our Lady's Hospital Navan, over the whole year 400 people waited more than 28 days. However, in quarter 1 of this year, not one patient waited more than 28 days in Navan hospital for an urgent colonoscopy. I commend the manager, the staff and everybody in the hospital on that. We are very proud of our hospital in Navan. When I saw the numbers it got me thinking about the rapidly growing population in County Meath.”
“I thank everybody in the House today and the Senators and TDs who worked in this group. It is a positive day as we can now say that we will soon have five days' leave for people who suffered a miscarriage under 23 weeks.”
“I thank everybody in that group, particularly the Senators in this Chamber who worked on the group, because it is a day to be acknowledged. Hopefully, we will see it come through quickly. I want to follow on from that by asking the Leader to speak to the Minister, Deputy Calleary, who is working very hard on a baby loss register. This will allow people who may have been unable to get scan pictures in the first 11 or 12 weeks to voluntarily register that they were pregnant and lost a baby. I imagine that would very much help in the grieving process. The Minister is working on that. Will the Leader write to him to ask where we are on that? Officials have been keeping in touch with me and our group, and they have been good. A register would follow on nicely from the proposal for miscarriage leave being brought to Cabinet.”
“Senator Nicole Ryan and I, with other Senators, including Senators Patricia Stephenson, Tom Clonan and Evanne Ní Chuilinn, and many TDs - it was a complete cross-party Oireachtas group - came together and have been working on how to actually do this over the last year. Today is a very positive day for all of us in our group. We have all worked together as a cross-party group. It goes to show that cross-party groups can really work because today is a very positive day in bringing forward miscarriage leave. It means that women who have baby losses under 23 weeks will be able to take five days of paid leave. That is a very positive day. As somebody who has suffered miscarriages myself, I can say that it is such a positive day.”
“It was about a year ago that we had a very emotive debate in the House when Senator Nicole Ryan brought suggestions for a Bill on miscarriage leave. I was on this side of the House. It was very hard to actually be debating it when I think everybody in this House wanted to see something like that happen. However, the advice was that it was under the wrong Act - it was under the working time Act - and we had a promise from the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, that this would be worked on over the year, and that we would be coming back with something a year later. This is such a positive day because, today, the proposal for miscarriage leave was brought to Cabinet by the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke.”
“One trusted annual health certification could reduce bureaucracy, save public money, free up GP time and make life considerably easier for older people and their families. I will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I will push for this measure, but I ask the Acting Leader to request a debate or to write to the Minister informing her that the Seanad thinks it would be a great idea.”
“People have to wait two weeks. What I am proposing would help that situation. For the Government, there would be reduced duplication across Departments, faster processing of applications, lower administrative costs and better consistency in medical assessments. For the local authorities, the housing adaption grants and older supports with which they deal could be processed way quicker. This matters because Ireland has an ageing population. We often talk about helping people age with dignity within their homes, but we have to make the system easier to navigate. An 80-year old living alone should not have to complete five or six separate medical forms in a year, repeating the same information for different public bodies.”
“A GP would complete one comprehensive assessment each year. Departments and local authorities could accept that certified assessment, rather than requiring new medical evidence every time someone applies for another support. Obviously, if information needs to be added to the passport in the event of an emergency situation, that is grand. For older people, it would mean one medical assessment instead of several such appointments. There would be less stress and paperwork for them, as well as fewer GP appointments, resulting in lower costs where GP forms are charged and faster access to supports. For GPs, there would be less repetitive administrative work and more clinical time for patients. We desperately need this in County Meath. We have the fewest number of GPs per capita in the country. It is very hard to get an appointment.”
“Through our offices, we all have the lovely honour of helping and supporting older people in our communities, particularly when it comes to filling out forms, which is a bit part of what they have to do. At present, people over 65 years of age repeatedly have to ask their GPs to certify similar information for things such as medical cards, housing adaption grants, mobility or travel schemes, respite care applications, living alone allowance, household benefit packages and other disability or care supports. There are a lot of examples in this regard. Each application can require another GP appointment and another fee, which is stressful and takes up a lot of time. These appointments all ask the same questions, however. I propose that we look at the possibility of an annual older person’s health passport.”
“It is a very proud day for all of us here. The Irish Cancer Society representatives are very welcome. Many of us met them yesterday. It is lovely to get the information they give us about our own constituencies and how people are doing. I strongly encourage more young people to take up the HPV vaccine. That has nothing to do with this but the rate is at 75% and we want to get it to 90%. That is very important. Well done to everybody on their advocacy and their work. It is a great day.”
“I echo my colleague's comments. The Minister of State was not here when I spoke on this a couple of weeks ago. It is on days like this that you are incredibly proud to have been elected a Senator and to be here to help pass amazing legislation that means that people who have been diagnosed with cancer but whose treatment ended more than five years ago can get financial services, including mortgage protection. I spoke to a lady last week, Edel, who was buying a house for her family with her partner. She had been quoted €600 a month for mortgage protection. When this Bill comes through, it will be €60 a month. I thank the Minister of State for bringing this forward. She might have worked with Deputy Jerry Buttimer on it at the start but she brought it through and is now sitting here, which is fantastic. I congratulate her.”
“We have the Criminal Damage Act, which includes the offence of defacement of property, and the Litter Pollution Act 1997, which clearly includes graffiti as a specific offence, but they are not working. We cannot continue to spend taxpayers' money making towns and villages vibrant communities but have people who are, for some reason, trying to reflect their artistic skills by spraying graffiti on newly built buildings and walls. Should we start meeting them? Should we see what they want? Do they want specific mural walls? I think they should get them and that they could add to towns. In New York, for example, you can see many beautiful buildings with gorgeous artwork on them. Wicklow has been a great county for it as well. Should we start meeting these people and giving them a platform and an opportunity to express their artistic flare?”
“They benefit people's mams, sisters or somebody in a house that needs boiler maintenance, yet staff have to go and take off graffiti. We cannot spend millions of euro regenerating towns only to allow them to be vandalised. Graffiti is not a victimless act. It costs taxpayers and businesses thousands of euro, damages civic pride and discourages people from spending time in town centres. We need a zero-delay clean-up policy, strong enforcement and meaningful engagement with young people so that Navan remains a town that people are proud to live and work in and visit. Should we consider creating a national arts and mural strategy that each council can avail of? Should there be tougher penalties for those offending? Should we set up a QR code at peak locations so that these crimes can be reported?”
“A lot of my colleagues have spoken about their wonderful villages and towns and how gorgeous they are. Unfortunately, when I was scrolling on the social media page for my local authority, Meath County Council, yesterday, I was saddened to see the numerous new reports of graffiti all around Navan, including on the Circular Road, Convent Lane and the brand new pedestrian and cycle bridge. It is soul destroying to see that. Navan town has been part of the Project 2030 plan and the town is looking beautiful, so it is sad to see that people have used spray paint to leave graffiti on numerous walls, buildings and bridges. Every time that graffiti needs to be removed, council staff must divert time and resources away from other important services, like maintenance work, that benefit the wider community.”
“If we get this right, Ireland can lead in the development of artificial intelligence and in ensuring it is developed responsibly, ethically and with the protection of future generations at its core. Innovation and protection should go hand in hand. This Bill provides an excellent foundation on which to build. As we take up the EU Presidency, which was a proud moment for us all today in Dublin Castle, I welcome this Bill and our work to protect people, including the most vulnerable, when it comes to online safety.”
“Young people are among the most frequent users of AI-powered technologies yet they are also the most vulnerable. As a mam of ten- and 11-year-old girls, I really worry. AI increasingly influences the content they consume, the information they receive, the educational tools they use and the decisions that shape their online experiences. I would welcome stronger provisions placing children's rights at the heart of AI regulation, including child impact assessments for AI systems that are likely to affect children, stronger protection for children's personal data and greater investment in digital and AI literacy for children, parents and teachers, maybe to work alongside this.”
“The Irish Internet Hotline said that while the Bill focuses on full implementation and enforcement of the EU AI Act, including the designation and empowerment of national competent authorities and the establishment of penalties for infringements, its implementation represents a decisive moment to introduce safeguards for children's rights and protection from harmful artificial intelligence. The Children's Rights Alliance also came before the committee and commented that the scheme "is silent about the participation of children and young people in decision development and decision-making. Children and their voice should be considered at all levels of decision development and decision-making, including by any regulatory sandboxes and the board of the AI office." They are really looking for children to have an input into it.”
“It establishes a clear regulatory framework, ensures compliance with the EU AI Act, creates appropriate oversight and enforcement mechanisms and helps build public trust that AI will be developed and used safely, ethically and transparently. That confidence is essential if Ireland is to remain a global leader in innovation while protecting fundamental rights. As we embrace these opportunities there is one area the legislation could go further on. Maybe that is in phase 2 and could be looked at in the summer. It is protection of children. Discussing this legislation as part of our work on the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the vulnerability and protection of children came up a lot.”
“The Bill establishes the AI offices of Ireland as a strong, independent institution at the centre of AI regulatory system and empowers our competent authorities with investigative and sanctions tools they need. The office is intended to be Ireland's central co-ordinating authority for implementation of the AI Act. Artificial intelligence is already changing how we live, work and access public services. It has enormous potential to improve healthcare through earlier diagnosis, support businesses to become more productive, assist farmers with precision agriculture, reduce administrative burdens and create high-quality jobs in Ireland's growing technology sector. The Bill provides the certainty businesses and citizens need.”
“These measures will ensure that Ireland has the necessary supervisory and enforcement structures in place to fulfil its obligations applying from 2 August and those under future phases of the EU AI Act. The Bill provides the enforcement and institutional infrastructure - the office, the competent authorities, the adjudication system and the criminal penalties - through which the EU AI Act will operate in Ireland. It does not create the obligations that apply to providers and deployers of AI systems. Those obligations are already in Irish law by virtue of the EU AI Act, which is directly applicable. The Bill's enactment is necessary to designate the authorities which will enforce those existing obligations. The Minister, Deputy Burke, stated the publication of the Bill is a landmark moment for Ireland's digital regulatory framework.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I welcome the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 and commend the Minister of State on bringing this important legislation before the House. As she mentioned, this legislation is important and necessary to ensure that Ireland meets its obligations in overseeing the development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems. The Bill is a national implementation measure that will establish the AI office; provide market surveillance authorities, MSAs, with powers to supervise, investigate and enforce compliance; introduce a general administrative sanctions framework; and enable certain regulators, including the Central Bank and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, to use existing sanctions regimes.”
“I have to get a horrible root canal procedure done and I have received two text messages this week to remind me to go there tomorrow. We are all used to getting these reminders and it is something normal. I thank the Minister of State for being here and I thank the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for her work in this space. I am delighted that there will be an opt-in service so that people will be reminded about their passports from next year onwards. That is great news.”
“I thank the Minister of State and I also thank a friend of mine, Philip Quinlan, who brought this to my attention. I am really delighted to see that we are going to have an opt-in service for passports starting next year, which is my understanding of what the Minister of State just said. Therefore, there will be an opt-in. I take the point that people might change address or contact details within ten years and possibly there could be something going forward. It seems we are being encouraged to log into the mygov.ie system and maybe passports could be linked in there in the future. We are being encouraged to go in there and complete surveys and do lots of different things. Maybe that could be a way of reminding people. We are used to getting reminders from doctors now.”
“It is a practical and low-cost initiative that would improve customer service and help to prevent avoidable disruption for families, business travellers, students and older people visiting loved ones abroad. I therefore ask the Minister to examine the feasibility of introducing an opt-in passport reminder service and engage with the passport service on how long it would take to implement such a system. Sometimes the simplest changes have the greatest impact and I believe this one of those occasions.”
“Other countries, including I think America, have an opt-in text service to let people know when their password is about to expire. The Department already holds the contact details for passport applications, which are submitted when people apply. An automated voluntary reminder issued six months or even a year before a passport expires should not be a big thing to implement. It seems like a no-brainer. It would encourage timely renewals, reduce the number of emergency applications and give people peace of mind before travelling. I imagine it would save a lot of headaches for the people working in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”
“Many countries now require passports to have at least six months' validity beyond the date of travel. People often assume that because the expiry date has not yet passed, they are free to travel but unfortunately that is not always the case and many discover this when it is too late. The result can be cancelled holidays, missed family occasions, lost business opportunities and thousands of euro in non-refundable flights and accommodation. The passport service in Ireland is rightly regarded as one of the most efficient and best passport services in the world, turning over thousands of passports every year. We literally know the people in the Passport Office on a first name basis, given the number of calls we make to them.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important Commencement matter and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to the House. I have a simple request that will help thousands of people. Will the Minister or the Department consider introducing an opt-in text message and email reminder service to notify passport holders when their passports are about to expire? The issue of passports going out of date has a very real impact on thousands of people every year. We have all heard stories from constituents who have spent months planning and saving for a family holiday only to arrive at the airport and discover that a passport has expired or just as importantly does not have sufficient validity remaining for travel to the destination, or else they figure this out a day or two before their holiday.”
“Over the last year, our cross-party group has worked really hard with organisations like the Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin, and with the Department of enterprise and the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, to try to introduce pregnancy loss leave in the workplace. On behalf of our cross-party group, particularly Senator Nicole Ryan and myself, I am absolutely thrilled to be able to say that the Minister is bringing to Cabinet proposals on miscarriage leave for the women in Ireland who suffer miscarriages. Believe me, this has not come a day too soon. In fact, many women in Ireland have been looking for it for a very long time. It is very positive and welcome news. I really look forward to hearing how the proposals will proceed after being presented to Cabinet.”
“One in four pregnancies ends in loss. The grieving process is completely different for everybody and affects people in completely different ways. At present, no leave is provided for under Irish law for those who suffer miscarriage. Instead, people use sick leave to take time off work. The Irish Government published a report on pregnancy loss in January 2024. This highlighted the prevalence of pregnancy loss under 24 weeks and noted that, as I said, pregnancy loss affects approximately one in four. It also noted that the majority of women of reproductive age are in paid employment. The report therefore emphasised the importance of the workplace in pregnancy loss experiences.”
“I will read a quote I have read here before: "There is a unique pain that comes from preparing a place in your heart for a child that never comes." I am chair of the cross-party group on pregnancy and infant loss, having taken over from Senator Nicole Ryan, who is on maternity leave. The cross-party group is made up of people from various parties who have come together because they appreciate the ache felt by the thousands of women across Ireland who experience miscarriage. Senators Tom Clonan and Evanne Ní Chuilinn are members of the group, along with Senator Ryan and myself. Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, is often not openly discussed due to a combination of factors, including societal discomfort, lack of language to express grief, fear of saying the wrong thing and the belief that sharing the news will somehow lessen the pain.”
“Let us take this important step together for a fairer and more compassionate society. I want to say this to everyone, including my two brothers, Alan and Paul, who have bravely fought cancer, to my beautiful friend, Amanda, who battled through her journey, and to Aideen, who would not let her cancer define her: we do not know how strong we are until being strong is the only choice we have.”
“Regarding public health outcomes, with the encouragement of home stability and with better access to mortgage protection insurance, cancer survivors may be more likely to maintain stable housing, which is a crucial factor for recovery and overall well-being. The Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 is poised to greatly enhance the ability of cancer survivors to obtain mortgage protection insurance, leading to improved financial security, reduced stress and healthier communities overall. This represents a significant step forward in creating a more inclusive and equitable insurance landscape. By enacting this Bill, we affirm our commitment to inclusivity and support for those who have bravely faced this disease.”
“It will provide financial security, as it will give protection to families. With the disregard of specific medical histories, survivors may get lower premiums compared to traditional policies that factor in their medical background. This will make mortgage protection insurance more affordable. The psychological relief has to be one of the biggest things, which results in reduced stress. Knowing that they can secure the necessary mortgage protection insurance provides peace of mind for cancer survivors. They can focus on recovery and rebuilding their lives without the constant worry of financial instability related to their housing. The Bill empowers cancer survivors by affirming their right to essential financial products without stigma. It fosters a sense of agency for people in their post-cancer lives.”
“For many oncologists, this timeframe is a crucial marker because a cancer that does not return within five years is significantly less likely to ever recur. The Bill empowers those affected by cancer to move forward with confidence, knowing that they can protect their investments and provide for their loved ones. Additionally, enacting this Bill can have a broader implication for our healthcare system. By facilitating access to mortgage protection insurance, we enable cancer survivors to focus on their recovery without the added stress of financial uncertainty. This proactive approach not only supports individual well-being but also contributes to healthier communities overall. The Bill will ensure increased accessibility. With the elimination of barriers, cancer survivors will find it easier to obtain mortgage protection insurance.”
“Home ownership is a cornerstone of financial security and when individuals are unable to obtain mortgage protection insurance due to their medical history, it puts their homes and families at risk. On Monday, I spoke to a lady named Emer from my constituency. She is now five years with the all-clear on her cancer diagnosis. Imagine hearing those words, "All clear." Achieving the five-year cancer-free milestone is one of the most profound and emotional moments a patient or their family can ever experience. Emer rang to say that she really needed this Bill to be enacted quickly. She is ready to buy a house with her partner for her and her family. However, when she got quotes, she was facing €600 per month for mortgage protection. That is ten times the amount she will have to pay when this Bill gets enacted.”
“This legislation specifically focuses on the right to disregard cancer-related medical histories in the context of mortgage protection insurance and its enactment is vital for several reasons. First and foremost, this Bill promotes equity for individuals who have faced the challenges of cancer. Historically, those with a cancer diagnosis have faced significant barriers in obtaining mortgage protection insurance. This often results in exorbitant premiums or denial of coverage altogether. By allowing the disregard of certain cancer-related medical histories, we are ensuring that these individuals can secure the necessary financial protection for their homes and families, irrespective of their past health struggles. Second, this legislation enhances financial stability for families.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here to go through this Bill. I am very sorry about his siblings. I did not know that and I thank the Minister of State for sharing that with us. I want to address the critical importance of the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which was formerly known as the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025. The 2025 programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, committed to legislate for a right to be forgotten for cancer survivors. Originally introduced as a Private Members' Bill by the now Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, the Bill sought to legislate for a right to be forgotten for cancer survivors and the prevention of financial providers from discriminating against individuals who had completed treatment more than five years previously.”
“These are the centres in Cork, Navan and Carlow, which are seeing the biggest increases in Alzheimer's cases. Senator Rabbitte would know all about this from her time working in disability services. The organisation has big asks in what it is looking for in the budget, and I encourage the Leader to write to the Minister to express that the amount of cases each year is growing by 3%. In many cases, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are linked to Parkinson's, in which respect we spoke last week about the need for an increased budget. Will the Leader write a letter to the Minister for Health about this matter to see what we can do to help, particularly the Whistlemount Day Care Centre in Navan, County Meath?”
“Sometimes, I believe that things happen for a reason. On my way to Leinster House today, I spoke to a friend of mine who talked about the struggles of dealing with a parent with Alzheimer's disease and how difficult it was for the family and, obviously, the person with dementia, who had worked all their lives, to adjust to the situation. This morning, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland gave a fantastic presentation over in Buswell's Hotel on what it was looking for in the budget. I was drawn to the fact it was looking to expand capacity at existing day care centres. One such centre that badly needs extra resources and money is the Alzheimer's day care centre in Navan, in Whistlemount on the Kells Road. An increase of just €100,000 in the budget will help three day care centres across Ireland.”
“I want to highlight how important the service is, and if people like it could get multi-annual funding, that would be fantastic.”
“FirstLight gets its funding from Tusla, the HSE and Pobal. Last year, it had to deal with five suicides of children under the age of 15. It is an organisation that helps people with the loss of children up to the age of 18. Suicide has become a big part of that. A figure of 64% of what FirstLight deals with is neonatal while the rest is sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, suicide and loss of babies. What FirstLight is struggling with is that it does not have multi-annual funding. It does not know from year to year whether funding is going to be there to continue the service, which is obviously vital. I want to encourage this. I have hooked up with the Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and her adviser to get a meeting between FirstLight and the Minister.”
“I have just come from a meeting this morning with my colleague, Senator Ní Chuilinn. We met with representatives from FirstLight and Féileacáin. I would like to highlight the work done by both. I am familiar with Féileacáin, its memory boxes and the support it gives to bereaved families because of the death of a baby during or after pregnancy. It is amazing. It comes with first-hand experience of this. One of the ladies we met today, Mairie Cregan, was one of the seven people who set up Féileacáin. It was amazing to listen to her story. People would have known FirstLight as the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association in the past. The representatives spoke about the fact that FirstLight had 293 cases last year and had seen a 20% increase year on year in its services. It offers one-to-one counselling.”
“I wish Senator Ahearn massive congratulations. I was delighted to speak to him over the weekend. As Senator Ní Chuilinn said, we have heard so much about his mam and his beautiful family. I am sure they are all so proud. I wish him the best of luck for the next year and a half. There are a couple of things about which I want to speak. I was very proud to be in Navan over the weekend. We had the Midsummer Festival until 21 June, which was fantastic. It is the first time we have grabbed a festival and ran with it really well. I would like to thank Meath County Council for that and for helping with the funding and, obviously, the organisers, who are amazing people. It was wonderful to go around. NeuroFest was another massive festival, with 700 tickets sold. It is a festival for people with neurodivergence. It was really great to see that.”
“They want to be able to listen to local news regularly on their radios and not always have to tune into something on a smartphone or a smart device. This needs a bigger conversation. The last thing we need to see is local, good radio stations like LMFM being threatened into not being able to survive in the future and cutting jobs because of the pressures they are under due to costs and different people getting news in different ways. Just as we support our local newspapers, we need to support our local radio stations as well, particularly LMFM.”
“I wish to give a shout-out to the Adrian Kennedy show with Katie and the lunch time show with Gerry and Louise. My own mam and dad, who are not with us anymore, had LMFM on every morning without fail. That is where they got a lot of their local news. It is also where they got the death notices, which are really important to people who cannot access them somewhere else. My mam and dad never would have been able to use smartphones and there are still so many people who cannot use them. We are expected now to be an ultra-modern IT country that can access everything online, and we cannot. It is the same as Senator Kennelly talking about sport being online and big GAA matches. People just want to be able to watch it regularly on their TVs.”
“I wish to raise the topic of local radio stations around the country. It has been brought up here previously. I cannot express the importance of having a radio station like LMFM in our community enough. The staff call themselves the voice of the north-east. They reach up to 300,000 people on a daily basis. What has happened with local radio stations over the past month is that we have learnt that there are going to be lots of job losses and directors of different stations, like LMFM, will not be there in the future. I fear for how we will get local news and hear about community events if this is what happening to local radio stations. LMFM provides amazing GAA coverage, strong local journalism and champions local communities. It gives the north-east its own voice. It supports local businesses.”
“The infrastructure is needed there when it comes to water, the ESB and everything that surrounds helping to get these houses built and to unlock the lands and the surrounding areas by building bridges and whatever else needs to be done. I very much welcome this. Today is a very positive day for all the counties.”
“I am heading to Trim Haymaking Festival next weekend as well. I know there is €1 million distributed annually but there can always be room for more, especially for these shows that are so important to rural communities. I congratulate everybody involved in the Ballivor show. It went on for two days. I wish the best of luck to the people in the Trim haymaking show this weekend. The second issue I want to mention is the housing infrastructure investment fund for my county. I think every county got massive news today, but in Meath, we got five projects over the line, to the value of about €70 million. Together, all the projects will directly unlock capacity for about 2,275 homes and indirectly support a further 2,705, so roughly 4,980 homes in total. There is an €862 million budget nationally, and it is fantastic to see this.”