Louis O'Hara
Galway East · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“There are significant concerns about the reform that is being proposed to have CAP sit alongside a range of other policy areas. In particular under the Commission's proposal, CAP funding for Ireland would be cut by over 20%.”
“Absolutely, and that is why it is critical we get a fair allocation. In particular, the future of CAP will have a significant influence on how EU member states can support young farmers. Last year, the Department of agriculture published a report from the commission on generational renewal in farming.”
“No parent should have to worry about what will happen to their child when they can no longer provide care for them, yet years of underfunding and a failure to plan has left our residential support system in crisis and families are left carrying the responsibility even as parents themselves age into their 70s, 80s and beyond.”
“Adults with intellectual disabilities have the same right as every other citizen to live with dignity, safety and independence and the Government has a legal and moral obligation to provide these services. There are so many basic things we are not getting right.”
“I raise the case of a constituent in County Galway who has experienced lifelong difficulties and trauma as a result of historical abuse at the hands of a member of the Christian Brothers who was his primary school teacher. The individual who carried out the abuse has since been convicted.”
“They cannot just be uprooted into an emergency placement down the line. The parents need to be there for the transition to ensure that it works properly and does not cause challenges for that person or, indeed, those who will be caring for them.”
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“I have been contacted by constituents who work in the ambulance service locally who asked me to request a rapid response vehicle at Tuam ambulance base. These workers are telling me they are under pressure. They are dealing with a very high volume of calls and they need more cover. The crews in Tuam cover a vast area across north and east Galway and south Mayo. The introduction of a second ambulance on a 24-7 basis in Tuam last year demonstrates the high volume of calls in the area and the need for this vehicle. The figures I have received show Tuam ambulance base responded to 3,578 calls in 2023, 5,297 calls in 2024 and 3,735 calls between January and August of this year. The local staff have told me they are never at the ambulance base because they are constantly out on calls.”
“If at all possible, will the Minister take a look at this particular case and possibly engage with the Department on awarding the medal to this particular individual?”
“While I appreciate the Minister's response, I find it frustrating because I know Michael Morrissey has submitted a number of applications. The evidence is clear that Patrick was a member of the Irish Volunteers and the IRA. It is very frustrating for the family. These medals are cherished possessions for the families who have them. It is really important to them that the efforts of their family member are properly recognised. Patrick Morrissey passed away in 1962. He had no direct next of kin. Michael Morrissey has made significant efforts in this regard. Will the Minister take a look at this case? I am happy to send on the full details submitted by Michael on a number of occasions. I feel he has been very hard done by in this case. It is really important to him that this is properly recognised.”
“Michael has attempted a number of times to apply for a medal with the evidence he has collated to date but, due mainly to the passing of time, this has not been accepted. Will the Department engage with Michael on this application and ensure that, in some way, Patrick's service can be recognised?”
“The individual in question is Patrick Morrissey of Athenry. Patrick joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1907. He later joined the Irish Volunteers in Athenry in 1914. Athenry was one of the main focal points of the 1916 Rising outside of Dublin. Patrick played a key role locally in that. He was subsequently imprisoned in Kilmainham and then in Wales. He was active once again during the War of Independence as part of the Derrydonnell brigade of the IRA. One of his relatives, Michael Morrissey, has conducted extensive research into the role Patrick played in the Rising, the 1918 election and the War of Independence. There is a lot of supporting documentation, books and different sources on his active role in the Army.”
“What is the process for the awarding of historical IRA medals to families of volunteers? I raise the case of Patrick Morrissey from Athenry, County Galway, with the Minister. I will come back to that in my later contribution.”
“It is unforgivable to target the most vulnerable in our society. We are talking about tens of thousands of people, including people with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, facing additional charges of up to €50 per month for these packs. This issue may have been delayed by three months, but there is no certainty thereafter. The Minister needs to commit now to continuing this vital service and ensuring that these packs are provided free of charge into the future. She needs to do the right thing.”
“She said that the risk of error by omission or overdose can have dangerous consequences and that this is another example of Government short-sightedness. Another professional, who works in community mental health, wrote to me to say that what this measure will do is alarming. My correspondent stated that there is a significant risk of the people they care for administering the incorrect doses, becoming unwell and needing to attend an accident and emergency department. They said that this is the last thing that a person with mental health challenges needs to deal with. This is an outrageous decision that will impact the most vulnerable in society. Nobody should be priced out of safe medicine management, but that is what will happen if the Minister does not see sense. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”
“As the Minister well knows, blister packs are a medical necessity for many vulnerable people. They ensure that people can independently administer their own medications, reduce the risk of dose errors and avoid unnecessary hospitalisations. The cruel decision to withdraw the reimbursement of blister packs has caused deep anxiety, with many people receiving letters outlining that they will have to start paying to maintain this essential service. Many constituents have been in touch with me to outline their concerns, and their testimonies capture the scale of this issue. One woman wrote to tell me that this initiative makes no sense to her, as a nurse. She said that the elderly and vulnerable patients for whom she cares are most often taking multiple medications that need to be given in the correct dose at the correct time.”
“I ask the Minister of State to comment on the opening season for the castle. It is a missed opportunity that from November to March it is closed. There is a lot of great work going on locally. Galway County Council has plans for a heritage trail, heritage event spaces and a River Clarin walkway. Great efforts are being made to enhance our tourism offering but we need all the stakeholders coming together to push this forward and the OPW is an important part of it.”
“I want to acknowledge the work of the OPW locally as well. The Minister of State mentioned the number of visitors visiting the sites. I had a parliamentary question recently and the response told me that in the region of 15,000 people visit Athenry Castle every year. That paints an overall picture for the number of visitors coming to the town but the same number of people would visit Galway city or Connemara on one weekend. We can do a lot better in Athenry in terms of the number of people visiting. I take the Minister of State's point about safety and maintenance of the structure and so on. However, I would ask that a particular effort be made around the promotion of that service being available to people, in that they can access this site because it is an iconic landmark, as I mentioned.”
“As I mentioned, the castle is closed now for the winter season until March. While I understand that access can be facilitated to the priory, there is a need to give a lot of notice. Also, I do not think there is a broad awareness among people who are visiting Athenry that there is the option to visit the priory. I ask the Minister of State to engage with the OPW on the opening arrangements for these sites and the promotion of these sites more broadly, which is a challenge.”
“As I am sure the Minister of State knows, Athenry is a heritage town. Within the town, we have a lot of really iconic landmarks and attractions, including the castle and the priory, which are under the remit of the OPW, but also the likes of the heritage centre and the town walls. There is incredible history in the town, and I think it is fair to say that there is a lot of frustration locally that we are being undersold in terms of our status as a heritage town and our tourism potential. We definitely have not reached our full potential for a town with such great heritage and history. There is a lot of great work going on locally to try to address that and I will come back to that. However, that some of our greatest assets are closed to the public is a major challenge.”
“I want to ask the Minister if public access can be facilitated at the Dominican Priory in Athenry and also if consideration can be given to extending the opening season of Athenry Castle. It is closed now until March and it is a missed opportunity for the town.”
“The local authority does not have this money and has not budgeted for it. When we talked about accelerating delivery, this issue needs to be sorted. It is a major barrier and needs to be taken out of the way to ensure delivery. Can the Minister commit to removing this co-funding requirement to ensure these projects can be delivered in a timely manner?”
“Regarding wastewater infrastructure in Craughwell and Clarinbridge in County Galway, funding was announced three years ago for the provision of wastewater infrastructure in those villages. This was very important for the delivery of housing and I raised this before with the Minister at the infrastructure committee. Since then, that project has been at a standstill. In recent weeks, Government TDs welcomed an increase of several million euro in the allocation of funding for this project. However, the only reason this is needed is because the project has stood still and costs have increased in the meantime. The greatest barrier to delivery of this project is the 15% co-funding allocation expected of local authorities for such projects. That means Galway County Council would be expected to make a contribution of approximately €5 million.”
“We all understand and support the development of renewable energy but the Government needs to get a grip on the situation. Protect communities and get guidelines in place as soon as possible.”
“Neighbours and families are falling out with one another over land and access. My fear is that this will end up like the wind energy guidelines saga whereby the Government put a commitment in place for guidelines but the matter drags on for years and the can keeps being kicked down the road. Ultimately, communities are left facing these developments with no protections in place whatsoever. The Government's performance when it comes to the wind energy guidelines certainly does not inspire confidence in how it will deal with this issue. There is a similar issue around solar energy developments. It is my firm view that the Government is failing communities with the absence of a plan-led approach to such developments. Communities have genuine concerns. They are reasonable and just want clarity on the key questions they have.”
“The Minister of State said the scoping exercise for the guidelines and the land use review are under way. Can we get clarity on the timelines for the finalisation of those exercises? That was missing from the response. These applications are coming thick and fast across the State. We know these companies have their sights set on expanding their operations where it is profitable for them to do so and where they can get access to land. That is why it is important that the can is not continually kicked down the road. If possible, will the Minister of State provide timelines for all of this? When it comes to large-scale developments, the social fabric of communities also needs to be considered, which I also ask the Minister of State to acknowledge. These projects are proving very divisive in communities.”
“I recognise the importance of meeting our renewable energy targets but climate action cannot be delivered by corporate land grabs that destroy rural social fabric and undermine our food security. I am calling on Government to end the unacceptable delay in bringing forward specific planning guidelines on solar energy developments. We need guidelines that will protect communities, ensure appropriate land use, ensure safety, and ensure proper set-back distances and real community consultation. If the Government is serious about a just transition, it will introduce these protections immediately. If the Government fails to act, it is endorsing the industrialisation of rural Ireland one community at a time. The people I represent and people right across rural Ireland deserve better than to be sacrificed for corporate profit.”
“The reality is that the concerns being expressed by local people are not being taken into account and the questions they have are not being answered. The core of this problem is the legislative vacuum the Government continues to tolerate. Due to the lack of clear mandatory national guidelines on solar development, the system is rigged in favour of developers. Our countryside is like the wild west at present. It is open season for these developers to come in, to land these proposals right on top of homes and to change local communities beyond recognition with no real input from the people who live in those communities. These people are being treated with contempt and it is completely unacceptable. I am fully committed to climate action.”
“People have serious concerns around safety, health and well-being, the impact on their homes, property values, the quality of life, the local landscape and environment, whether their children will be able to build there in the future, what the future of farming will look like in the area - this is prime agricultural land that has been taken up - where all of this end, whether the developers will keep expanding and whether vast swathes of the countryside will ultimately covered in these farms. There has been no clarity provided to people on these issues. There was no public consultation initially in terms of the Ballymoneen development. The consultation for the Belleville development was seriously lacking. Most people were uninformed.”
“Belleville in Monivea and Abbeyknockmoy. In Grange and Gregmore, the Ballymoneen solar project, also led by PCRE, is currently under construction. I am from the local area. The construction has caused enormous disruption locally between damage to roads, road closures, noise and consistent breaches of planning conditions. Local residents have been informed in recent days that the developer now intends to expand the development and it has a number of new sites identified locally.”
“This is a small rural community that would be left totally unrecognisable should the development go ahead in its current form.”
“In my constituency, we have a huge number of energy developments at various stages of planning and development, between wind energy, solar farms, gas plants, etc. These are causing a lot of concern. I have raised this previously. It is important for me to say at the outset that my constituents are not against renewable energy. They fully understand the importance of energy security but they want it to be done right. Today I am glad to get the opportunity to focus on solar energy developments, including battery energy storage, in two projects, in particular, that have brought to my attention by my constituents. In Monivea and Abbeyknockmoy, the proposed Belleville solar project, led by Power Capital Renewable Energy, PCRE, is planned to cover approximately 1,000 acres within the community across multiple different sites.”
“Whether the Minister wishes to acknowledge it or not, a cost-of-living crisis is happening. He needs to wake up to this reality, provide supports in the here and now, help people to get through this winter and tackle companies that are ripping people off.”
“As well as having their energy credits pulled, households are hit. Once again, Energia, SSE Airtricity, Pinergy, Bord Gáis Energy and Flogas are all imposing fresh price hikes, with energy companies refusing to pass on the full reductions in wholesale costs. The Minister refuses to take on the energy companies, to empower the regulator or to reform hedging prices, the pricing system, the PSO or network charges. It is time for the Minister to act and intervene on behalf of customers who are being ripped off. In recent weeks, we have heard of the cost of home heating oil shooting up by €80. We know the cost of driving continues to be very high, which is an absolute necessity for people in rural Ireland. Yet the Government continues to proceed with carbon tax increases that will continue to push these costs up in the months and years ahead.”
“This decision flies in the face of the Government's national energy affordability task force. Its interim report detailed the critical impact that energy credits played in supporting households. Today, our colleague, Lynn Boylan, MEP, has uncovered that the decision to remove energy credits was also made despite evidence from the Minister's own officials, who noted that the case for energy credits was stronger this year than last, that households would have to find an extra €321 to cover energy costs and that an energy scheme for struggling households was shelved. How can this be justified? This decision not to support families and households was a political choice. Realistically, the only difference between this year and last is that last year we had a general election on the horizon.”
“Ireland's energy bills are among the highest in Europe. Households across the State see their bills continue to rise and have to balance paying their bills, keeping a roof over their heads and putting food on the table. Sometimes this balancing act is simply not possible. I meet people across my constituency forced to make the most difficult of decisions. Families are forced to choose which essentials they must do without to stay on top of bills. We are seeing record levels of energy arrears. There are now over 300,000 households in arrears on their energy bills. Despite this trend of rising energy costs, rising energy arrears and rising energy poverty, Government refused to include energy credits or a broader cost-of-living package in this year's budget.”
“We continue to see grandstanding from Government TDs slamming the very same Government they are part of. It is time for the Government to stop abdicating its responsibilities, step up to the plate, stop hiding and get new guidelines in place.”
“We do not have solar guidelines. There are also large gas plants proposed, and it is the same story for communities in Athenry and Portumna. Sinn Féin has continuously demanded and campaigned for the Government to produce guidelines that would ensure these developments were not landed on top of people's homes. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and, in particular, the former regional Independents, who were some the loudest critics of this in the previous Dáil but seem to have gone silent now, cannot continue to let everybody down. The Government is going to kick this to touch for 12 months. Obviously, there are flaws in the Bill, and Deputy Stanley has acknowledged this, but my fear is we will continue to hear excuses as to why new guidelines are not being brought forward. How many years has it been? It is almost 20 years since the 2006 guidelines.”
“It is important to say they are in favour of renewable energy but they want to see it done right. The Government has done nothing. It has sat on its hands for years. The failure to bring forward updated guidelines to protect communities has been shameful. We do not have adequate setback distances, noise protection, environmental protection or consultation. The Government has allowed a developer-led free for all, whereby they can land these developments wherever they want with no regard whatsoever for local communities. There is no meaningful consultation, engagement or consideration for the impact on the communities that will have to live with these developments. It is an absolute dereliction of duty by the Government. It is the same with solar energy. There is a very large project in Monivea and Abbeyknockmoy in my constituency.”
“In my constituency, and particularly in the north Galway area, we are facing a tsunami of wind energy developments. These are in communities such as Killimordaly, Clonberne, Barnaderg, Shancloon and Laurclavagh to name but a few, and there would be in excess of 150 turbines if all of the various projects at various stages of development go ahead. It is safe to say that north County Galway would be totally unrecognisable if this were allowed to happen. These are turbines that are 185 m high. The 2006 wind energy guidelines were brought forward when turbines were a fraction of that size. They are totally out of date and do not protect communities from these industrial-sized developments. My constituents are having their lives turned upside down with these developments being landed on their doorsteps.”
“There is very little housing and the local school needs improved facilities. The boardwalk has been held up for a very long time. Our Government needs to start delivering for Kinvara. I ask the Government and the Minister of State to stop the excuses and deflection and to give Galway County Council the capital funding it requires to bring Dunguaire Castle back into use.”
“They have a specific request for €5 million. They have put together a strong business case. The ball is in the Government's court. It needs to step up to the plate. This is a huge blow to Kinvara. It is very damaging to our tourism reputation locally. The question that people in Kinvara and across County Galway have is why funding can be made available to other local authorities to allow them to take control of the Shannon group's heritage assets but not to Galway County Council. It is absolutely outrageous. Our local authority is totally underfunded as it is. This is a further insult to the people of County Galway. People in Kinvara feel neglected in the context of the castle. They have been waiting for years for road safety improvements, including very basic things such as pedestrian crossings.”
“I cannot emphasise enough that this castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark and it cannot be left closed any longer. The Government has to recognise the importance of this site to the local community in terms of heritage, tourism and employment. When the Minister of State talks about grant schemes in the region of €50,000, €100,000 or €200,000, those are going to come nowhere near meeting the cost of what is required. The Minister of State's response is not based in reality. She said there was no voted funding stream available from the Department. That is absolute rubbish. The Government can get these things done if it wants to. That is the reality and people know it. The Minister of State's response is very disappointing. Representatives of Galway County Council will meet the Department in the coming weeks.”
“Providing the funding to Galway County Council is not an expense; it would be an investment in Kinvara - in local jobs and businesses, tourism and preservation of a heritage site. Can the Minister of State give a commitment today that the necessary funding to reopen Dunguaire Castle will be provided to Galway County Council?”
“The fact is that Galway County Council is willing to take ownership of this castle from the Shannon Group, and wants to do so, but requires significant funding to bring the castle up to a safe standard. The council has gone to the Government with a request for the necessary funding but so far it has been turned down. There have been rubbish excuses from Government about there being no specific funding stream available from any of the Departments. The reality is that when Clare and Limerick county councils were acquiring sites from the Shannon Group, they received significant support from Government. In the case of Clare County Council, it received €6 million. Why then are the people of Kinvara and County Galway being treated as second-class citizens in this regard? Why is one of our most cherished heritage assets being left to crumble?”
“Dunguaire Castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark in Kinvara on the Wild Atlantic Way. However, it remains closed off to the public and stuck in limbo. The castle was a real asset and a significant benefit to the community. Its continued closure is a real missed opportunity for the village of Kinvara and the region as a whole. The castle is on the edge of the village, within walking distance from it. Its closure is most definitely impacting on footfall in Kinvara. Throughout the summer months, and even today, we have busloads of tourists driving past the site and they can stop and take photos but that is it. They cannot enter. In the past there were tours, banquets, performances and so on. It really enhanced the tourism offering of the local area and provided a lot of employment.”
“I ask the Minister of State to comment on the streamlining of the various apps that exist to make it an easier experience for commuters. In addition, making a virtual Leap card available would be a major step forward in making the public transport system more user-friendly. The Leap card was first launched in 2011, for the Dublin area, and 14 years on, there is still no digital or virtual version available. Such digital cards exist in many cities around the world. They include the Clipper card in San Francisco and the Presto card in Toronto. Are there plans as part of this to develop a digital or virtual Leap card? Is there any timeline for same?”
“Clearly, there is a need to amalgamate some of these apps to make getting public transport a more user-friendly and accessible experience. Are there are any plans to streamline these apps? Does the Minister of State intend to engage with the NTA on this?”
“It is disappointing to hear that this important development will not be rolled out for a number of years. As the Minister of State said, many other countries have had contactless payment options rolled out for years. However, we are still waiting for a trial run for the Dublin bus network, never mind elsewhere in the State. It is reflective of the wider failure of the current and previous Governments to keep up with technological advances. Another example of this is that TFI currently has five different smartphone apps for different public transport services, including a journey planner app, a Leap card top-up app, a taxi driver database app, an app for public transport tickets and an app for local services in certain parts of the State.”
“Can clarity be provided on how much of next year's PSO funding allocation will be used to address the existing funding gap and maintaining existing services? Will the Minister of State provide a breakdown of that, if possible? PSO funding constraints are causing difficulties in the roll-out of services. We know that from our constituency as well. For example, Athenry has been waiting a long time for a bus service. The risk here is that if the PSO funding is not adequate, we will not have a roll-out of services and we could see existing services cease or fares increase for commuters. This also comes at a time when Bus Éireann is considering the viability of many of its Expressway bus routes. Has the Minister of State or the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, met Bus Éireann management regarding the Expressway route feasibility review?”
“Will the Minister of State outline how much of the PSO funding allocated in the budget will be used to maintain existing levels of service, including the current fare reductions and existing public transport services?”
“Capital investment is badly needed to expand the availability and quality of public transport services. I look forward to seeing the planned projects. It is critical that works commence on the various infrastructure projects that are badly needed. For the day-to-day running of our public transport system, PSO funding is important, particularly for bus routes. Before the budget, we heard a funding gap existed between PSO funding and the funding needed for existing services and that this gap could have ranged up to €250 million. Will the Minister of State clarify if this gap still exists and whether the NDP will need to be dipped into in this regard? The funding was increased in the budget but there was no breakdown of how much would be eaten up by existing services.”
“Will the Minister of State provide an update on the development of his Department's sectoral investment plan following the national development plan review? Is there a date for the publication of this plan?”
“The Government must not allow Irish farmers to be undercut by South American imports, it must not allow Irish farmers to be sacrificed for the sake of German car manufacturers, and it must not allow the EU to undermine Irish agriculture yet again. Therefore, it is time for it to get off the fence. I call on it to protect Irish agriculture and reject this deal outright.”
“As my colleagues have said, the reality is that farmers in South American countries do not face the same strict animal welfare, traceability and environmental standards that Irish farmers face, and now we face the prospect of high-quality Irish produce being replaced by inferior products. Any Government proposal to support this deal makes a mockery of its own regulations if it is going to allow the importation of beef from countries where there is not even tagging of many cattle, let alone anything else in the form of traceability. The Minister, when he was here, said that he had concerns about the deal, but he still could not say that he was opposed to it or that the Government will reject it. That is cowardly and unacceptable. This is a bad deal for Irish farmers.”
“Irish farmers produce some of the finest food products in the world, from our well-renowned grass-fed beef and high-quality milk products to our tillage sector produce. Irish farmers are world leaders on animal welfare and food production standards. The farming sector faces many threats, including generational renewal, the loss of the nitrates derogation and farm viability. However, the Mercosur trade deal represents a direct threat to the European export market, which many farm livelihoods depend on. In 2024, Irish farm product exports to EU countries were valued at almost €5.9 billion and accounted for 35% of all Irish food and drink exports. With Mercosur, this export market is at risk of being flooded with cheaper, poor-quality products from South American countries.”
“These increases are punishing people in my constituency and across the State just for going about their daily lives. They have no alternative, but they have to face increased carbon taxes, fuel prices and car insurance costs. All of these increases add up to a significant proportion of a household's income. It is clear that the Government does not understand the impact that these decisions are having and has no intention of standing up for ordinary workers and families. This motion is an opportunity for the Government to end the rip-off in motor costs. Instead, it is going to sit on its hands while the cost of petrol and diesel continues to rise, it increases the carbon tax and it fails to stand up against insurance companies. We are providing the Government with the tools to lower the cost of driving for households.”