Mairéad Farrell
Galway West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Working people, whether unionist, nationalist or other, have been failed by partition because at the end of the day, a Westminster Parliament is making decisions on behalf of their communities. Irish unity has really got the potential to deliver for all of our communities, including those communities.”
“Is í an cheist ná céard go díreach atá chun tarlú anois. Cad iad na chéad céimeanna eile? Thug mé cuairt ar an scoil Dé hAoine seo chaite agus chonaic mé nach bhfuil go leor spáis inti. Tá sé le feiceáil go soiléir go bhfuil na ranganna riachtanais speisialta agus, ar ndóigh, an seomra ranga breise ag teastáil go géar.”
“Ar mhaithe le soiléiriú iomlán, ón méid a thuigim, bhí maoiniú curtha ar fáil don tionscnamh seo. Is léir go bhfuil sé seo ag teastáil. Cuirfidh mé chomhthéacs air seo. Is scoil bheag í seo i mBéal an Daingin, ach is scoil láidir í. Tagann daoine ó cheantair éagsúla chun a gcuid páistí a chur chuig an scoil seo.”
“I really welcome the decision by the Tánaiste and the Government to have these statements on the fiscal implications of a united Ireland. It is crucial that we continue with debates of this type.”
“That needs to change in the context of this debate because we are talking about a new and united Ireland that will include a new and different perspective on the opportunities that we see for us all from an economic perspective when it comes to a united Ireland When we are planning for this, we need to look at that in terms of the economi…”
“Without proper planning and preparation for Irish unity, we completely and utterly risk missing this seismic opportunity we have to create a new economy and seize this historic opportunity. It is absolutely essential that we begin preparations now.”
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“Resulting from this legislation, which super junior Minister will now be paid the salary of a junior Minister that they were not paid up to this point? That is outrageous and it is why I am opposing this section. The Opposition collectively submitted numerous amendments to this legislation because we think it is outrageous, should not happen and the Government is just trying to get this pushed through in a matter of two hours without much debate.”
“A Cheann Comhairle, as you will see, there is a note that I have opposed this section. I oppose it for all the reasons outlined by all the Opposition parties together in the last hour or so. It is outrageous that the first act of this Government is to increase the number of super junior and junior Ministers. This is at a time when many of our constituents have had two weeks without electricity, then more weeks without broadband and with no end in sight. The first thing the Government and the Minister have done is to increase the number of jobs for the boys. Of course, the number of super junior Ministers is being increased from three to four. This legislation will mean that all four of these super junior Ministers will get the pay that super juniors are awarded.”
“There is an old saying that when something cannot go on forever, it stops. We must stop what is happening. We will be opposing this legislation even if our amendments have been ruled out of order for questionable reasons. The fact that all Stages of this Bill are being taken in just a few hours on the same day and that Opposition amendments are not being countenanced brings into question our democratic values.”
“It is clear that if this Bill is accepted and the number of Ministers of State is increased to 23 and the number of super junior Ministers is increased to four, what is to stop that happening again in five years' time? What will we do then? Could we find ourselves in 2030 looking at a situation where there is a similar Bill to increase the number of junior ministers from 23 to 30 and the number of super juniors are increased to ten? The fact is that if this goes through there will be nothing to stop a repeat performance in five years' time and again five years after that. The role of Minister of State and the questionable concept of super junior Ministers will not be seen as meaningful institutions of public office, rather, they will be reduced to political bargaining chips and the outcome of coalition talks.”
“There is an important article in relation to this matter, Article 26.1.1°, which states that in the case of any Bill, other than a Money Bill or a Bill proposing to amend the Constitution: The President may, after consultation with the Council of State, refer any Bill to which this Article applies to the Supreme Court for a decision on the question as to whether such Bill or any specified provision or provisions of such Bill is or are repugnant to this Constitution or to any provision thereof. There are cases before the High Court in respect of this Bill. In the interim, the Government is trying to get it through the Dáil before we have any guidance, let alone a decision, in respect of it. I hope people looking in at what is happening can see it for what it is.”
“Apparently, my amendment went against the spirit of the Bill. Saying that Opposition amendments cannot conflict with Government Bills is like saying the Opposition cannot conflict with the Government. That is an outrage. Standing Orders state that amendments must stick to the subject matter of the relevant legislation, which ours do. We constantly hear from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael about the need for respect for our institutions. Those parties are riding roughshod over the rules of the House by putting everything through in the one day. We know this is in complete defiance of public opinion. Cabinet confidentiality means that the practice of super juniors was something that had been questioned before.”
“The Government is proposing to create more officeholders in the form of Ministers of State - the so-called junior Ministers. All this is about is more deals, more Mercs and more perks. These are not positions born out of any serious attempt to deal with the issues the Chamber is supposed to address. No, these extra positions and pay are simply a function of coalition talks and jobs for the boys. Again, the Taoiseach thinks opposing such things is a subversion of the Constitution. Let us look at the Constitution. The Government has seen to it that all Stages of the Bill will be taken in the Dáil today. It is trying to railroad it through, and that is a disgrace. We need to talk about the amendments that we, as a collective Opposition, have tabled. All of the amendments bar one have ruled out of order. Why is that?”
“I am totally opposed to the Bill. I am deeply frustrated with how our amendments have been dealt with. I will first speak to the matter of the Bill. Recently, the Taoiseach described the Opposition's rejection of the Government's stroke politics as a subversion of the Constitution. Talk about a subversion of the English language. The Government was forced to row back on its outrageous plan to have Government supporters sit on Opposition benches. It was not enough for the Government to already have one of the most centralised political systems in Europe in which power overwhelmingly rests with the Cabinet, it also wanted to try to install it supporters on the Opposition benches. Today, we are dealing with further fallout from this.”
“We need to do better and people expect us to do better. I will comment on one of the remarks the Minister made. He said it had been claimed that there was a lack of a co-ordinated plan for dealing with Storm Éowyn and that he wished to put on the record that this was not the case. Simply putting something on the record does not mean it was not the case. We had areas that could not access 999 emergency calls for over a week. We need to get to the bottom of that and make sure we can deal with it so that it does not happen again.”
“If it cannot provide its services without broadband, people who have to travel a significant distance cannot access petrol and diesel. What in the name of God are they supposed to do? The businesses have said they fully understand that the initial need has to be with families but they are surprised at this stage that they have heard nothing. One small business told me it had lost €18,000, while another told me it had lost €15,000, yet they have not heard a whisper from Government as to what supports are available. I ask the Minister to speak to that. With regard to public safety, across Connemara we still have telecommunications poles that are hanging and broken in half, trees that are holding up poles and loose cabling on the ground, which simply is not safe. In some places, this has been the case since Storm Darragh.”
“These are older people who rely on access to cash and they just do not have it. Businesses in rural areas, as the Minister will know, are far more than simply businesses. They provide a service that often the State does not provide and they also have a community aspect to them. A lot of them operated as hubs during this crisis, even though they did not have the official title of a "hub", with locals coming to them, especially when they did not have a phone service, just to find out what was going on. In the case of one of the businesses that contacted me, staff travelled across the country, to Kildare, to access a generator because the business is in a very rural area and without that business operating, there would be nothing in the village. Without broadband, the business was not able to use its pumps for petrol and diesel.”
“Where is the database for our vulnerable customers and what is being done about that? The Minister claimed the needs of the most vulnerable were prioritised. They clearly have not been prioritised if there is a woman in that situation. They were not prioritised either for a woman I met on Saturday who spent 13 days without electricity and relies on an oxygen machine. Where is the prioritisation there? The lack of broadband services also impacts on the services the post office can provide, particularly with regard to the banking services post offices usually provide. That means people cannot lodge money to meet their direct debits or mortgage payments. This banking service is a great service for people, particularly in more rural areas. What is being done to rectify that? There is also an issue regarding withdrawals and access to cash.”
“Parts of Connemara had serious telecommunications issues in November, with certain areas without a phone signal for up to three weeks. Now, again, these exact same people are facing the exact same issues. Many have been told they will not get connectivity for another six weeks despite us running into the third week of the storm's aftermath. Some are being told by their private providers that they have absolutely no update for them. For those people who have never been impacted by this, it might not appear as serious an issue as it actually is. One woman who contacted me has a heart condition and needs to monitor and report to the hospital every single night. Without broadband, she is not able to do that and that could cause her really serious issues. Where is the prioritisation for our vulnerable customers?”
“I ndáiríre, is iad na príomhrudaí a chaithfidh tarlú ná go mbeidh gineadóirí ann agus go mbeidh infheistíocht sa bhuninfrastruchtúr. Ní hé seo an chéad uair ar tharla sé seo i gConamara - tharla sé dhá mhí ó shin. Tá daoine braon de seo. Tuigeann siad go dtarlóidh sé arís agus go bhfuil siad scartha amach ó chuile dhuine eile. Níl siad in aice leis an gcathair. Níl siad in aice leis na bunseirbhísí atá ag teastáil. Ba bhreá liom go mbeadh muid ar fad in ann oibriú le chéile le réitigh de chineál éigin, fadtéarmach agus gearrthéarmach, a fháil ar an gceist seo.”
“Chomh maith leis sin, teastaíonn gineadóirí ó chuile ionad sláinte. Tá fhios ag an Aire ó bheith amuigh i gConamara cé chomh fada amach is atá siad ón ospidéal. Mura bhfuil siad in ann glaoch a chur ar 999 agus dul i dteagmháil leis an ionad sláinte, céard gur féidir leo a dhéanamh? Teastaíonn gineadóirí agus fóin satailíte ó na hionaid sláinte sin. Tá gá le gineadóirí le haghaidh na pumpaí uisce ionas go mbeidh ar a laghad uisce ag daoine. Tá sé sin fíorthábhachtach. Tá sé soiléir ón mhéid atá tarlaithe le coicís anuas cé chomh deacair is atá cúrsaí do dhaoine áirithe, daoine leochaileacha ach go háirithe. Teastaíonn liosta soiléir dóibh siúd atá cabhair uathu, agus liosta den mhéid gur féidir linn a dhéanamh do na daoine sin.”
“Tá a fhios agam go raibh sé ag labhairt le daoine agus gur chonaic sé cé chomh dona is atá agus a bhí sé. An rud is mó atá mé ag iarraidh a rá go soiléir anseo ná go raibh sé chomh huafásach sin do dhaoine. Bhí daoine préachta leis an bhfuacht. Ní raibh uisce acu. Níl uisce acu fós. Níl leictreachas acu. Táthar ag rá leo go mbeidh leictreachas acu lá éigint. Bhí sé ceaptha a bheith aréir nó anocht, ach anois tá sé le bheith acu an tseachtain seo chugainn. Teastaíonn an infheistíocht chuí sa bhuninfreastruchtúr ionas go bhfuil na bunseirbhísí ag daoine. Tógfaidh sé sin am agus go leor airgid ach tá sé sin ag teastáil. Ní fiú a rá i gceann bliana arís, nó i gceann coicíse, nach raibh muid ag súil leis seo. Teastaíonn an plean sin agus an plean fadtéarmach agus caithfimid ar fad oibriú le chéile ar an gceist sin.”
“We need to have the short-term quick solutions, such as those generators and the satellite phones, but we also need to invest in basic infrastructure. The poles are literally rotting. They are just breaking. The lack of investment that has happened is crazy. I really hope the Government listens to this. Communication has been very poor. People understand that it was a bad storm but communication has been particularly poor. People do not know what services they can access. They do not know what supports they can access. Much of the time, because the Dáil was not sitting, we did not know what services could be accessed. Businesses do not know what is going on and people really need help. Tá a fhios agam go raibh an tAire amuigh i gConamara le linn na stoirme seo.”
“All health centres need to have a generator. That needs to be an immediate priority. They need to have access to satellite phones so that at least in those health centres, people can access electricity and can access a phone. All water pumps need to have generators as well. We cannot have a situation where people cannot access water, especially for newborn babies who cannot use the store-bought water. We need to know exactly where vulnerable people are and how we can help them. Exactly how we can help them is crucial because it is life or death for these people. A massive job of work needs to be done to invest in basic infrastructure because without such investment, we do not have basic services. That is a massive job of work.”
“In our roles as public representatives and in our clinics, we all hear difficult stories, some of which haunt us more than others. I will read one such story to the House: Storm Darragh was not that long ago and we were left without power for 4 or 5 days. My father sat in the house trying to keep warm until the heating could be used again. During these days my father got pneumonia and ended up in hospital where he died… My mother is dealing with the grief of losing her husband and now we have had to repair our roof and need to dry out a room that has water damage done to it. That is the real-life impact. We all realise how horrific that is. That is why we all need to work together to come up with key and urgent solutions for when this happens again because it will happen again and it is still impacting people out there.”
“This was at a time when people had increased costs due to lack of power and at a time when people were already living week to week. We need to have a plan for that in the future. I have heard suggestions from the Government that this was a once-in-a-lifetime storm. Many people had never heard of any kind of storm like that. We understand that, but it was not the first time this happened in places such as Conamara. In November, there was a two-week period when people had no access to phone or broadband services and did not have electricity for a period of time. When they hear people say that this was a once-in-a-lifetime event, but they know it is happening to them on a regular basis, they feel like they are not listened to, they are not heard and nobody knows what is happening.”
“People had to physically run to a fireman who they knew for assistance. One public health nurse told me that she was checking on a man in his 80s in her community. The man had not left his bed in his house, because the house was so cold, for over a week. He had no electricity or heat. She told me that when she touched his hand, she had touched warmer corpses. We are failing our vulnerable and older people. We are failing our newborn babies who left hospitals to go to their new homes that did not have water or electricity. Those with sleep apnoea could not use their machines and had to go to accident and emergency services. Pensions and other social welfare payments could not be accessed because post offices could not open.”
“Many areas in Galway did not have, and certain areas still do not have, water, electricity, functioning mobile phone networks and broadband. Most fundamentally, they did not have access to 999 calls. That is a health, safety and medical emergency. Health centres located over an hour and a half from Galway city were not prioritised. They had no electricity. Medication and vaccines had to be dumped. There was no way for vulnerable people to contact their health centres and there was no way for doctors to contact hospitals, pharmacies or anyone in the outside world. To me, that is terrifying. A family tried to ring 999 in a medical emergency but could not do so because the 999 call was not working. They were completely cut off, with no help. When a generator went on fire, no one could contact the fire brigade.”
“I welcome the fact that we are having this debate but it should have happened last week. There is no doubt in my mind that if this had happened in Dublin, the Dáil would have sat as a matter of urgency last week. It is outrageous that it did not. I recognise the immense work that was done by those on the ground, those who worked tirelessly to get water and electricity back, and those who are continuing to do very difficult work on tough terrain, especially given that much of our infrastructure was already completely substandard. I also recognise the incredible work done by communities who came together to help each other and assist in cases of emergency, and continue to do so. What people have suffered over the past two weeks - almost - can only be described as an absolute emergency.”
“It was supported by all parties in the previous Dáil and by the overwhelming majority of the electorate. What did Government parties do? They sat on their hands, talked around in circles and tied themselves in knots. Then, when the election campaign was on, it was their priority. Now that the election is over, they are telling us that they need different legislation. There were a lot of people outside this place yesterday who knew exactly what they were trying to do. However, it is important for people not to lose hope. The Government would not have been trying to orchestrate the charade that it was trying to do yesterday if it were not worried. This will not be a Government for the people but, my God, we are on the people's side.”
“The Government is making thousands of carers who are on reduced payments wait until July to get their allowance increases. Let them have them now. It is the same when it comes to the occupied territories Bill. It has been a long-term commitment from Fianna Fáil. It was in the previous programme for Government. The legislation was done.”
“Today, we hear it loud and clear. Your focus is on you. Not only did you want to control the Government, you wanted to control the Opposition by putting your own people over here on the Opposition benches. What a remarkable feat that would have been, acquiring the ability to be in two places at once - supporting the Government's positions but trying to hold decisions to account from the Opposition benches. Once again, the people of Ireland are left to one side. Prior to this election, the Government said it would commit to abolishing the carer's means test. After the election, it said it would commit to it, in an undefined way, by some undisclosed date, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future. Translating that from political-speak to ordinary plain language, that means, "God knows when this will happen or if it will happen."”
“The answer that they settled on was 23, which is in contrast to that in previous years' exam papers, which was lower. Anyone who would have paid attention to the way they campaigned during the general election would have been forgiven for thinking that their focus today would have been on the people and the people that we represent, but, no, they are not having their focus on people across this State but on the needs of the people in this Chamber. We have often heard from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over the past five years - I have heard it so many times - that they cannot solve something overnight. There are some things that they seem to be able to solve overnight and these issues that could be solved overnight relate to Government pay, positions and allowances. Day one of a government tells us what the government will be like.”
“Actually, it is my speaking time. Of course, the Government parties must be absolutely exhausted from having to relive their Leaving Certificate maths exam where they seem to have struggled with Question No. 1: how many junior Ministers does it take to form a government?”
“This stands in absolutely stark contrast with what we have seen unfold here over the past number of days. Today, we see that we are only back from the holidays and the Government parties decided that we should go back on mid-term break.”
“She has a vision for Ireland, a vision not confined to this room but a vision that encompasses all of Ireland and all of its people - not an abstract people but the people who come into our clinics every single day, including the nearly 9,000 people who have been on hospital trolleys in this year alone, the mother who has been turned down for carer's allowance because she is €2 over the limit and the couple in their 30s who want to save for a mortgage but whose extortionate rent means that they cannot save for a deposit. These are the people we stand for. These are the people we represent. Mary Lou and we, as her team, are here to deliver on the politics that we believe in. We are not just here for Mercs and perks. We are here as a team that will deliver for people across Ireland, and a team led by Mary Lou.”
“Is onóir mhór dom é seasamh os bhur gcomhair inniu agus an Teachta Mary Lou McDonald a ainmniú mar Thaoiseach. Inniu, táimid ag teacht le chéile chun Rialtas na Dála seo a thoghadh. Teastaíonn Taoiseach a thuigeann na deacrachtaí atá againn sa tír seo ach chomh maith leis sin a fheiceann na deiseanna gur féidir linn a chothú chun saol agus tír i bhfad Éireann níos fearr a chruthú. Is é sin an cineál ceannaire a bheadh i gceist leis an Teachta Mary Lou McDonald mar Thaoiseach. It is an incredible honour to nominate Deputy Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach today - a woman who has shown real leadership, as leader of the Opposition and as uachtarán Shinn Féin, building our party across all 32 counties and building our team right here in the Dáil. Central to Mary Lou is her compassion and understanding of the real needs of people.”