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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“We are going to scrutinise this legislation with our eyes totally and utterly wide open. It was really unfortunate, though, that pre-legislative scrutiny was not allowed.”
“This was done without providing the committee with a finished copy of the legislation. I think that was totally and utterly unacceptable. It meant we did not get a chance to hear from experts in relation to the legislation. We did not get a chance to hear from Uisce Éireann, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the HSE, environmental groups, housing associations and many other groups that have been suffering as a result of the lack of critical infrastructure being delivered. I hope that this legislation is not rushed now on Committee Stage, and that it will be given the time needed. We must make sure that critical infrastructure is actually done right. We are going to engage on Committee Stage and, of course, bring in our amendments in relation to this legislation.”
“All the Government’s attempts so far to speed up infrastructure delivery have had the opposite effect. The disastrous strategic housing development legislation introduced in 2017 caused havoc in the planning system, only to be replaced by the equally ineffective large-scale residential development legislation. Every single time the Government tries to speed up delivery, it slows it down. The biggest obstacle to delivering critical infrastructure with urgency has always been Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in government. Before the recess, the Government used its majority in the infrastructure committee to waive this legislation from having necessary pre-legislative scrutiny. We did push a vote on this, and it was very disappointing that pre-legislative scrutiny could not have been accommodated on something as important as this legislation.”
“The Government just simply cannot be trusted on infrastructure delivery. The infrastructure that has been prioritised by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael over the last decades has failed people. It has served big business over the interests of working people and families. We are the data centre capital of Europe. Brand-new office blocks are sitting empty and our cities are full of new hotels instead of new homes. Yet investment in the critical infrastructure really needed has been delayed or discontinued. There has been inaction, delays and bad value for taxpayer’s money. This is the track record of critical infrastructural delivery by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, a record best known by the projects that have still not been delivered, not least the national children’s hospital.”
“In practice, this means that a Minister could decide that a new data centre, a premium office block or a new stadium is critical infrastructure and, as such, would be fast-tracked through that delivery pipeline, while real critical infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, roads, railways and bridges, i gConamara ach go háirithe, are not guaranteed critical status and could be left by the wayside and not sped up at all. To be honest, I believe this omission is a huge oversight. Clearer guidelines have to be included in this legislation as to what actually constitutes "critical infrastructure". I will be putting in amendments in relation to this aspect. Sílim gurb í an fhadhb is mó atá ann mar gheall ar chúrsaí infrastruchtúir ná nach bhfuil muinín ag daoine go ndéanfaidh Fine Gael agus Fianna Fáil beart de réir a mbriathar.”
“We desperately need critical infrastructure to be delivered. This is a deficit created by chronic underfunding and a lack of ambition from successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments. I am keen to engage with any proposals from the Government to address this infrastructural deficit, but, to my mind, this Bill in front of us falls at the first hurdle. It is a Critical Infrastructure Bill without a definition of “critical infrastructure”. Under this legislation, it would solely be at the Minister’s discretion to designate projects as critical infrastructure.”
“Is é buninfreastruchtúr ceann de na rudaí is tábhachtaí d’aon cheantar nó pobal atá ina gcónaí i gceantar tuaithe ach go háirithe, áit go minic nach bhfuil an buninfreastruchtúr ann. Mar gheall air sin, ar ndóigh, is maith an rud é go bhfuilimid á phlé seo agus ag breathnú air. Tá súil agam go gciallóidh sé go ndíreoidh an Rialtas ar chúrsaí infrastruchtúr, ach go háirithe sna ceantair cosúil leis an gceantar in atá mé féin i gConamara. Critical infrastructure is something I have been raising with the Minister for a long time, specifically basic infrastructure, something we often just do not have in the west of Ireland. Critical infrastructure is the bedrock of a strong, functioning economy. Housing, health, transport, water and energy are the essentials - the necessities - to be able to work, to be able to be healthy and to be safe.”
“Having spent time on these protests in Galway, I had perhaps thought that a sense of clarity might have descended on this Dáil, a sense of clarity that the people had, but obviously this has not happened. The Government has doubled down. It has spent its time during this debate with its chest out and beating the same old drum of how great it is but the people are wise to it. They know exactly what it is at. They heard the words of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for justice last week, words that showed how out of touch they are with the realities of people’s lives and the contempt they show for the realities of people’s lives. They have shown a lack of awareness of the struggles of ordinary working people, these struggles they face daily.”
“The fact that it locked Galway representatives out of a meeting is absolutely shameful. Does the Government even realise how disrespectful that was? Does it understand the blind arrogance that it showed? It was like something out of a schoolyard. The Government was saying it would talk to some people but not to them. It was absolutely and utterly unbelievable. I spoke to people in Galway, to people who were at the protest and to other Galwegians who were not at the protests but who were vehemently supportive of the protesters' demands. All those people said to me that it is time for this Government to go. It is a Government so immune to the realities of its people.”
“Not one of the Ministers here spoke to the people today. Instead, they spoke to and about themselves. The Government has in no way heard the message that came from the people of Ireland, a message that they could not have given to the Government any louder or any clearer. Coming in here today, I had thought that maybe a little bit of humble pie had been eaten after the arrogance of last week but, no, I was completely mistaken. Nothing has changed. All of this, of course, happened because the Government refused to talk, refused to engage, refused to listen and refused to act. The Government refused to represent people like they demanded it represent them. When I thought about the Government’s disastrous response last week, I thought it could not get any worse.”
“People took to the streets in a way that we have not seen before. People left their homes, their families and their livelihoods to stand up for themselves and for their communities, demanding a better Ireland, and how dare the Government ignore the people again here today. The Government talks about Sinn Féin but it does not talk about the people. It was the people who went out and said enough was enough. It was the people who had to take to the streets to demand action and it was the people who said they have no confidence in the Government.”
“Tá a fhios agam go dtuigeann an tAire cé chomh tábhachtach is atá mná tí ach táim buartha nach bhfuil an tuiscint chéanna ag daoine eile ar bhord an Rialtais faoi cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé na daoine seo agus an tslí bheatha seo a chosaint má táimid dáiríre faoin nGaeilge agus faoin nGaeltacht. Impím ar an Aire labhairt leis na daoine eile ar bhord an Rialtais ionas go dtuigfidh siad cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé seo.”
“Impím ar an Aire staidéar géar a dhéanamh ar an gceist seo. In iarthar na hÉireann, tá formhór na ndaoine ag brath ar ola. Tá a fhios againn cé chomh daor is atá ola anois mar gheall ar an gcogadh san Iaráin. Tá na praghsanna sin ag ardú agus tá sé sin ag cur tuilleadh brú ar mhná tí, a bhí ag rá cheana féin go raibh níos mó airgid ag teastáil. Chomh maith leis sin, tá orthu brath ar pheitreal agus ar dhíosal chun taisteal ó áit go háit, rud eile a chuireann brú ar mhná tí. Impím ar an Aire breathnú air seo go géar. Impím ar an Rialtas ar fad breathnú air seo.”
“Tuigim nach bhfuil an tAire in ann na cinntí seo a dhéanamh go díreach agus go gcaithfidh sé an maoiniú sin a fháil ach, má táimid dáiríre faoin sprioc 20%, beidh ar na daoine sin dul chuig coláistí samhraidh. Beidh an t-éileamh ag éirí. Teastaíonn níos mó maoinithe anseo.”
“Níl a fhios agam an féidir i ndáiríre labhairt faoi ardú de 45% ó 2022 i leith nuair atá ardú de €1.50 i gceist ón mbliain seo caite go dtí an bhliain seo. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil mná tí ag streachailt cheana féin agus go bhfuil éileamh ollmhór ar na coláistí samhraidh seo. Díoladh na spásanna sna coláistí samhraidh i dtréimhse de dhá nóiméad mar gheall go raibh an t-éileamh chomh mór sin. Muna bhfuil maoiniú ceart ann do mhná tí, ní bheimid in ann daoine a mhealladh chun é sin a dhéanamh. Mar gheall air sin, ní bheimid in ann an t-éileamh sin a shásamh. Is é sin an rud atá i gceist leis seo. Ba chóir dúinn an maoiniú atá ag teastáil ó mhná tí a chur ar fáil.”
“Is í an cheist atá agam ar an Aire ná an mbeidh ardú ar an bhfóirdheontas do theaghlaigh agus coláistí cónaithe Gaeltachta faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i mbliana. An mbeadh sé in ann ráiteas a dhéanamh ina thaobh?”
“There are many instances where the local community garda will know exactly what is going on in an area before anybody else. Community gardaí have knowledge of the people, communities and issues, and they need to be assisted by there being more of them in order that they can fulfil their role.”
“Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbreathnófar air seo le teacht suas leis an mbealach ar féidir níos mó daoine le Gaeilge a earcú, chomh maith le héascaíocht a dhéanamh ar ghardaí reatha a bhfuil Gaeilge acu bogadh chun na Gaeltachta. It is important that we ensure there are gardaí who speak Irish in Gaeltacht areas. We know that only one in three gardaí in Gaeltacht areas can speak Irish. An Coimisinéir Teanga found that An Garda Síochána is in breach of its own legal obligations as a result of that. It is incredibly important that people be able to speak to gardaí in their own language. It is about building trust and confidence. Community gardaí play an incredible and important role in Galway, but in the last year we have seen an increase of only one community garda in the area. We need to increase the number.”
“Tá fadhb leanúnach sna ceantair Ghaeltachta maidir le gardaí agus a gcumas Gaeilge. Dúirt an Coimisinéir Teanga nach bhfuil ach duine as gach triúr garda in ann Gaeilge a labhairt. Is fadhb ollmhór é sin i gceantair Ghaeltachta. Ag an am céanna, áfach, tá gardaí le Gaeilge i gceantair éagsúla atá sásta agus ag iarraidh bogadh chuig na ceantair Ghaeltachta sin, áit ar féidir leo clanna a thógáil trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, ach níl siad in ann é sin a dhéanamh. Más rud é go bhfuil muid dáiríre faoi ghardaí sa Ghaeltacht, caithfear a chinntiú go bhfuil Gaeilge acu ionas go mbeidh siad in ann déileáil le daoine ina dteanga féin.”
“I have put in representations about this but the hospital is bursting at the seams and it tries but it cannot cope. We have a situation where chemotherapy patients are exposed in that way. Second, I want the Minister of State to look at the issue of those with pancreatic cancer having assistance with the pump they can get, because of the issues of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.”
“Every cancer patient should have timely access to high-quality care and they should get that immediately. Instead, it seems to be a postcode lottery. Last year, 141 cancer patients at University Hospital Galway had to wait longer than the 15-day target to access their first chemotherapy treatment. Everybody should be getting the care they need and it should not be based on where they live. There are two other issues that I want raise having seen them in the past year. First, I find it shocking that when a chemotherapy patient lands into the emergency department, they wait for hours to get a trolley and when they get one, they are put in an open place. They are not supposed to be mixing with people, yet they are left on a trolley.”
“A woman in my constituency of Galway West got the devastating diagnosis last year that she had cancer. She expected she would be seen and begin her treatment within days, but instead she had to wait three months to start it. When families receive a diagnosis of cancer, or when a person receives that diagnosis, they have a lot to process. The last thing they need to be doing is fighting and getting on to local TDs and getting on to the hospital to try to access treatment. That should be basic and should be something given to them immediately. Unfortunately, this woman's situation is not unusual, and that is probably the most frightening aspect of this. Thousands of cancer patients are having to wait longer than the Government's 15-day target for cancer treatment.”
“Evictions have been notified to 14 tenancies on Ballybane Road in Galway city. This is a devastating and frightening time for those who are affected. This is the third time in recent weeks that we have seen larger-scale evictions come into play. It is the first time we have seen it in Galway city, where there are serious housing pressures, and it is very worrying. It is a frightening time for those involved. What does the Government intend to do about these large-scale evictions we are seeing? What protections will be put in place and what hope can be given to these families, who are feeling very worried?”
“Sílim, ach go háirithe má bhreathnaímid ar an mbuninfreastruchtúr ina iomláine i gConamara, mar shampla, na droichid agus na bóithre chomh maith leis na céanna, tá go leor infheistíochta ag teastáil. Is maith an rud é go bhfuil an Roinn ag breathnú air seo agus go bhfuilimid ag breathnú ar roinnt Ranna atá in ann cabhrú leis.”
“Táim sásta é sin a chloisteáil. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go mbeadh muid in ann díriú ar na céanna sin agus ar an mbuninfreastruchtúr sin ionas go mbeadh sé ann don phobal atá ina chónaí ann freisin. I welcome that because I think it is important that there is recognition we need to look at exactly how we will fund these. There has been a lack of funding for basic infrastructure across Connemara, and we need to look at how we do that. It is good to look at it from a cross-departmental point of view in order to ensure that funding is available. It is not just piers; it is also bridges and roads. More often than not, I hear that funding is not available. I am sure the council would like to do it if it could. Is maith an rud é sin.”
“Tuigim an méid atá á rá ag an Aire Stáit faoi Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus an ról atá aige féin ann. Is í an fhadhb atá ann ná nach mbíonn an maoiniú ar fáil ag an gcomhairle contae chun an infheistíocht atá ag teastáil sna céanna a chur ar fáil agus an obair a dhéanamh a bhfuilimid ag caint fúithi. Mar shampla, ar Chaladh Gholaim i Leitir Mealláin, tá siad ag caint ar dheisiúchán ó 2024 ar aghaidh. Tá an cás déanta chuig an gcomhairle contae ach níl an maoiniú ann. I thank the Minister of State for his response. Galway County Council has a serious role there but the issue is a lack of funding for that. There is an issue with one particular pier, Caladh Gholaim, which has been ongoing since 2024. The council says it applied for funding from the Department.”
“In the most recent budget, it was only delighted to cut taxes for certain people. We saw that it deemed banks, landlords and big developers as worthy of tax cuts and it left ordinary people behind, a decision that lined the pockets of the few at the expense of the many. Now, when energy and fuel price hikes are affecting millions up and down the State and there are 320,000 people in energy arrears, it does nothing. It is like it is saying that it cannot do anything on this, but it could do it for certain people during the budget. It has done nothing to end the rip-off and nothing to get prices under control. Empty words will do nothing to heat the homes of people. We need action from this Government. The Tánaiste can act, so I urge him to do so.”
“These are essentials if people are to work and live, but they are being treated by this Government as something that can be sacrificed. They cannot. The spike in energy prices over the last few weeks has highlighted the absurdity of increasing carbon taxes. Through carbon taxes, this Government continues to artificially hike the price of energy, all while there is a cost-of-living crisis domestically and turmoil in energy markets globally. The fight against climate change will not be won by plunging working people into energy arrears or forcing families to live in freezing cold homes. This Private Members’ motion would bring an end to the regressive and cruel approach and bring energy and fuel prices down immediately, and that is what needs to be done. Let us be honest; the Government is no stranger to tax cuts.”
“Energy and fuel prices are terrifyingly high for people. People cannot afford more delay and inaction from this Government, particularly after a budget that left families and workers worse off. This Sinn Féin Private Members’ motion is another opportunity for all those sitting on the other side of this Chamber to do the right thing, make the right decision and make life easier for people. This Government taxes energy and fuel as if they were luxury goods. People who are struggling to make ends meet are paying VAT, excise duty and carbon taxes on their fuel bills. If we take the west of Ireland as an example, this is having a huge impact on people who have no other choice but to use oil to heat their homes and use the car to get to work.”
“The greatest tribute we can give women today is to continue their work to build a society that sees and hears women's struggles and that recognises institutional barriers that mainly affect women and not only recognise them but actually change them.”
“If a woman leaves and abusive relationship in one county to seek support in another county, be it familial, community or justice, she is penalised by the councils as they do not recognise the years she may have spent on the housing list and, indeed, she would need to reapply fully for social housing in order to access emergency accommodation. This should not be the case and needs to change. I am asking the Minister of State to ensure this happens. Women should be safe and should get the support of this Dáil to do that. We must recognise there are women today who continue to fight for their rights quietly, courageously and collectively.”
“I have primarily raised these in the context of the housing crisis. Women are uniquely impacted by the housing crisis. Unfortunately, too often I have raised the issue of how women are impacted by domestic abuse within the confines of our broken housing system in this Chamber but nothing has been done. We need a social housing passport for women affected by domestic abuse. It is not good enough that there are barriers in place that make it even more difficult for women to leave an abusive relationship. For clarity I want to give an example.”
“International Women's Day is an important day in the calendar year. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate the strength, courage and resilience of women - women who have shaped our communities, our families and who continue to stand up for what is right in a very unjust world. However, we must remember that International Women's Day is not only about looking back. It is about recognising the struggles that continue today. Across Ireland, women continue to fight for equality, for justice and for dignity. Women are fighting for proper healthcare and for their voices to be heard. They are fighting against poverty, against discrimination and against violence. They are fighting for a society that values care, equality and community. I have raised in this Dáil many times the real-life institutional barriers which women face.”
“Ireland should be using every diplomatic channel available within the European Union, the United Nations and beyond to press for de-escalation and a return to negotiations.”
“It means we do not align ourselves with aggression and we defend international law consistently. Across Europe, leaders such as Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, have shown far greater courage by speaking clearly, defending international law and calling out violations wherever they occur. That is what principled leadership looks like. What we are seeing instead from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is caution and hesitation. Neutrality is not simply a historical tradition; it is a deliberate policy choice reflecting Ireland's belief that diplomacy and international co-operation offer a more sustainable path to peace than military escalation. The people of the Middle East have endured far too much violence. They deserve a future defined not by war and instability but by peace, security and dignity.”
“Those principles have allowed Ireland to speak with credibility and consistency on the international stage. However, what we are seeing from this Government is not leadership; it is hesitation, equivocation and the instinctive deference of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael when powerful states break the rules. The Taoiseach has spoken of being concerned and called for restraint on all sides but he has refused to do the one thing leadership demands, which is to clearly condemn the US and Israel for a flagrant violation of international law. This silence is not neutrality; it is timidity. Last week, the Taoiseach told me directly that Ireland can stand militarily with states engaged in conflict. That language undermines Ireland's proud tradition of military neutrality. Neutrality matters precisely at moments like these.”
“Lebanon faces severe political and economic strain and Syria continues to grapple with the consequences of years of conflict. Against that backdrop, further escalation by Israel and the United States against Iran is wrong in itself but it also carries enormous risks. There is a risk of widening the conflict, drawing in other actors and triggering consequences that would be felt far beyond the region itself. We are already seeing signs of that wider impact. Here at home, people are already experiencing the knock-on effects through rising fuel prices. However, beyond the economic consequences lies a fundamental issue. Ireland has long taken pride in an independent foreign policy grounded in respect for international law and a commitment to military neutrality.”
“We have seen repeated military attacks and invasions justified in the language of "security" and "stability", from Iraq to Libya to Syria, yet the outcomes have only been shattered societies, prolonged instability and immense human suffering. It is also impossible to understand today's situation without acknowledging the shameful history of US interference in Iran. In 1953, the United States and Britain orchestrated the overthrow of Iran's Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, after he sought to nationalise his country's oil resources. The coup destroyed Iran's democracy and replaced it with a dictatorship of the Shah, setting in motion the chain of events that ultimately brought Iran's current rulers to power. Today, the Middle East is under immense pressure. The genocide in Gaza has outraged people, and rightly so, across the globe.”
“International law does not operate on the basis of whether we approve of a government. The United Nations Charter sets out clear rules for the use of force. Military action is permitted only in cases of imminent self-defence or when authorised by the UN. These principles exist precisely to prevent powerful states from deciding unilaterally when force can be used. For nations like Ireland, international law is not an abstract concept; it is the foundation of a system that protects states from the arbitrary use of power. That is why events like these matter so deeply. The Middle East has endured decades of conflict, western interference and geopolitical rivalry.”
“Over the past few days, we have seen Iran's cities bombed, its leader assassinated and civil infrastructure destroyed. Among the targets hit was a girls' elementary school, where people, including innocent schoolchildren, the most vulnerable members of society, were slaughtered. These facts alone should give world leaders, including the Irish Government, pause for serious thought. These developments risk pushing an already volatile region closer to a much broader war. My party has repeatedly condemned the Iranian Government's appalling human rights records. Protestors have been brutally crushed, women subjected to severe discrimination and violence for demanding basic freedoms, and political dissidents imprisoned. However, the policies of any government do not grant another state the right to bomb its cities and murder its citizens.”
“Fuair mé freagra ón Aire go raibh an Roinn tar éis glacadh leis na moltaí a bhí ag Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe maidir leis na tithe i Ros an Mhíl agus in Eanach Mheáin. Níl a fhios againn go díreach céard a bhéas ann ach tá súil agam go mbeidh an Roinn ag cur an maoiniú ar fáil ionas go mbeadh na tithe sin curtha ar fáil don phobal áitiúil. Má bhreathnaímid ar na tithe atá le fáil ar cíos, feicfimid nach féidir bogadh go Conamara agus teach a fháil ar cíos. Tá sé dodhéanta. Tá sé dodhéanta é sin a dhéanamh agus fiú más féidir teach a fháil ar cíos tá sé ar phraghas uafásach ard nach féidir le daoine íoc as. Caithfimid breathnú ar an deacracht nó an ghéarchéim tithíochta sa Stát ina iomláine ach chomh maith leis sin caithfimid díriú ar an ngéarchéim tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Caithfidh an tAire gníomh a dhéanamh air sin.”
“Níl a fhios againn ach tá a fhios againn nach mbeidh sé againn go dtí 2027, cé go bhfuil muid ag fanacht leis na dréacht-threoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta ar feadh na mblianta. Má bhreathnaímid ansin ar theach a cheannach, teach shóisialta a fháil, nó b’fhéidir teach ar phraghas réasúnta a fháil, rud nach féidir a fháil sa Stát seo, i gConamara, níl suíomhanna leis na seirbhísí ann. Níl an Rialtas seo ná na rialtais roimhe tar éis infheistíocht a dhéanamh sa bhuninfreastruchtúr ionas go mbeadh suíomhanna ann leis na seirbhísí iontu le go bhféadfaí tithe a thógáil. Ag tagairt do shuíomhanna ón gcomhairle contae atá mé agus níl siad ann. Mar gheall air sin, ní féidir tithe ar phraghas réasúnta nó tithe sóisialta a chur ar fáil don phobal Gaeltachta, don pobal Gaeltachta atá ann cheana nó iad siúd atá ag iarraidh bogadh abhaile.”
“Tá sé seo fíor i gConamara agus táim cinnte go bhfuil sé díreach mar an gcéanna i gceantair eile. Mar gheall air sin, thosaigh an grúpa feachtasaíochta BÁNÚ mar go raibh tuiscint aige go raibh géarghá le maoiniú agus le suim ón Stát i gcúrsaí tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Céard atá déanta ag an Rialtas seo? Breathnaímid ar céard atá déanta ag an Aire mar Aire tithíochta. An chéad rud a rinne sé ná go bhfuair sé réidh leis na dréacht-threoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta a bhí geallta dúinn le blianta. Bhí muid i gcónaí á ardú sa Seomra seo go raibh na dréacht-threoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta ag teastáil agus go raibh sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeadh guth an phobail ann mar cuid díobh sin. Seachas sin, tá ráiteas náisiúnta pleanála againn. Céard atá ann?”
“Is maith an rud é go raibh ráitis againn inniu maidir le Seachtain na Gaeilge agus is maith an rud é go mbíonn díospóireacht chuile bhliain againn sa Seomra seo mar gheall ar chúrsaí Gaeilge. Is maith an rud é ach muna bhfuil gníomh ann théis sin agus muna ndéantar dada chun cabhrú le muintir na Gaeltachta fanacht sa Ghaeltacht agus a theaghlaigh a thógáil sa Ghaeltacht, céard is fiú é? Is fiú faic é. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil líon na gcainteoirí laethúla ag laghdú chuile bhliain. Tá a fhios againn ó ghrúpaí feachtasaíochta cosúil le BÁNÚ nach bhfuil daoine óga in ann fanacht sa cheantar inar tógadh iad mar gheall ar easpa tithíochta. Tá trí bhunrud ann i mo thuairimse agus deirim seo i gcónaí. Ní féidir teach a thógáil, ní féidir teach a cheannach agus ní féidir teach a fháil ar cíos sa Ghaeltacht.”
“Caithfimid breathnú air sin agus ar na seirbhísí sin ar fad ina iomláine má táimid ag iarraidh déileáil leis an nGaeltacht.”
“Ní hamháin i nGaeltacht Chonamara atá sé seo fíor; tá an rud céanna i nGaeltacht Ghaoth Dobhair freisin. Is féidir linn breathnú ar na bóithre agus ar na céanna. Níl an infheistíocht sna bóithre. Is minic a thagann daoine chugam maidir le bóithre sa Ghaeltacht ag rá go bhfuil deacrachtaí le bóithre faoi leith. Nuair a théim chuig an gcomhairle contae, deirtear liom nach bhfuil an t-airgead ann. Teastaíonn an infheistíocht sin. Má bhreathnaímid ar sheirbhísí éagsúla cosúil le hionad sláinte cúraim phríomhúil, tá An Cheathrú Rua fós ag fanacht ar an gceann sin. Má bhreathnaímid ar Áras Mhic Dara, tá siad chun na poist a líonadh ach bhí moill fada air sin sa teach altranais ansin. Luaim teiripe urlabhra i Leitir Móir freisin.”
“Chonaic muid é sin inniu agus agóid láidir de chuid BÁNÚ taobh amuigh den Teach seo. Is daoine iad atá ag lorg cearta dóibh féin agus dá mhuintir ionas go mbeadh deis acu fanacht sa Ghaeltacht agus go mbeadh an tithíocht ar fáil dóibh chun é sin a dhéanamh. Ní hamháin an tithíocht atá ag teastáil, áfach; tá an buninfreastruchtúr ina iomláine ag teastáil. Tá na seirbhísí ar fad ag teastáil sa Ghaeltacht ionas gur féidir le daoine fanacht sa Ghaeltacht. Muna bhfuilimid ag cur fócas ar an nGaeltacht agus má dhírímid ar an nGaeilge ina iomláine, tá baoil ann go dtréigfear an Ghaeltacht dá bharr. Sin an faitíos atá orm. Caithfear an dá rud a dhéanamh ag an am céanna. Má bhreathnaímid ar na deacrachtaí atá ann leis an mbuninfreastruchtúr, tá a fhios againn, mar shampla, go bhfuil fadhbanna againn le cúrsaí séarachais sa Ghaeltacht.”
“Tá sé tábhachtach a rá gur mhaith an rud é go bhfuil daoine óga chomh tógtha leis an nGaeilge is atá faoi láthair. Feicimid go bhfuil gluaiseacht láidir ann le daoine óga a bhfuil suim acu sa Ghaeilge. I ndáiríre, is na daoine óga atá ag cur brú orainn chun a chinntiú go bhfuil na seirbhísí agus chuile shórt ar fáil dóibh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ar ndóigh, tá go leor rudaí cultúrtha ann atá ag brú an ghluaiseacht sin ar aghaidh cosúil le Kneecap agus a leithéidí ach tá sé sin ar fad ag teacht ó dhaoine óga iad féin. Mar is eol don Aire, is Teachta Dála mé do Ghaeltacht ollmhór agus láidir, Gaeltacht Chonamara, agus tá mé fíorbhródúil as sin. Ach feicim freisin na deacrachtaí atá ann do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh lonnú sa Ghaeltacht nó fanacht sa Ghaeltacht, agus iad siúd atá ag iarraidh a dteaghlaigh a thógáil sa Ghaeltacht.”
“When we look at the mess over the past two weeks, we also need to look at the mess that has happened before this and the track record in relation to supporting SNAs in their careers. The SNA wages are below the living wage. There has been non-delivery on schools’ requests for additional SNAs. SNAs are financially vulnerable on insecure rolling job contracts. This all needs to be part of this conversation because it is a prime conversation right now. We need to be looking at all of this. From those who I have spoken to, they are not satisfied with the pause, review or whatever it is called at the moment. It is quite clear a fundamental problem remains. We need everybody in this Chamber to step up and deliver the real change that gives SNAs the rights, job security and pay they deserve.”
“The reality is that SNAs are skilled professionals who work unbelievably hard in incredibly difficult circumstances and who deliver for our children. Over the past number of weeks, they have been treated disgracefully. It has been completely unfair the way SNAs have been treated over the past two weeks - for example, drip feeding information about cuts, making U-turns and not being clear as who is saying what. I have been confused. This has caused unbelievable upset and distress for parents, children, schools and SNAs. SNAs have been in touch with me. They have told me they are worried sick, not just about the future of their jobs, but the future of the children who they support. That is something that has been crucially important here.”