Malcolm Byrne
Wicklow-Wexford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I appreciate the Minister of State is responding on behalf of the Minister but the response provides nothing new. It is almost a carbon copy of the response I received when I raised this issue in January last.”
“Free and fair trade right throughout history is the greatest example of providing people with employment opportunities and lifting people out of poverty. One of the best examples of this is our being able to trade with Canada.”
“I am sure the Ceann Comhairle will remember being approached by the then principal, staff and others. Pressure has been applied. When capital decisions were being made by the Department of education I asked why this school was not included and what criteria were used.”
“To say that the school, and indeed, the wider area are deeply frustrated by the lack of progress is an understatement. This is an excellent school, but when it comes to its physical infrastructure, the school is in dire straits.”
“As we are moving towards the recess, I thank the Ceann Comhairle, and indeed, the officials in her office and all of the staff across the House for all of their work during the year that has made this place run so smoothly. I wish to raise the question of Bunclody Community College. I have had to do it on a number of occasions.”
“I am conscious the Minister of State referred to additional capital investment in 2027. I fully expect and will continue to campaign to ensure this school is included in the 2027 capital list because it deserved to be addressed before now.”
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“Counties Wicklow and Wexford are two of the fastest growing areas of the country. At the end of 2021, the total number of gardaí in the Wicklow-Wexford division was 637. At the end of 2024, it was 617. During that period, because of growth at Rosslare Europort, extra responsibilities have been applied to gardaí in the area. Increased garda numbers are critical. I will briefly mention two other issues that are important to address. One relates to cybercrime and cyber fraud. The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau has reported that the cost of this crime amounted to €237 million between 2020 and 2023. This is a growing area of concern. We need more specialist gardaí focused on the area of cybercrime. It is a cost to business and it is not a victimless crime.”
“I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him well in his role. I have no doubt he will be an innovative Minister. The importance of this issue is highlighted by the fact virtually every Fianna Fáil backbencher is looking to avail of the very small amounts of speaking time accorded to back bench Deputies to partake in this debate. I welcome the Minister's clear statement that he supports the Garda and recognises the strong role of gardaí. That is more effective than those who choose to eulogise an individual who was suspected of being involved in the murder of a member of An Garda Síochána and a member of the Defence Forces, which shows little support for the State and those who bravely don the uniform of the State. Like others, I recognise the community work done by so many gardaí. I am concerned about garda numbers.”
“Specifically on wellness, we have reached a life expectancy of 83 years in this country which is very welcome. However, the numbers of those aged between 65 and 84 years will increase by 65% over the next two decades and those aged 85 and over will double. That means we will have an older population and it is important they stay well and active. Will the Taoiseach indicate his support, as was indicated in the budget and the programme for Government, for tax relief for gym membership to encourage people to become fitter as they get older?”
“We are trying to encourage people to live longer, but also to have healthier lives, and gym membership is very much part of that. If we can incentivise or encourage people and even if it is part of the senior citizens’ package – the State has been rightly proud of how we have supported senior citizens over the years – it is something that should be considered. It is obviously not just for those aged 65 or 66 years or older because as we get into our 40s and 50s the challenge is as great. I ask the Minister of State to take it back to the Department, especially with reference to his brief, to look at the experiences in Canada and Singapore, to consider this as a health promotion measure and to engage with the Irish Physical Activity Alliance and gyms around the country to talk about how this would work.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome that we will see details when the annual tax strategy group process develops over the summer. I ask the Minister of State to input into this process given he has responsibility for older people. That was a little bit of a standard Department of Finance answer in that the officials are obviously concerned about potential loss of tax income, but this must be seen as a health promotion measure. I cited the World Health Organization figures on the cost not just to the economy but also to the health service as a result of inactivity. If, as expected, nursing home demand in Ireland increases by 123% by 2031 that is going to cost the State over €500 million every year.”
“This is a health promotion measure and as the Minister of State who has responsibility for older people at the Department of Health, I hope the Minister of State supports this in addition to indicating on behalf of the Department of Finance what research has been done.”
“In that case, every family can apply for up to 2,000 CAD of a tax credit but there is a requirement in terms of their gym or activity membership: "It must involve significant physical activity that improves cardiorespiratory endurance, as well as muscular strength, flexibility or balance." There are similar schemes operating across a number of the other Canadian provinces, including Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Yukon. In Singapore, retirees receive free gym membership as part of the Age Well SG programme. The impact of that is seen in the fact the number of older Singaporeans who require hospital or nursing home care has been reduced significantly.”
“There has been an active campaign by the Irish Physical Activity Alliance, led by Darina Dunne, to ensure that gyms would be responsive if the Government were to initiate this campaign. There are quite a number of examples around the world where other governments have adopted this approach, particularly in a number of the provinces in Canada. I will give just one example. Newfoundland and Labrador has a physical activity tax credit.”
“With that in mind, and as we are trying to encourage healthier lives, physical and mental well-being, a number of us have for quite a while been advocating the concept of gym membership to encourage people to get involved in gym and other physical activities as a way not necessarily to build big muscles, although that should not be discouraged, but to encourage flexibility and the maintenance of muscle and balance. My colleagues Deputy Dolan and the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, have been strong on these issues. In the budget last October, the then Minister for Finance, Deputy Chambers, indicated that his Department would review and examine the possibilities of how such a tax relief measure would operate. It was, as the Minister of State will be aware, also contained in the programme for Government.”
“We know, for instance, that a teenager today has a one in five chance of living to the age of 100. A baby born today has a one in three chance of living to the age of 100. We need to start to think in the long term about how we can ensure that people lead healthy lives throughout the many decades they are going to live. One of the problems is that because of physical activity, it leads to a greater demand on our health service. The World Health Organization last year measured Ireland's physical activity and estimated that the cost of physical activity in Ireland was of the order of €1.5 billion per year.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for taking this question on behalf of the Government. We had a useful debate on the future of healthcare yesterday. He will be aware of that. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, spoke about the success in Ireland where we now have a life expectancy of 82.6 years. As she rightly pointed out, our aim is not just to live longer but also to live healthier lives. The Minister used Government statistics to point out that over the next 20 years, the numbers aged 65 to 84 in this country will grow by 65% and those aged over 85 will more than double. That is a remarkable success in terms of life expectancy. One of the challenges for many people as they grow older is that they are not necessarily as healthy as they could or should be.”
“As for new construction methods, I was heartened to see the development of the 3D-printed homes in County Louth. I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister's Department and was heartened by the openness on the part of the Department, but as a new way of home construction it does need to be actively explored.”
“I represent Gorey, which has had a 14% growth in the inter-census period, and Arklow, which, thanks to the investment by the previous Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in wastewater facilities, is on the cusp of growing rapidly. It is critical for our communities that we ensure we have enough doctors, dentists, school places and so on, and sometimes there is a bit of a lag with other Departments. Deputy O'Gorman said the town centre first policy is especially important. In that regard, it is essential that there be a review of the fire regulations, which was due to happen. The Minister of State might be able to indicate what is happening in that regard with modern sprinkler systems and escape routes. That should help with above-the-shop living if it is possible.”
“While it will not be a solution in every circumstance, I hope that if this policy is teased out, all these matters will be given consideration. We need more planners and we need to fast-track providing them, whether through additional places in universities or visas for planners from abroad. All our local authorities are crying out for them and they are critical. The Planning and Development Act is very important legislation but if we do not have enough planners, we are going to be in trouble. It is important also that when we debate housing, we are not just building homes for people but also building communities. It is critical that there be co-ordination between the Departments of Health, Education and Transport to ensure the necessary facilities are put in place to meet the housing demand.”
“They cannot be seen as a solution for everything but there are certain circumstances where it can allow an elderly parent to right-size and live independently. Similarly, and my party colleague Deputy Lahart correctly identified this as a common concern, it may allow the elderly parents of an adult child with special needs to live independently but still close to their child. I have spoken to some of the financial institutions about this, however, and there is going to be a reluctance on their part to lend for construction in this regard in case there are issues relating to title and questions as to who will end up owning the log cabin or separate home, especially if it is registered on the same folio.”
“I understand why it is based on local authority areas but I would prefer if, rather than using county council areas, local electoral areas might be considered. I appreciate it is more difficult to do that but the price ceiling in Wicklow is €475,000, whereas in Wexford it is €350,000 and that figure was not increased in December, which we all hoped would be the case. Gorey, with which the Minister of State will be very familiar, is one of the fastest growing communities in the country and it is very difficult to get a three-bedroom house there for €350,000, yet just up the road in Carnew, the ceiling is €475,000. Having such a big split on county boundaries is a difficulty, and I ask that measures be considered in respect of the first home scheme and the price ceilings. I listened to the discussion on the issue of log cabins.”
“It would take pressure off some of the communities that are under pressure for housing if housing could be built in those communities but because there is not adequate water and wastewater infrastructure, it is not possible to do so. A further critical point concerns road infrastructure. It is important that the Department considers again announcing a local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF. The LIHAF is essential for unlocking lands. The Minister of State will be very familiar with it in Limerick. For us in Gorey, it is absolutely vital that a road and a bridge be built at the St. Waleran’s site to unlock 73 acres of land in order that social, affordable and private housing can be built. The first home scheme is very successful but there are a lot of anomalies in the scheme.”
“As a State, we are going to have to invest that kind of money in our water infrastructure to ensure we can construct 50,000 homes, and we need to front-load that. Another critical point, as the Minister of State will be aware in the context of rural communities, is that one our current challenges, if we are to move away from one-off rural housing, which there are solid planning reasons for doing save where it is a family living on the land, we should incentivise people to live in the villages where they grew up, work and have connections. The problem, however, as the Minister of State knows, is that there is not sufficient water capacity in most of our villages. In my constituency, Camolin and Ferns, in north County Wexford, and Aughrim, in south County Wicklow, have been waiting for 20-plus years.”
“I congratulate the Minister of State and wish him well in his new role. As colleagues have said, the real challenge relates to delivery and ensuring we have homes for all those who live here, which is the biggest challenge facing the Government. Following on from what my party colleague Deputy McAuliffe talked about, I will talk about delivery, especially in the context of the infrastructure that is needed to support that. This applies in particular to water infrastructure. We have had problems with Uisce Éireann, which needs to see itself as part of the solution in doing this. I have talked to representatives of the agency, however, and they talk about the necessary water infrastructure. Building 50,000 homes is going to cost €1.7 billion.”
“At a meeting with the HSE that I also attended, the Minister's predecessor, former Deputy Stephen Donnelly, remarked that the national children's hospital, for all its delays and cost overruns, would be delivered quicker than the primary care centre for Gorey. I wish the Minister well. I encourage her to be proactive and innovative and we will support her in that.”
“As part of a healthy living strategy, it should be promoted. In many Canadian provinces, there are a number of examples of measures that are used to promote fitness and general wellness and wellbeing. Deputy Sherlock mentioned the challenge of the shortage of GPs. While I appreciate that there has been a significant additional investment in places in medicine and on GP training programmes, we still have a problem, not just in rural areas, but in areas of high growth. I represent a constituency that has had significant population growth in north Wexford and south Wicklow. The front page of the Gorey Guardian this week referred to the shortage of GPs and the fact that existing practices were not taking on any new patients. We have been waiting for a primary care centre for 15 years.”
“A lot of money is being spent on addressing the fallout of the cyberattack, but I am concerned about section 39 organisations, which deal with those who are most vulnerable. If I were to organise a cyberattack on the health service, I would not attack the HSE. Rather, I would target one of the section 39 organisations. There are vulnerabilities there, and I ask that they be addressed. I agree with Deputy Dolan's point that healthcare is not just about treating the sick, but also health promotion and healthy lifestyles. The State needs to respond far more effectively on this. The concept of tax relief for gym memberships needs to be explored. It was signalled by the then Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, in budget 2025 that this would be considered by the Department of Finance. It is a commitment in the programme for Government.”
“I congratulate the Minister on her new role and I wish her the best. I join with colleagues in marking rare diseases day this week. My colleague, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan, has done a lot of work in this area. The Minister was able to meet some of the groups and I hope she will co-operate with those who are advocating on the issue of rare diseases. This debate is on the future of healthcare and, as Deputy Dolan said, it is important that we use new technology, particularly artificial intelligence, to be able to improve health outcomes. When I posed parliamentary questions to every Department, I was heartened to learn that the Minister's Department was one that had adopted a proactive approach. I congratulate the HSE on being able to do that. I am concerned about the infrastructure within the HSE and our hospitals generally.”
“This country will always show solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We will always put the defence and security of this country first. All of those from Ukraine who are here, will continue to be welcome and will continue to have the support of the Government on Ukraine's path to membership of the EU. Ukraine will continue to have our friendship and support. We also express this support to the Baltic states, Poland and the other countries that border Ukraine. This is a really important debate, and the message from this House has to continue to be Slava Ukraini .”
“These are the kinds of challenges that we will have to face. I say to those who criticise countries in central and eastern Europe for their defence spending that we must be much more realistic about what needs to be done. They are talking about spending up to 5% on defence. Of the Russian Federation's total expenditure last year, 40% was on defence and security. Of course, these countries will have to up their game when it comes to defence. I find it rich that the leader of Sinn Féin turned these statements on Ukraine into an attack on the Government. We all know how Sinn Féin's MEPs have consistently voted in support of Russia. As far as I am concerned, people on this side of the House will not take lectures from the leader of Sinn Féin, who last week eulogised an individual involved in the killing of a member of the Defence Forces.”
“It is important that the EU express solidarity at this time, not just with our friends in Ukraine but also with many of the countries of central and eastern Europe that have been warning us of the Russian threat for many years. Perhaps those of us in a more comfortable position were not listening. I was very taken by Deputy Robert O'Donoghue's very measured and considered contribution in which he referred to changes in the global world order presenting a challenge to all of us. This does present a challenge for these Houses on issues of defence and security. It means that we need to be alert to the challenges that we face. It should not be forgotten that the cyberattack on the health service at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic came from Russia. We need to remember that Russian vessels are arriving in Irish waters unannounced.”
“I agree with colleagues that there are many issues on which we disagree with the United States, but I am quite confident that the Taoiseach will raise the situation in Ukraine and Ireland's continued support for that country with President Trump and Members of Congress. The Tánaiste has already outlined that we should reiterate our support for Ukraine's sovereign right to be able to join the European Union. It should be remembered that during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 1990, German reunification happened. In 2004, we witnessed the most extensive enlargement of the EU when ten countries joined. I hope that during our Presidency in the latter half of 2026, considerable moves will be made towards Ukraine's future membership of the EU.”
“The question we must ask on this day on which three years since Russia's brutal invasion - and let us be clear, as the Minister of State said, it was Russia that was entirely responsible - is what more can we do. I suggest that we invite President Zelenskyy to again address a joint sitting of the Houses. This would allow us to again express solidarity and to hear directly from the very brave President of Ukraine. Ireland is known for the exercise of its soft power. In a couple of weeks, the Taoiseach will meet the President of the United States. In diplomatic terms, it is critical that we speak to those with whom we disagree and continue to engage with them.”
“I propose to share time with my colleague Deputy Devlin. I will take six minutes and he will take four. I welcome H.E. Larysa Gerasko. She has shown incredible friendship to many Members of these Houses and to the people of Ireland. I also welcome the visitors from Ukrainian communities all over Ireland who are in the Public Gallery. We need to acknowledge the contribution that so many Ukrainians are making to all of our communities. We must continue to build on that friendship.` In concluding his remarks to the joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas on 6 April 2022, President Zelenskyy stated: "Let us bring our efforts together and show that, jointly, Ukraine and Ireland can do much more than the biggest country in the world was trying to destroy." That spirit of solidarity between Ireland and Ukraine should continue.”
“As we have said and we have been talking about, this will be transformative. There is a critical role for all Departments, particularly, I believe and as has been mentioned, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, which cannot only be an administrative Department. Robots will not replace workers but the reality is workers who use artificial intelligence will replace workers who do not. In those circumstances, it is critical we upskill everybody in our society and that we have that debate.”
“We have to have the debate on renewable energy, data centres and powering the grid. They are all inter-related. If the Labour Party wants a moratorium on data centres, we can take more seriously some of its calls in this space when it also has a moratorium on its use of social media. Data centres are critical drivers. I would encourage the party to look at Echelon, for instance, and some of the plans it has for new data centres just outside Arklow. The Department has a number of responsibilities in The Government Response to Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2024. The Department has been challenged to commission research on the impact of AI and key technologies on the Irish economy and to engage in a campaign of AI adoption for SMEs. It is important we hear more about the responses in those areas.”
“Indeed, the opening line from the Department of enterprise in response was, "A policy document on the use of Generative AI was issued to all staff in my Department setting out the risks of using such technologies and the mitigations they must adopt to avoid those risks." That was not, in my view, a proactive approach. During Ireland's EU Presidency, we need to talk about artificial intelligence and digital leadership in Europe. It is critical those themes are front and centre. We need to indicate that earlier. While there has to be a strong emphasis on safety in EU regulation, it cannot be overly burdensome. We have to continue to encourage innovation in this space. On the broader debate, which I agree with my Labour Party colleagues needs to be linked with the debate on renewable energy, data centres are critical.”
“I totally agree with the Minister of State about training for all TDs and Senators on the use of AI. The national artificial intelligence strategy, AI - Here for Good, is an excellent document, but one of our problems with these is that quite often we say the right things and we do not follow through. The Minister of State will be aware I tabled a parliamentary question last month to all Departments and agencies on their use of AI and, to be honest, with some notable exceptions in health, Revenue and the cross-Border Loughs Agency, there was not a lot of proactivity. There was limited engagement beyond acting on the advice of the NCSE and some training that was happening.”
“I totally agree with Deputy Donnelly when he said that we have to address the digital divide and ensure that citizens are not left behind. As the Minister of State said, AI is not a new concept but the speed at which the change is happening, notwithstanding some of the hype, really is breathtaking. Indeed, Dario Amodei, the co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, said recently that we may achieve artificial general intelligence by 2027. That may be a little optimistic but I would be quite certain over the lifetime of this Oireachtas that we will see very significant changes. What I would like to focus on today is the State's response and some of the things I believe we need to do. I have long called for Oireachtas hearings - indeed, a special committee on AI and new tech - to stimulate public debate on issues related to artificial intelligence.”
“I congratulate my good friend and colleague, Deputy Niamh Smyth, on her appointment and wish her well. Right throughout the programme for Government, the increased emphasis on artificial intelligence and digitalisation is very positive. However, it is essential that it does not just fall on the Minister of State's shoulders. It is critical that we have a whole-of-government approach to unlock the potential of new technology. As the Taoiseach has said, in many ways what we are experiencing with AI is the 21st century's Industrial Revolution. It will transform everything we do. I am an optimist by nature and I believe that we should be focusing on the opportunities as to how tech can improve our lives, our health outcomes and, indeed, workplace efficiencies. We cannot have innovation without safety, as a number of colleagues have said.”
“I am prepared to give the new team that is in place, which was mentioned by the Minister of State, some space to move on this, but I will not tolerate any further delays. I will seek to regularly come into the House to raise this issue. I appreciate the programme that has been made with regard to additional recruitment of GPs and the training programme. This is very welcome. I get the point about the GMS scheme, but this is even about people wanting to be able to access a GP privately. It is not uncommon for somebody to be told they will have to wait three, four or five weeks, or longer, to access a GP in Gorey, and the existing GP surgeries cannot take on any new patients. We therefore see large numbers of people moving into the area without having access to a GP, and it is a really significant problem.”
“I thank the Minister of State. As she knows, I am always very happy when she is here answering questions, because of her honesty. I wish her well in her role. I very much acknowledge the 179 primary care centres that have been opened to date. We have seen excellent primary care centres, in Carnew, Arklow and Enniscorthy, but my question is why the people of Gorey and north Wexford, one of the fastest growing areas in the country, should continue to be without a new primary care centre. In the inter-census period 2016 to 2022, we saw in the Gorey electoral area population growth of 14%. It is not fair that we continue to have to wait for progress on this matter, frankly because of HSE incompetence that means it did not take action in spite of locals and local representatives, including me, raising it over the years.”
“I would be grateful if the Minister of State could inform the House and, more important, the people in north Wexford, who have been waiting for the service for a long time, whether the tender is about to be advertised and whether we will finally see a primary care centre under construction, hopefully, by the end of this year or at least during 2026.”
“Regarding what we were being told was an immediate priority, expressions of suitable interest were finally advertised in November 2024. I have been told, including in response to a parliamentary question and in correspondence I have had with the HSE from January, that following a discussion with stakeholders on the revised health service needs within the area, we would see the tender for the provision of a primary care centre advertised on the eTenders procurement platform in mid-quarter 1 2025. I am not sure how anyone else would define mid-quarter 1 2025 but to me it is around now.”
“I was told then that construction would commence within 12 months. In November 2022, when it was no surprise that no construction had commenced, HSE correspondence stated it would be treated as a priority. By November 2023, when we saw that there had been no progress on the priority for 12 months, I arranged a meeting with the then Minister, Stephen Donnelly, and HSE officials. I always recall Mr. Donnelly's response and thank him for it. He said that even in spite of the delays and cost overruns, the national children’s hospital would be finished quicker than the new primary care centre in Gorey. I agreed with him. This Minister, in fairness to him, intervened directly, such that in May 2024, 13 to 14 years after the original idea was conceived, the HSE relented and accepted that the existing site was not suitable.”
“While there are two existing surgeries, primary care centres, in 2010 or 2011 the concept of a new primary care centre for Gorey and north Wexford was advanced. By 2018, even though several of us had been raising the fact that there would be problems with a particular site, planning permission was granted for it. In spite of the problems being raised continually, the HSE chose to continue. By May 2020, as there had been no progress, I raised the issue as a Commencement matter in the Seanad and through correspondence, as the Minister of State will know. The response to the Commencement matter at the time was that the Minister had been told a contractor had been appointed and, indeed, that construction would begin within 12 months. Having gone from May 2021 to May 2022, when there had been no progress, I got the exact same answer.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. She is familiar with this issue. As she knows, I have raised it in the Seanad regularly and I have been in regular correspondence with the Department and HSE. She will know that access to GP care is a huge issue, particularly in north Wexford and south Wicklow. North Wexford, in particular, is one of the fastest growing areas of the country. During the general election campaign, which we talked about before, the question of access to health services, particularly to GPs, was a major factor. There are waiting lists for existing surgeries. The surgeries provide a good service but they cannot take on any more patients. The Minister of State will also be very familiar with the challenges around CAMHS and the children’s disability network team.”
“We have a similar example with regard to cycle lanes that were installed to both the north and south of Gorey town approximately 15 years ago, going out along the Arklow Road and the Clough Road. They are not being maintained. The local authority has stated it does not have a specified fund to clean and to maintain these, yet when it goes to TII, because it was told that it is not up to modern-day specifications, TII is not providing the funding for it. While we rightly invested a lot in active travel for new footpaths and new cycle lanes, we need to resource local authorities to be able to upgrade existing footpaths and existing cycle lanes. Part of his role has to have the Minister of State, as I am sure he will, working with local authorities to ensure they are adequately resourced to be able to address this.”
“There is funding for huge new footpaths, including, as the Ceann Comhairle knows well, on the Newtown Road in Wexford town, which is getting millions of euro spent on it, but it is not there to simply provide footpaths in existing areas. I will use another local example, namely, that of Pearse Street in Gorey. It is right in the centre of town. The road was resurfaced recently but the footpaths could not be repaired. The premises of the Irish Wheelchair Association is located on Pearse Street but there is no money to repair the footpath, which is treacherous in places for some wheelchair users and it is safer for the wheelchair users to go on the road, simply because the local authority does not have within its own resources sufficient to be able to address the question of footpaths.”
“My problem, though, is that while we are investing heavily in these new facilities, we are not providing sufficient resources for investment in existing urban locations or to repair and maintain existing cycle lanes and cycle paths. I agree with my colleague, Deputy Connolly, when he talked about safe routes to schools and the level of investment, and the return on some of those. The village of Ballycanew in north Wexford is rapidly growing and has a fantastic school right in its heart. However, it is difficult for people to walk from the estates in the village to the school itself because there are not linked-up footpaths and yet there is not funding available for the local authority to be able to provide those footpaths.”
“When the Minister of State's predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, was in this role in April of last year, he indicated that as part of the service level agreement between the Department and the Road Safety Authority, the target was by this summer to reduce that to ten weeks and the Minister of State might indicate whether that will be achieved. Finally, I will talk about what in many ways are the most vulnerable groups on the roads, namely, cyclists and pedestrians. We have seen a lot of positive investment in active travel over the past number of years. I look at what is happening in Arklow, for instance, where we are seeing extensive new cycle paths and footpaths being put in place.”
“It is one of those roads where over the years there have been accidents because of a number of dangerous bends, etc., on that. In the past, it was much more a case whereby funding was made available to local authorities around road realignments to address some of those difficulties with dangerous roads. In looking at those specific structural issues, making funding available to local authorities, even on a competitive basis, from the Department would make much sense. I agree with the remarks of Deputies as well on the need to speed up testing. I understand the average wait for a driving test is 21 weeks at present.”
“First, I congratulate the Minister of State in his new role. Given some of the debate earlier, Deputy Buttimer now will be familiar with roads all over the country. The Minister of State could probably replace Google Maps, particularly having listened to Deputy Collins knowing the various roads of south-west Cork. I am afraid I will continue somewhat in that vein. However, it is to illustrate some of the requirements around road safety at a national level. One of the challenges we all know about in our local communities, particularly with local and regional roads, are those dangerous roads where there are accident black spots. Locals will tell you about it but the figures are there from the Garda that set out where we have had a problem with particular accidents over the years. I would instance, for instance, the Gorey to Carnew road.”
“I previously raised with the Taoiseach Ireland's membership of the unified patent system. That is critical for Ireland's intellectual property and its protection. It requires a referendum to proceed. I ask that we proceed with it as soon as possible.”
“This is something that is built into the programme for Government and that underpins the competitiveness challenge report. There is a significant section in that report about Ireland's support for the capital markets union at EU level. It is critical we look at unlocking as many sources of funding as possible for Irish enterprise. Will the Taoiseach indicate if, in the context of the EU Presidency, Ireland will pursue that? There are other issues tied to that concerning international trade on which it would be of help if the Taoiseach gave an indication. One is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, with Canada. As the Taoiseach knows, we have increased business between Ireland and Canada significantly in recent years. Signing the CETA is critical to further develop that.”