Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Labour Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The next card is the “Just a Minute” card and is used by people with hidden disabilities who may need just a minute longer than other people to get their stuff together or maybe realise what they are being asked. It is particularly used in banks, post offices and shops and means the person does not have to say they do not understand.”
“I wish to raise awareness of two cards that people who have a lot going on in their lives use. The first one is called a "No Wait" card and it is used by people who need access to a toilet, often very often, but always very quickly. They show this card to business so that they can get access to toilets.”
“No one goes out on a pitch to lose and the commentary, particularly on social media, is just shocking. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. These lads and lassies are feeling it already without people rubbing it in.”
“I dtosach báire, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Garret Ahearn mar Threoraí nua an tSeanaid agus leis an Seanadóir Cathal Byrne mar Príomh-Aoire an tSeanaid. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an t-ádh leo beirt. Sport is very topical at the moment. There is a lot going on in the GAA and also in the world of soccer.”
“I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Licensing of Outdoor Events) Regulations 2026 Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2026, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, i…”
“I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.5) Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2026, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in a…”
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“The next card is the “Just a Minute” card and is used by people with hidden disabilities who may need just a minute longer than other people to get their stuff together or maybe realise what they are being asked. It is particularly used in banks, post offices and shops and means the person does not have to say they do not understand. They can just show the card so that the staff member can see they need a little bit of extra time to process what is going on. As we head into recess I, too, thank everybody – Members and staff. It has been a pleasure doing business with them. I hope everyone has a good summer, do not work too hard and stay safe. Be kind and be positive. I look forward to working with everyone again in September.”
“I wish to raise awareness of two cards that people who have a lot going on in their lives use. The first one is called a "No Wait" card and it is used by people who need access to a toilet, often very often, but always very quickly. They show this card to business so that they can get access to toilets. It is often used if there is a queue for a loo that they are allowed go ahead. It is not given lightly. It is there for a reason. It is something that is not spoken about a lot. It is a pity because it is obviously a bodily function and these people need to go when they need to go. I ask businesses to respect this card and work with the people using them.”
“I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Licensing of Outdoor Events) Regulations 2026 Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2026, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 79(2)(b), which, not later than 15th July, 2026, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 84, and Standing Order 86(2) shall accordingly apply.”
“I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.7) Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2026, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 79(2)(b), which, not later than 15th July, 2026, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 84, and Standing Order 86(2) shall accordingly apply.”
“I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.6) Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2026, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 79(2)(b), which, not later than 15th July, 2026, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 84, and Standing Order 86(2) shall accordingly apply.”
“I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.5) Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2026, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 79(2)(b), which, not later than 15th July, 2026, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 84, and Standing Order 86(2) shall accordingly apply.”
“I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.4) Regulations 2026, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 2nd July, 2026, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 79(2)(b), which, not later than 15th July, 2026, shall send a message to the Seanad in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 84, and Standing Order 86(2) shall accordingly apply.”
“I hope and pray for it and we in the Fianna Fáil Party are really spurring it on. I thank the Acting Leader, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan, Senator Teresa Costello, Deputies Erin McGreehan and Martin Daly and the others involved in all of this.”
“No one goes out on a pitch to lose and the commentary, particularly on social media, is just shocking. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. These lads and lassies are feeling it already without people rubbing it in. The weather is great at the moment and it is great to have such sunshine but along with that we all lose the run of ourselves a bit. I would like to highlight that we all should be more conscious of safety; in the water, on the roads, in the sun, and to just have a spark of sense through it all. Enjoy the weather but people should mind themselves and one another. Tuesday is D-Day in regard to a decision on Skyclarys and the Acting Leader has been very involved in this issue. I hope and pray that the right decision is made. This is a life-changing drug and people deserve to get it.”
“I dtosach báire, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Garret Ahearn mar Threoraí nua an tSeanaid agus leis an Seanadóir Cathal Byrne mar Príomh-Aoire an tSeanaid. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an t-ádh leo beirt. Sport is very topical at the moment. There is a lot going on in the GAA and also in the world of soccer. Sport brings us all together. It alleviates stress and it is fun but, unfortunately, one team wins and the other team does not. You will notice I do not say "lose" because to me, anyone who puts themselves out there on the pitch is a winner. Unfortunately, the team that loses often gets severe abuse. The sacrifice these team members have made is not ever taken into consideration. They often miss social events and family events because of their training.”
“I would like the Minister to come in to discuss road safety in general and specifically with regard to this, and maybe run a national campaign to go back to basics with the red man and the green man because I fear something big and awful is going to happen.”
“I rise today to speak about the issue of road safety, particularly with regard to pedestrianisation. I do not notice it as much at home because the streets obviously are not as busy as they are in Dublin, but the few days I am in Dublin I walk around a lot and to see the lack of safety of people crossing the streets in Dublin is unreal. What is frightening is there are parents with young children who are not waiting, as we used say at home to my own boys, "for the man to turn green", and an example is being shown. Every day, I witness really close encounters and someday something big and awful is going to happen.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The old cliché "a lot done, a lot more to do" comes to mind. Will the Minister of State give me a rough timeframe for his plans going forward? I stress again the importance of people being able to get home. A lot of people are now suffering from mental health issues and they cannot even go on a night out, or even get into town to shop, because they are afraid of being stranded, particularly at night-time. While we encourage people not to drink and drive - obviously, it is not acceptable ever to do so - a lot of people are now walking home, which is very dangerous, especially on country roads. I would appreciate a timeframe.”
“It affects people’s ability to access healthcare, participate in social life, support local businesses and return home safely after events. It has a disproportionate impact on older people, people with disabilities, those living in rural communities and those without access to a private car. I, therefore, ask the Minister of State to acknowledge that Ireland is facing a genuine taxi availability or non-availability crisis and to bring forward a comprehensive plan to increase taxi numbers nationwide. That plan should address barriers to entry for new drivers, incentives to attract and retain drivers, measures to improve rural coverage and solutions for major events where demand regularly overwhelms supply.”
“The consequences are even more serious for older people, people with disabilities and those attending medical appointments. Many people rely on taxis to access healthcare, particularly where public transport options are limited. For someone attending a hospital appointment, cancer treatment or a dialysis session access to a taxi is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The economic impact is significant too. Hospitality businesses, pubs, restaurants and tourism operators report that customers are choosing to stay at home because they cannot rely on getting transport home. Rural businesses are particularly affected where alternative transport options are limited or often do not exist. This issue has moved far beyond being a major inconvenience.”
“We rightly encourage people not to drink and drive, yet in many towns and rural communities there is no reliable way to get home safely at night. The problem is especially visible during major events. Anyone who attended Zach Bryan’s concert in Cork or the ongoing concerts in Marlay Park or Malahide Castle will be familiar with the difficulties people face trying to get home afterwards. Concertgoers report long waits, extensive walks to find transport and exceptionally high fares driven by the scarcity of taxis. Some have even left events early due to concerns about being stranded. This is not just an inconvenience; it risks damaging Ireland’s reputation as a destination for tourism and major events such as those big concerts.”
“National Transport Authority data show that the number of taxi licences in operation fell from over 27,000 in 2019 to just over 26,000 in 2023, a reduction of more than 1,000 vehicles nationally. More significantly, licence numbers have fallen in 23 of the Twenty-six Counties since 2019, with some counties experiencing particularly sharp declines. These figures do not simply represent vehicles disappearing from the road; they represent people being left stranded and high and dry. Every weekend, constituents tell us the same story. After social events, sporting fixtures and nights out, they face long waits, repeated app rejections or no available taxis at all. This raises serious road safety concerns.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming in today to take this Commencement matter. Being from Cork, I think he will agree with me about the shortage of taxis, particularly in big towns and cities. I welcome the opportunity to raise the growing shortage of taxis across Ireland, a problem that is increasingly affecting public mobility, social inclusion, economic activity and accessibility in communities across the country. What was once an occasional inconvenience has become a persistent transport problem. Whether people are trying to attend a hospital appointment, get home from work, return safely after a night out or travel to a major event, they increasingly find that taxis are simply not available when they need them. The figures are concerning.”
“I want to discuss the commercial outlook for our marts around the country. Can we request that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, comes in to discuss this? Many marts are now reporting a loss in sales of up to 13%, which is huge. Anyone who is from a rural area knows the importance of the mart. It provides employment, which is obviously very important, but it is also a social outlet for many farmers. They may not meet anyone else for the rest of the week whereas they meet up there and discuss farming issues. They could also go for the spuds or a few pints or whatever. There is a big social aspect as well. I would like the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to come before the House to discuss his awareness of the issue and whether he has any plans to help them out.”
“This week is Men's Health Week, and I acknowledge and support that here in the Seanad. Men face higher risks of premature mortality, often because they are slow to get things checked out. Men are known for not talking about health issues and certainly not going to their doctors to get things checked, so the motto for this week is, “one step at a time, progress not perfection". This aims to encourage men to make small changes rather than attempting huge, chronic changes in their lives. We need to encourage our menfolk to talk about their health and get things checked out. We as women are much better, certainly at talking about our health, and it is proven that we are better at going to our GPs to get things checked. It is important that it comes from here that men should look after themselves.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I suppose we can agree that a lot has been done but there is more to do regarding this issue. I will finish by paying tribute to Jason who works along with me in my office. By telling his story, he has opened the doors for many others to feel not alone. People living with IBD are managing a condition that is unpredictable, exhausting and often invisible to others. They deserve a system that recognises that reality and responds to it. Jason’s story and the experience of thousands of people across Ireland should not be defined by delays, gaps or barriers. It should be defined by timely care, dignity and proper support.”
“IBD also affects people during key stages of life, particularly young adulthood. It has a real impact on education, employment and career progression. Many are forced to reduce hours, change roles or pass on opportunities because of fatigue and unpredictable symptoms. Today I ask for more than an acknowledgement; I ask for action. We need to see earlier and more efficient diagnosis pathways, greater awareness and understanding of IBD, improved access to specialist and mental health supports, better public infrastructure, particularly access to toilets and, critically, a review of financial supports, including consideration of including IBD in the long-term illness scheme.”
“This impacts people's independence and their quality of life. The healthcare gaps are equally concerning. Patients report difficulty in accessing specialist supports such as dieticians and appropriate follow-up care. Confidence in primary care is mixed and people often spend significant time navigating the system without feeling fully supported. One of the most pressing issues is the financial burden. Despite being serious lifelong conditions, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are not covered under the long-term illness scheme. As a result, many patients face substantial out-of-pocket costs for education and care, often running into thousands of euro each year. A significant number experience financial hardship and some are forced to delay treatment due to cost. This is deeply concerning and very unfair.”
“It is often described as living with food poisoning every day. Diagnosis can take far too long. Many patients experience delays and a significant number end up in emergency departments before receiving answers. This points to clear gaps in early detection and awareness. Beyond the physical symptoms the emotional toll is significant. This is not an easy condition to talk about; there is stigma, embarrassment and isolation. Many people struggle with anxiety and depression yet access to mental health supports remains limited. There are also everyday challenges that many of us rarely consider. Leaving the house, going to work or travelling can require careful planning around something as basic as access to a toilet. Most patients believe our public spaces do not adequately meet these needs.”
“Like many people he initially hoped it would pass but it did not. What followed was a long and difficult journey, multiple GP visits, multiple scans and tests and multiple hospital admissions. Despite this, many results came back inconclusive and at times he felt dismissed. Many thought he was faking illness when in reality he was faking being well. Eventually he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. His experience is not unique and reflects a wider problem in how we diagnose and support people with IBD. Inflammatory bowel disease affects at least 40,000 people in Ireland. It is a chronic lifelong condition that is often invisible but deeply debilitating. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, fatigue and urgent frequent use of the bathroom. On their worst days people may need to use the bathroom more than ten times.”
“I sincerely thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter today. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for coming to the House to take the debate. I rise today to highlight the urgent and ongoing challenges faced by people in Ireland living with inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. I call for action to address gaps in awareness, services and financial supports. Last week marked world IBD day, a day to raise awareness and give a voice to those living with these conditions. For many this is not something they think about once a year but their reality every single day. I will begin with real story. A member of my office, Jason Dyland, began experiencing severe abdominal pain and weight loss two years ago.”
“Today, I wish to talk about organ donor awareness. As the Leas-Cheannaire is aware, this is Organ Donor Awareness Week. We are coming to the end of it. I would like to think especially about the family of all those people who have donated organs. At the moment, there are 550 people awaiting organs in Ireland. I know the opt-out clause is in now, which obviously makes it easier for families to know that their loved ones wished to donate an organ but I think it is very important that people still have that conversation with their loved ones so they would be 100% sure that these were their wishes. I have seen at first hand, at home in Bandon, a friend of mine who received a kidney last year. He is a different man; it is just unreal. His wife said to me that she now has her husband back and I think that sums it up.”
“Today I wish to discuss medical records. I know a new scheme is being introduced that will automate them. Could we invite the Minister to the House to discuss what is happening and why it is taking so long? Is it just financial, or are there other reasons? I would like to ask her to come in to discuss where it is at and how long she thinks it will take. It is a no-brainer in that at least everything will be together. It will cut out a lot of addiction. There is nothing stopping me from going to three or four doctors tomorrow and getting prescriptions from different pharmacies. All of that kind of thing would be cut out. The patient would have access to their own medical records, which I think is essential. We should be able to look up and see what is happening in our personal medical history. I am hoping we can have that soon.”
“I also support the call for gardaí to be provided with a separate driving licence classification for use while on duty and the establishment of a full-time public order unit within An Garda Síochána. I would like to go on record today as thanking members of An Garda Síochána for all they do.”
“I support my colleagues in calling for the forthcoming pay deal for public servants to reflect the invaluable role of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces in Irish society. I also support the call for this House to condemn threats made against members of An Garda Síochána and the targeting of their families online. It is shocking when anybody's family is brought into anything and abused. I call for the development of new policies to penalise individuals who target members of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces online or in person. The development of a clear pursuit driving policy for members of An Garda Síochána would be very welcome.”
“I hope that being on camera will act as a deterrent. It is great that Garda numbers are expected to reach 15,000 within the next year. This will be the highest number in the history of the State. It is great that work is ongoing to increase capacity at the Garda College to accommodate up to 250 trainees per intake. It is very important that there is a constant large turnover of gardaí coming out of Templemore. The increased numbers in the Garda Reserve is great. There is now a target to increase the number of reserve members to over 600 this year. I acknowledge the role members of the Garda Reserve play. It is great that high-visibility policing operations are now under way. The presence of gardaí on the streets is very important.”
“I would definitely fit in there. I welcome the decision to increase the maximum age at which one can join An Garda Síochána. As the Minister of State has just said, it is now 50. That is now very young whereas 35 would once have been ridiculous. A lot of people now go to college and do a master's degree or other things. They are nearly 30 by the time they get out into the real world so it is important that the age limit increased. I also welcome the decision to increase the penalty for attacks on members of An Garda Síochána and other front-line workers to up to 12 years' imprisonment. It is shocking that gardaí, who work so hard, and other front-line workers can face these attacks. I also welcome the introduction of body-worn cameras for members of the Garda and the Irish Prison Service.”
“Cuirim fáilte go dtí an Seanad roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, for their constant availability to the Upper House. I thank my Fine Gael colleagues for bringing forward this excellent Private Members' motion. I am very impressed with it. Well done. I have a special grá for gardaí. When I was a very young child, the lady next door, the widow of a former garda, used to keep the new gardaí who came to town in lodgings so I grew up knowing them. They were always very kind. They used to bring me down to the Garda barracks and really made big of me. Since then, I have a big grá for gardaí. In 1984, when I did my leaving certificate, I looked into applying to An Garda Síochána but, unfortunately, at that time, there was a height restriction in place.”
“I would like to ask people not to charge extra for ticket sales at a time when mental health is so important. Going to a concert or to watch a game of golf gives people a great lift. Anything that is done to prevent that is wrong.”
“Hopefully, we face a fantastic summer of concerts, the Ryder Cup and other events. I want to discuss the issue of ticket gouging and touting. We have all heard of people who have been caught with this and who have paid huge money and turn up only to find the tickets do not work. Even if they do it is nonsensical to have to pay above the ticket price. The Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021 was passed but to date, nobody has been fined or charged. There are obviously loopholes in this. People say that only designated areas come under this Act. Maybe we should broaden it out. I would like the Minister to come in and give an update on that Act, how the Minister thinks the Act is performing and whether we can broaden it out.”
“Joe was elected to Skibbereen Town Council in 1999. He was elected to Cork County Council in 2004. His greatest political honour was to be elected mayor of our great county, County Cork, in 2024. He did this with great honour and prestige and he did an excellent job. He really made it his own. I would like to pay tribute to my good friend today.”
“It is with deep sadness that I stand here today to pay tribute to my good friend and former colleague Councillor Joe Carroll from the Skibbereen local electoral area, who we laid to rest yesterday. Anyone who knew Joe or ever met him would have known he was a larger-than-life character. Joe played hard and worked hard. You always knew where you stood with Joe. Sometimes that was good and sometimes it was not so good, but it always came from a good place. He was full of advice, friendship and fun. It is so sad and so ironic that he went so close to our other colleague, Councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy. They travelled the length and breadth of the world, not to mind the country, so it is nice that they are back together again. No doubt "The Old Dungarvan Oak" is getting a good rendition up in heaven.”
“I want to talk about the SEAI warmer homes scheme, which I think we all agree is a very good one. Unfortunately, in many cases it is taking over two years from start to finish with this application, which is too long. As many people who could benefit from this scheme are vulnerable people, two years is obviously a very long time to be waiting. Over the past few months I have been contacted by many councillors who have helped people with these applications. They are concerned that the applications are taking so long to process. I suggest that we ask the Minister to come here to discuss the scheme. We need to ask him to engage with the SEAI to speed up the process. Shortening the process by even three or four months would make a big difference.”
“We must continue to listen to disabled people and their families, to co-design solutions and to hold ourselves accountable for delivery. This is how we build a society where disabled people are not merely supported, but empowered to live full, independent and meaningful lives.”
“The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2026, signed into law last month, ensures that all wards of court will have their capacity reviewed, providing clarity, legal certainty and respect for each individual. There is still work to do. Waiting lists remain too long and workforce challenges persist, but the direction of travel is very clear. This Government is delivering on its commitments to disabled people, grounded in rights, backed by record investment and driven by accountability at the centre of this Government. The establishment of the disability unit, the delivery of budget 2026 and the implementation of the national human rights strategy together represent not just progress, but a genuine shift in how disability policy is approached in this State.”
“The budget also strengthens disability supports across health and well-being, from mental health staffing increases to oral health, audiology services and meals on wheels. Participation in social, cultural and sporting life is addressed through targeted funding for accessible tourism, digital inclusion, inclusive sport facilities and community-based initiatives. These investments recognise that inclusion does not end at the clinic door or at the classroom door. Accessible transport is essential for independence. Budget 2026 continues significant capital investment, ensuring that all new transport projects follow universal design principles, while funding retrofit programmes to improve existing buses, trains and stations. The Government also continues important legislative progress.”
“Employment remains one of the strongest routes to independence and social inclusion. Budget 2026 strengthens supports to help disabled people access and remain in work. The wage subsidy scheme has been significantly enhanced for the first time since 2022, with increased hourly rates and expanded eligibility to include people who acquire a disability or experience severe conditions. These measures will support thousands of workers and employers. Critically, budget 2026 removed disincentives to employment. People on disability allowance or the blind pension who move into work will be able to retain the fuel allowance and the back to work family dividend is extended to more disabled people. These changes recognise that taking up work should not mean falling off a financial cliff.”
“Budget 2026 makes meaningful progress in this area. In health, funding is provided to recruit 150 additional staff for children’s disability network teams to address therapy waiting lists and to continue the assessment of need targeted wait list initiative, delivering approximately 6,000 clinical assessments next year. In education, the budget provides €3 billion for special education, supporting around 250,000 children with special educational needs. This includes additional speech education teachers, almost 1,700 new SNAs, up to 3,000 new special classes and special school places, and expanded school-based therapy services. For early years, increased investment in the access and inclusion model ensures more children with disabilities can fully participate in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme in inclusive settings.”
“This represents a 20% year-on-year increase, an unprecedented level of investment that will stabilise funding, support workforce planning and expand essential services across the country. This funding will enable the expansion of residential care, respite services, and personal assistant and home support hours. It will support over 9,000 people in residential services, deliver thousands of additional respite nights and day services, and provide approximately 1,400 new day service places for school leavers with disabilities. Importantly, this investment also supports decongregation and independent living, ensuring more disabled people can live in their communities close to their families, friends and other supports. Disabled children and their families have waited far too long for timely supports.”
“The national human rights strategy is grounded in clear principles: dignity, autonomy, participation and equality. It moves us decisively away from a charity or deficit-based model and towards one that recognises disabled people as rights holders. The strategy commits every Department and State agency to delivery across five key pillars: inclusive education; employment; independent living and participation; health and well-being; and transport and mobility. Crucially, this is a whole-of-government approach. No single Department can deliver meaningful change in isolation. The whole-of-government approach is evident in budget 2026, which delivers a record €3.8 billion allocation to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for specialist disability services.”
“An Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, established a disability unit within the Department of the Taoiseach to bring renewed focus, accountability and urgency to disability matters. This is not symbolic. It is a clear statement that disability policy must be co-ordinated, monitored and driven centrally across all Departments. This work is rightly anchored in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which is advancing the realisation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This strategy sets out an ambitious but necessary five-year programme to tackle the barriers that disabled people encounter in everyday life and to ensure they can live full lives of their own choosing. Budget 2026 represents the first major step in turning that vision into a reality, and I will return to that shortly.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to these important statements on disability matters. At the outset, I want to be very clear. Fianna Fáil welcomes these statements, and we welcome them because they reflect a Government that recognises that supporting disabled peopled is a central priority, not an add-on or an afterthought. Disabled people continue to face real and persistent barriers in our society, barriers in education, employment, transport, housing, healthcare and civic life. This Government acknowledges these challenges and, more importantly, is acting to address them through sustained investment, structural reform and rights-based policy. That commitment is reflected at the highest level of the Government.”
“I rise today to speak about the proposed CAP reform. This is the most significant reform since the MacSharry reform. As the Deputy Leader is aware, Pillar 1 delivers an average of €260 per hectare. It is essential that this level of funding continues. A lot of farmers in good faith entered schemes such as ACRES and organics. They are just two examples of schemes that farmers have committed to. It is very important that the existing funding of Pillar 1 continues but also Pillar 2. At the moment it looks like there will be inadequate funding to fund both pillars but it is essential that both pillars are funded. I know there is a big job of work to be done. I would like the Minister, Deputy Heydon, to come in to talk perhaps about agriculture in general but certainly to talk about where he thinks these CAP negotiations are going.”
“At the heart of this Bill is a simple principle: nobody should be left in legal limbo when the State has committed to ending wardship. These amendments provide clarity, protect rights and uphold the integrity of the transition to the new decision support framework. For these reasons, Fianna Fáil supports the Bill, and I look forward to constructive engagement as it progresses.”
“The 2015 Act and its 2022 amendments marked the end of adult wardship in this State and established a modern, rights-based system of tiered decision supports. This was not merely an administrative change but a transformation grounded in autonomy, dignity and compliance with the UNCRPD and the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR. It was a reform long sought by disability advocates, safeguarding groups, civil society and many former wards and their families. The Courts Service has been working intensively to meet the statutory deadlines, listing all remaining wardship matters, appointing legal representation and issuing legal aid certificates. Progress is being made, and this Bill ensures that progress is lawful, orderly and, above all, fair.”