Mark Daly
Administrative Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Before I go to the next question, as this is the last sitting day before we break up for the summer, I thank Martin and all the Seanad staff, all the ushers, all the people who work in catering and all the people in the Oireachtas community, including the staff who work around the Upper House, for all their work.”
“Before I call the next speaker, I welcome Senator Frances Black and her guests: Shay Black, brother of the Senator, and Erica Pagels, from San Francisco – or, more accurately, Berkeley, which is just outside San Francisco – which is a nice part of the world. I thank Ms Pagels for coming over.”
“I welcome again to the Gallery the Black family. Shay Black was here already with Erica Pagels, but Martin Black, another brother of Senator Black, is now here and is also most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Martin told me there were no hard feelings after the Dublin-Kerry game, but that Dublin was robbed. That is according to Martin.”
“I welcome to the Gallery two special guests of Senator O'Loughlin, Joeleen Dyland and her son James, who has a huge interest in politics. We look forward to James coming back to Leinster House in the future, perhaps to work in the office with Senator O'Loughlin and maybe later as an elected Member of Seanad Éireann or Dáil Éireann.”
“The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its considerations of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2026, the Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000) (No.”
“There are 10,000 to 15,000 Irish people working in Belgium, many of them EU staff. This year is the 20th anniversary of Belgium GAA, which includes the EC Gaelic Club in Brussels. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Conradh na Gaeilge, the Irish language organisation, also have branches there.”
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“I welcome guests of the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, from Laois and Offaly to the Gallery. I believe you are not in the same constituency any more but it is nice to seem you all travelling together. I also welcome guests of Eileen Lynch from Macroom in County Cork.”
“For the benefit of Members, if there has not been substantial discussion on the amendments, and this is not often, that there can be an issue on Report Stage. We had this discussion during a previous Bill where an amendment was moved and withdrawn, but because there was no substantial discussion, there was a danger that it could not be brought in on Report Stage. It had been discussed on previous sections in the amendment. Does the Senator wish to wait until the end of the debate to decide what to do with the amendment?”
“She died at 54 after giving such service to the State in exposing the wrongdoing. We say the State, but it is that of everyone from the church to the politicians who accepted the status quo . She exposed those who led the institutional abuse, systemised it and made it part of the institutions of the State. I thank Ms Raftery for that work. Like Senator Boyhan, I hope that the amendments to make the legislation more inclusive and able to deal with all of those affected by this issue will be included on Committee Stage. As Catherine Coffey O'Brien has said, Ireland needs to heal and we need to heal the victims. I thank Senator Boyhan especially for his work and advocacy on this. He has lived the experience. We are lucky to have someone like him in the Seanad to speak for all those who were in those institutions.”
“Before I call the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, I welcome Sheila O'Byrne, one of the residents of the institutions established by the State to which the Bill relates. I thank Sheila very much for being here and for her advocacy on behalf of everybody. The reason many of these issues are being addressed is because people like Sheila have not remained silent over the years. I thank her again so much for being here. Turning back to the legislation, the Minister will speak for ten minutes, group spokespersons for ten minutes and all other Senators for five minutes, with the Minister to reply not later than 3.20 p.m. I call the Minister.”
“Before I call the next speaker, I welcome Claremorris National School class of 2025 who are here with their teacher, Lisa Dillon, who might be some relation of Deputy Alan Dillon. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I hope you enjoy your stay. I do not know if you have any homework for the rest of the year but if you do, there will be no homework until next September, if that is all right with the teacher. Anois, an Seanadóir Daly.”
“I welcome the guests of Senator Nelson Murray to the Seanad Chamber. I thank them very much for coming to visit us. I hope they enjoy their day. I am sure the Senator will look after them very well. She is working very hard here in Seanad Éireann.”
“I am also delighted to announce that, as is the protocol in Seanad Éireann, there is no homework for the rest of the week for any visiting school and no homework for the teachers either.”
“Before I call the first Commencement matter, I welcome the ambassador from Palestine. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. I know you have a series of meetings and I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me this morning. We, as always, call for an immediate ceasefire and immediate access for aid into the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages and a pathway forward for peace in Palestine and Israel. Thank you, ambassador, for being here today. We also have St. Pat's national school from Bray in County Wicklow in the Gallery. You are most welcome here to Seanad Éireann today. I saw you earlier on your tour and I am delighted you are able to be in Seanad Éireann today.”
“Senator Mike Kennelly - The need for the Minister for Health to immediately reinstate the SouthDoc out-of-hours services in Listowel, County Kerry. Senator Sarah O'Reilly - The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for older people to make a statement on adult safeguarding legislation in light of the recent RTÉ documentary which highlighted the abuse of vulnerable elderly people in nursing homes. The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Garret Ahearn, Eileen Lynch, Chris Andrews and Fiona O'Loughlin and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.”
“Senator Fiona O'Loughlin - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on access to school bus transport for students in Kildare and Newbridge attending Curragh Community College, the Curragh, County Kildare. Senator Cathal Byrne - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the timeline for the review of the reasonable accommodations at the certificate examinations scheme, in particular with a view to providing additional time for dyslexic students sitting State examinations. Senator Gareth Scahill - The need for the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to make a statement on the Government's commitment to the target in the biomethane strategy and to confirm the timeline for the introduction of the renewable heat obligation.”
“I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Garret Ahearn - The need for the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a statement on the funding of League of Ireland and grassroots football in light of the FAI's new strategy. Senator Eileen Lynch - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to review the rules regarding the widow's and equivalent pensions to allow those in receipt of same access to other social welfare payments, such as illness benefit or invalidity pension. Senator Chris Andrews - The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to make a statement on the acquisition of Airbus H145M helicopters.”
“If there are no other Senators offering, before I call the Minister of State, I welcome Martin Monaghan from Longford, who has left his father at home because, apparently, he would give anyone a good grilling. People who have been on the Seanad campaign and have called into the shop will have been put through their paces. I believe even Ministers have been put through their paces on the shop floor. Mr. Monaghan is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Next time, he will bring the whole gang and his father, too. I thank him for being here today.”
“I urge caution. While Senator Andrews may have the permission of the family, he must be careful when speaking about people who are in those vulnerable situations and referring to them on the record and putting it into the public arena. I ask the Senator to be cautious.”
“Before I call Senator Andrews, I welcome Marlin Schmidt and Jolene Cusack from the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I also welcome family members of Deputy Joanna Byrne, as well as guests of Deputies Emer Higgins, Barry Ward and Emer Currie. They are also most welcome to Seanad Éireann. If they were all school groups, I would give them homework off for the week. I do not know what to give them. I hope they are all brought to the bar, anyway. I welcome them all to Seanad Éireann today.”
“Not only is Portugal's national day celebrated in Portugal and Ireland, it is also celebrated wherever Portuguese communities gather around the world. Such communities are to be found in many different countries and on all continents. We look forward to working with Portugal during our Presidency of the European Union. On this, the national day of Portugal, Feliz Dia de Camões . I thank the ambassador for being with us.”
“I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the ambassador from Portugal, H.E. Bernardo Lucena. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann today on the occasion of the national day of Portugal. I thank him for taking a break from his celebrations to come and visit Seanad Éireann. I know he will not be able to stay with us for long as the celebrations continue, as they should, on this national day on which one of the great heroes and poets of Portugal is being celebrated. Luís de Camões wrote the epic poem, "Os Lusíadas", which highlights the voyages of discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries for which Portugal is so rightly famous. Luís de Camões died on this day in 1580. Today, we celebrate his anniversary, his life and his great contribution to Portuguese culture and national life.”
“Before we take the next Commencement matter, I welcome the people from Praxis Care in Mulhuddart, who are guests of Emer Currie, who used to be a Member of this House. I also welcome the group who are here at the invitation of the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy. I thank them for being here.”
“Senator Mike Kennelly - The need for the Minister for Health to immediately reinstate the SouthDoc out-of-hours services in Listowel, County Kerry. Senator Victor Boyhan - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the relocation of the Mountainside Montessori school, Stepaside, Dublin 18, for the period September 2025 to June 2026. Senator Garret Ahearn - The need for the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a statement on the funding of League of Ireland and grassroots football in light of the FAI's new strategy. The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion. I have selected those raised by Senators Paul Daly, Robbie Gallagher, Maria Byrne and Sarah O'Reilly and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.”
“Senator Sarah O'Reilly - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to make a statement on the steps he is taking to safeguard the 217 jobs at Wellman International, County Cavan. Senator Teresa Costello - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to undertake a review of the no pets policy in housing provided by approved housing bodies. Senator Chris Andrews - The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to make a statement on the acquisition of Airbus H145M helicopters. Senator Gareth Scahill - The need for the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to make a statement on the Government's commitment to the target in the biomethane strategy; and to confirm the timeline for the introduction of the renewable heat obligation.”
“I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Paul Daly - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to undertake a review of water connections policy to ensure that farmers with multiple land parcels pay a single customer charge. Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the timeline for a remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes. Senator Maria Byrne - The need for the Minister for Finance to make a statement on the removal of VAT on sun protection factor products.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his contribution and his continued work on this. We can all agree the attacks in Gaza must stop. The vitally needed food and medical supplies must get in to Gaza, the hostages need to be released, and the step by the European Union of the review of the human rights clause in the EU-Israel agreement is a step in the right direction, although a year after Ireland first proposed it. It is a step in the right direction and, most important, a pathway forward for peace in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. I remember calls nearly ten years ago for similar attacks in Palestine and Israel to stop, yet the cycle continues. What we need is to not continually repeat what has happened but to find a pathway forward in order that people can live together.”
“The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is most welcome to Seanad Éireann for this important debate. The Tánaiste will address us for ten minutes. Group spokespersons will address the House for ten minutes and all other Senators for five minutes. The Tánaiste will be called on to reply at no later than 10.50 a.m. Statements are to conclude by 11 o'clock. This is a very important issue in respect of the ongoing attacks on Gaza.”
“Before I call the next speaker, I welcome the guests of Deputy James Geoghegan to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery: Isabelle Blum of AsIAm youth leadership, along with Liam O'Connell, a UCC intern. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.”
“I welcome the Minister of Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to the Chamber. He will speak for ten minutes, the group spokespersons will have ten minutes and all other Senators will have five minutes. He will be called to reply not later than 3.20 p.m.”
“I welcome Her Excellency Ambassador van der Weydon from Sweden to the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery to mark the national day of Sweden, which commemorates Gustav Vasa becoming king in 1523. That is not today or yesterday. The new government formed in 1809 and Swedish national day comes during the midsummer festival. Sweden picks a good time of the year for its national day. I want to especially thank the ambassador for her work on human rights when she was working with the United Nations representing Sweden. She did important work then and now. Ireland and Sweden share many common causes, including our membership of the European Union and our support for the United Nations. Human rights around the world is another platform we share together. On this your Sweden's national day, glad nationaldag, ambassador. Thank you for being here.”
“Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on securing an end user for the vacant IDA advanced technology building at Knockaconny, County Monaghan. Senator Mike Kennelly - The need for the Minister for Health to immediately reinstate the SouthDoc out-of-hours services in Listowel, County Kerry. Senator Chris Andrews - The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to make a statement on the acquisition of Airbus H145M helicopters. The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion. I have selected Senators Mark Duffy, Victor Boyhan, Cathal Byrne, Margaret Murphy O'Mahony, Seán Kyne, Joanne Collins, Nessa Cosgrove and Robbie Gallagher and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.”
“Senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony - The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a comprehensive national genomic and genetic testing service in Ireland. Senator Seán Kyne - The need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a progress statement on a new school building for Scoil Chaitríona junior and senior schools, Renmore, Galway city. Senator Joanne Collins – The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to make a statement on the measures being taken to address the lack of staffing and resources in the disability sector, particularly for summer services. Senator Nessa Cosgrove - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to introduce a minimum wage for all workers.”
“I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Mark Duffy – The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to expand the eligibility for the tenant in situ scheme to enable local authorities to include recipients of social welfare rent supplement as well as the housing assistance payment, HAP, and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. Senator Victor Boyhan – The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to give additional powers to the Agri-Food Regulator to compel accurate price and market information. Senator Cathal Byrne - The need for the Minister for Health to introduce a national paediatric screening programme for coeliac disease in children aged one to 17 years.”
“I welcome to the Public Gallery students and teachers from the Star of the Sea school, who are guests of Deputy Bacik. I thank them for coming to Seanad Éireann. As is the protocol when pupils visits the House, they will have no homework for the rest of the week. They can thank all the Senators for that very good and positive idea.”
“We have a volunteer for the friendship group. Croatia's national day is coming up and we commemorate all the national days of our EU partners. I understand it will be the 35th anniversary of Croatia's statehood and the establishment of its new constitution in 1990. The links between our two countries go back much further to when a field marshal in the Austrian army, a man from Westmeath, was very much an advocate for independence and statehood for Croatia. We share a love of language and I understand there is a statue of James Joyce in Pula. Just as St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in that city, we are delighted to celebrate Croatia's national day in Seanad Éireann. I thank the ambassador for being here with us today.”
“I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the ambassador from Croatia, H.E. Davor Vidiš. Not only is the ambassador famous in his own right but his first cousin-in-law is the Mayor of Dubrovnik.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, who is a former Senator, back to Seanad Éireann. This is an important debate, as we all know. In the previous Seanad, we had a debate on the future of local democracy, and one of the many recommendations out of that was that there would be a task force established under the next programme for Government to look at all the issues facing local democracy. This related to service delivery, the work of the democratically elected local authority members, the powers that have been slowly but surely eroded and transferred to those who are unelected, the safety of local authority members, a concern we share with them at this stage, and making sure local democracy works for the citizens. I thank the Minister of State for coming here today. He is most welcome.”
“I welcome from Galway, Councillor Jim Cuddy, who I believe retired after many years of service. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank him for all the cups of tea during the Seanad campaign down through the years.”
“Before I call the next speaker, I welcome Paul and Theresa Clerkin from Waterford, along with John Clerkin from Dublin and their cousin Vinny; Kathleen, Anthony and Ava; Cindy and Randy Flander; and Terance and Sue Franz from Chicago. I welcome the people from the city of Chicago, and from Iowa. My grand-uncle served as a parish priest in Iowa for 27 years, so I especially welcome everyone from Iowa. They are all guests of Senator Maria Byrne. I thank them for coming to Seanad Éireann today.”
“The other country that joined on the same day, the United Kingdom, did not remain and has left. We work together in the United Nations and have similar initiatives we are concerned about. When we were discussing the national flags of our respective countries, the ambassador reminded me that the flag of Denmark is the oldest national flag in the world, being nearly 1,200 years old, and that it came from the sky in the middle of a battle. There is nothing quite like imitation being the best form of flattery, because the flag of Denmark was copied by some of Denmark's Nordic neighbours, which shows how appropriate it is as a flag for that part of the world. I thank the ambassador for coming here and allowing us to celebrate with him in advance of his country’s national day.”
“Before I call the Leader to outline the Order of Business, I welcome His Excellency the ambassador from Denmark, Lars Thuesen, to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. The ambassador is most welcome to Seanad Éireann today as we mark the national day of one of our European Union colleagues. The Seanad takes a distinct interest in legislation coming from the European Union. We thank our fellow member states for their support during the Brexit period, when their support was invaluable in ensuring the ongoing success of the Good Friday Agreement and making sure there was no return to a hard border. When I spoke to the ambassador outside, we discussed many of the links between Ireland and the Kingdom of Denmark. Of course, we joined the European Union in the same year, 1973.”
“As there is a vote in the Dáil, the Minister has to go. The Minister of State who is due in for the next Commencement matter has to go to vote as well. We will suspend the House for the duration of the vote.”
“The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion. I have selected Senators Maria Byrne, Costello, Ryan and O'Loughlin and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.”
“Senator Victor Boyhan - the need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to give additional powers to the Agri-Food Regulator to compel accurate price and market information. Senator Joanne Collins - the need for the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to make a statement on the measures being taken to address the lack of staffing and resources in the disability sector, particularly in respect of summer services. Senator Robbie Gallagher - the need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on securing an end user for the vacant IDA advanced technology building at Knockaconny, County Monaghan. Senator Joe Conway - the need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the progress to date on the Waterford Airport project as set out in the programme for Government.”
“Senator Maria Byrne - the need for the Minister for Rural and Community Development to make a statement on the development of a national governing body for women's sheds, similar to the Irish Men's Sheds Association, to ensure there is equal access to grant funding. Senator Nessa Cosgrove - the need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to introduce a minimum wage for all workers. Senator Chris Andrews - the need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to make a statement on the acquisition of Airbus H145M helicopters. Senator Linda Nelson Murray - the need for the Minister for Education and Youth to ensure faster access for school bus escorts to jobseeker's payments during school holidays and to outline the plans she has to pay bus escorts during school holidays.”
“I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Teresa Costello - the need for the Minister for Health to carry out a full review of processing times for new medicines to be approved by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics to ensure waiting times are reduced. Senator Nicole Ryan - the need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the eligibility criteria and protocols in place for accessing IVF through the public health system in cases where consent has been given by a deceased partner. Senator Fiona O'Loughlin - the need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the withdrawal of midwifery services in Athy, County Kildare, and their transfer to Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.”
“For Italy's great friendship to Ireland throughout the centuries, we wish the ambassador a happy Republic Day. I thank him for being with us here today. Go raibh maith agat.”
“The Italians, like the Irish, made a deep impact wherever they went around the world - needless to say, in the United States more than anywhere else. Irish monks led by St. Columbanus founded a monastery near Genoa in the seventh century. There is a strong Italian-Irish community here, dating back to the late 19th century and early 20th century. Obviously, it was made famous by its addition of fish and chips to our culinary efforts. Approximately 11,000 Italians live in Ireland, working in the hospitality and technology sectors and in financial services. We also remember that Italy recently celebrated the 700th anniversary of the death of the father of the Italian language, Dante, one of the giants of literature with his famous Divine Comedy .”
“I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery our friend and colleague from the Republic of Italy as we mark its national day, the ambassador, H.E. Nicola Faganello, a name that sounds kind of like Fagan, and the special envoy from the ministry of foreign affairs, Andrea Silvestri, and the deputy head of mission and first secretary, Dr. Edoardo Berionni Berna. My pronunciation was close, or maybe a valiant attempt. I welcome them here to mark Italy's upcoming national day. We in the Seanad are very grateful for the support of our colleagues in the European Union. We in the Seanad take a deep interest in the issues of the European Union. Italian Republic Day celebrates the establishment of the republic in Italy in 1946.”
“I thank the Minister for her opening remarks. Before I call the first Senator, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery our Minister of State from Donegal, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, with his guests from the Irish Coast Guard. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. He is very involved in the campaign to keep open the marine rescue co-ordination centres in Malin and Valentia. We have some skin in the game in Kerry as well. Due to the combined efforts of Donegal and Kerry, they are both still operating, thankfully, with the new equipment that was needed which the Minister of State fought hard to secure along with his colleagues up there. I thank him for his work keeping us all safe.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome, from County Meath, Enfield national school, led by Michelle. You are all most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Michelle, just so you know, the rule in the Seanad is that there is no homework for the rest of the week for all students who attend. The ones who have not shown up have to do the homework, but if you are on the school trip to Leinster House and to the Seanad, there is no homework for the rest of the week.”
“I welcome, all the way from Hawaii, State Representative Amy Perruso. Amy, you are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. Amy has just gone through a torturous session, which, I believe, finished a few weeks ago. The session there starts in January and finishes in May, after which state representatives go back to their other full-time job as well as that of legislator. Thank you, Amy, for coming all the way from Hawaii to visit Seanad Éireann.”
“I welcome the Right Honourable Richard Holden MP, Michael Wheeler MP of Labour and the clerk to the committee, Gavin Blake, and the assistant clerk, Melissa Walker. I also welcome our colleagues from the UK Embassy, George Moore and Ellen O'Donoghue Oddy. You are all most welcome to Seanad Éireann. We are delighted to have our friends from the United Kingdom here. If you have any recommendations on how we might do our business better, we are always open to suggestions.”
“Before we commence, I welcome and give a cead míle fáilte to the delegation from the British House of Commons Procedure Committee, led by the Chair of the committee, Cat Smith MP. I thank the delegation for being here. Its members have a busy itinerary. We discussed various issues in the antechamber, including the ongoing impact of Brexit, which used to consume us in this House, by the way. Considering the problems of the world today, Brexit seems like a very small issue. I welcome James Asser MP, Sir Christopher Chope MP from the Conservative Party, Lee Dillon MP, a Liberal Democrats MP, and Mary Kelly Foy MP of Labour. Is that the Kellys from Mayo? No, Galway, which is a nice part of the world, too.”
“Before I propose that the Order of Business be agreed, I welcome the boys and girls from Kilrane National School in County Wexford. They are guests of the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Verona Murphy. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. I thank them for coming in. I love the colours, and I hope they will back in Croke Park soon. As is tradition, there is no homework for the rest of the week for any visiting school to Seanad Éireann. That is always a popular one.”