Mark Duffy
Labour Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank the Minister of State for being here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and for her detailed reply. While it is disappointing to hear the news here, at least it provides clarity and certainty for the project promoters and, indeed, staff and various stakeholders involved, many of whom have been in touch with me and are really…”
“I call on Bord na Móna, which has powered the community down through the years but is at risk of dividing the community now, to step up and engage effectively with the community. It should not be using community volunteers as a front to push its own agenda.”
“We should not waste people's time or, indeed, taxpayers' money. The waste there of taxpayers' money resides in the fact that resources are going to be spent elsewhere to offer a medium-term solution, while the longer term solution has gone through the procurement, planning and design stages.”
“-----and acknowledge my sister, Councillor Marie-Thérèse Duffy, in the Visitors Gallery? I thank her for being here, for being willing to replace me on Mayo County Council last year and for her support to date. I appreciate it. I also appreciate the achievement of Mayo GAA, which has really united the county.”
“I acknowledge the community in Crossmolina. I attended a public meeting last night that was attended by over 200 people who are very dissatisfied with the proposals by Bord na Móna to build a route around the town of Crossmolina. Crossmolina has a vibrant, active community. There has been a lack of public consultation on this proposal.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, for being here to discuss this very important topic. I acknowledge the work the staff of Tusla do in County Mayo and across the country in very challenging circumstances and with very vulnerable people. They respond when others cannot and do not.”
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“It needs to be supported. The volunteers in the community need to be respected and engaged with appropriately, not in a tick-the-box exercise. It is a live planning application. Bord na Móna needs to take a step back and get people on board before it tries to move ahead with these proposals.”
“I call on Bord na Móna, which has powered the community down through the years but is at risk of dividing the community now, to step up and engage effectively with the community. It should not be using community volunteers as a front to push its own agenda. Things need to be done in a consultative way and in a process that listens to people in the community and responds appropriately, not by riding roughshod over a community that has been very facilitative of different projects through the years. The community needs to see a return on investment and not be ignored. I would like to see that their asks are facilitated and that there is proper engagement with the community. The field in question is home to the Crossmolina Agricultural Show, which I was at last year and support every year. It is a brilliant festival and show.”
“I acknowledge the community in Crossmolina. I attended a public meeting last night that was attended by over 200 people who are very dissatisfied with the proposals by Bord na Móna to build a route around the town of Crossmolina. Crossmolina has a vibrant, active community. There has been a lack of public consultation on this proposal. We all have experience of the different projects that are delivered by State or semi-State bodies. I checked my emails to see that the last correspondence I had with Bord na Móna was in 2024. It has had no engagement with the community. The community is very concerned about the impact of the proposed route and the biodiversity impact it will have. The lack of consultation is totally unacceptable and not fair.”
“-----and acknowledge my sister, Councillor Marie-Thérèse Duffy, in the Visitors Gallery? I thank her for being here, for being willing to replace me on Mayo County Council last year and for her support to date. I appreciate it. I also appreciate the achievement of Mayo GAA, which has really united the county. I acknowledge Andy Moran and the team. I also acknowledge our friends from Louth and their supporters. They are a formidable team and a team on the up. We are looking forward to taking on Kerry once again. Senator Fitzpatrick encapsulated it when she referred to the Kerry celebrations. The Cathaoirleach and Senator Kennelly have it in the bag. It is just a matter of going up and collecting the trophy. I wish them well in their celebrations and look forward to being there to witness it.”
“We should not waste people's time or, indeed, taxpayers' money. The waste there of taxpayers' money resides in the fact that resources are going to be spent elsewhere to offer a medium-term solution, while the longer term solution has gone through the procurement, planning and design stages. It is not for me to be the arbiter of what is or is not value for money. That is for Tusla and the Minister to consider. However, to go so far down the road and do a U-turn is very unsatisfactory for the developer and many who would like to have seen this project be realised. There need to be more questions asked and clarity given by Tusla on this particular project. I reiterate my thanks to the Minister of State for the clarity she has been able to shed on the project with the update on the progress made so far.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and for her detailed reply. While it is disappointing to hear the news here, at least it provides clarity and certainty for the project promoters and, indeed, staff and various stakeholders involved, many of whom have been in touch with me and are really passionate about ambitious and quality infrastructure to support Tusla and its needs. The Minister of State mentioned that effective projects begin with a clearly identified service need and are underpinned by strong governance, robust planning and sound decision-making. That the planning went through all the process, detailed designs and construction drawings, then to make a U-turn on it, is not good enough by Tusla. There clearly has been a breakdown in appropriate governance there and proper planning.”
“A lot of time, resources and finances have been invested in the proposal for a site on Moneen Road, Castlebar, which would serve the whole county. It is a very ambitious plan for which permission was granted in 2023. At least €300,000 has been spent on it to date. I would welcome an update to provide clarity on the future of the project.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, for being here to discuss this very important topic. I acknowledge the work the staff of Tusla do in County Mayo and across the country in very challenging circumstances and with very vulnerable people. They respond when others cannot and do not. While there are lots of different views and angles, with some cases getting a huge amount of spotlight, 99% of cases go unheard of because the outcome is a very positive and meaningful impact on young people's lives and on families, community life and society generally. I seek an update on the development of headquarters for Tusla in Mayo. Discussions and work have been ongoing since 2023 with a local developer.”
“If a message went out to people asking them if they would like a reminder for the short term, be it next year or so on, as opposed to waiting ten years, then that would be very worthwhile and positively received.”
“Everyone would welcome a little reminder from the Passport Office to say that their passport is due to expire in six months. What kind of world do we live in if that cannot be done for each passport holder? A reminder should be given. People will see the benefit in ten years when their passports are due to expire and they need to renew them. We will begin to be aware much sooner, though, with earlier notifications for people's whose passports are due to expire quite soon. A reminder would take a lot of stress and hassle out of people's lives. Everyone gets reminders for things such as tax and insurance renewals. This should be no different.”
“I would like to raise and support a proposal that Senator Nelson Murray previously raised in relation to the notification of passport renewals. It is a good proposal and a very good idea. As we know, all of our offices at certain times of the year are inundated with requests and frantic last minute attempts to try to get passports for people who need them for a holiday, family trip or even a family emergency. It causes a lot of stress and anxiety for families. It would actually be interesting to have a study on the financial implications of it for families who lose out on trips, accommodation and travel abroad. I welcome the reply that was given. It means that going forward, there will be an opt-in for a reminder. In this day and age, at times there is overkill with GDPR.”
“Seeing the weaponisation of that on the continent of Europe poses a real risk to supply for our hospitals, schools and homes. It is important that we make sure that we have backup supplies and reserves to make sure that the country can continue to tick in the event of major disruption. The world has become more polarised, particularly within the past ten years, and we need to make sure that we can stand on our own two feet as much as possible. This legislation will help support that. I hope that the legislation moves through swiftly and is supported broadly. It is a mature and responsible thing to do for the State to make sure that we have good security and responsibility into the future. On behalf of the Fine Gael side of the House, I support the Bill.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here for the Second Stage debate on this important legislation. I wish place on record my support for the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026. In recent years we have seen the politicisation and weaponisation of gas, be it the supply we have coming in through the North or transatlantic threats off our coasts. In Ireland, we have 20% of supply coming from our own county of Mayo through the Corrib field and 80% coming from the North Sea, which comes in through Northern Ireland. While we are moving to a decarbonised economy and country, gas and the supply of it underpins all of that. When the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine, we need to make sure that we have a solid supply of it.”
“They help us utilise the fact that we are a member of the European Union and have access to a market of over 400 million people. I reiterate my thanks to all who have engaged on this legislation so far. I also acknowledge the work of local representatives. Indeed, I acknowledge the work done by the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, in bringing it to this Stage. It is a positive step but it is important that this is not just a step forward while ignoring people in the community. It is important that the door is always open in a sincere way for engagement with local representatives and representatives of the airport. I support the Bill and thank everyone for their work on it.”
“Especially given the reality of Brexit, there are increased opportunities for the airport and for Ireland in general. I know the importance of key infrastructure like airports, being from Mayo and the fact that Ireland West Airport Knock recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. That airport transformed the west of Ireland and is one of the most important assets we have there. I would like to see the airport further promoted and strengthened. As Senator Joe Conway mentioned, regional airports need to be supported. They can play a smaller part in connectivity for the regions, both for economic reasons and tourism opportunities. There are many people who live outside of the larger cities who can commute for work and regional airports improve business links for people, especially across the continent.”
“However, considering the points that have been raised, and I am sure will be raised and discussed, it is very important that we listen and are as skilful as possible in mitigating some of the issues caused by high-volume passenger numbers in communities. It is not for me to get into the weeds on that but we must lend support to local representatives and local communities to make sure that the principle of Dublin Airport being a good neighbour and a stakeholder within the community is embraced, not just in name only but factually and in a sincere way to at least mitigate some of the issues. I also strongly support the lifting of the cap. It would send a strong signal that Ireland is open for business and we can further develop links throughout the world.”
“The economic vitality that breeds throughout the island is very pronounced and we know its importance. Dublin Airport provides over 30,000 jobs. As has been mentioned in previous debates, for every 1 million passengers that Dublin Airport has each year it promotes 1,000 jobs. The passenger cap of 32 million passengers is an artificial cap considering that over 36 million people passed through the airport last year. Given the fact there has been a lot of international interest in the removal of the cap because of economic challenges that have been faced by certain airlines that want to grow and improve connectivity, it is important it is removed.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being in the House this evening for this important discussion. I put my support on the record for the removal of the passenger cap, notwithstanding the issues identified by the community. I acknowledge all the work of local representatives in the localities around the airport. We need to manage and have a balanced approach to development and economic growth, while also trying to bring as many people with us as possible in these localities and communities. Dublin Airport, as we know, is such a key and important strategic asset for the country because we are an island nation. It is vital that we have strong connectivity and links right around the world. There is a great opportunity to promote further links as we have a strong diaspora in all corners of the globe.”
“I compliment my colleagues and everyone in the House who spoke in support of it. I would like to see it introduced swiftly in order that the next time there are power outages, people do not receive the standing charge.”
“If we have a system in place and we deploy excess energy from the grid to battery storage at a residential level, we can give people free electricity for their batteries or to fill their tanks with hot water. I know EnergyCloud has done some work in this space. God forbid, if power is shut off during a storm, people's water tanks will be filled with hot water and their batteries will be powered up, which can help to mitigate some of the time lag between the power going and being restored. To come back to the motion put forward by Senators Scahill and Murphy, there is currently an injustice. While not being a full financial solution to the cost of electricity bills, it is something that would help in a small way to benefit people financially and address what is currently an injustice when people without electricity are being charged.”
“On foot of the price of batteries having reduced by 50% in recent years, there is a real opportunity that the next step to becoming a cleaner and greener country, while also reducing bills, will be the investment in battery storage at a residential level. This is something that I have articulated regularly at the committee. I also have raised it here a number of times and I hope that we can continue to pursue this initiative because, as I said, it can be transformative in terms how we interact. My area has some of the largest wind farms in the country. At times, because of high wind levels, there is “dispatch down”, where the turbines are shut down.”
“If we have warmer homes that are retrofitted and grant-aided then the requirement for electricity will also reduce. That is something that Ireland has been very strong on in terms of the grants and supports that are there for the retrofitting of one's home. We need to take that in a full context when we think about electricity cost. There are other elements that can help improve taking the cost of electricity bills from those most affected and those most vulnerable. We know the benefit of solar and photovoltaic cells for homeowners. I refer to the battery storage and the potential that has to really be a next step forward. In terms of homeowners reducing their bills, buying energy at night and releasing it by day is common sense.”
“What I mean by "matter of justice" is that for families who felt isolated, disconnected, alone and vulnerable in conditions that were substandard, to think that a utility provider not providing any utility at that time was actually applying a standing charge is something that is more about injustice than a financial contribution. The financial benefit for people if we can get this fully over the line will be a help and an acknowledgement, but it is about the justice in making sure that people are not out of pocket while also without electricity. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Energy and the Environment. We are doing a lot in the space of trying to capitalise on different opportunities that can drive down the cost of electricity. The cost is only one element.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I compliment my colleagues, Senators Gareth Scahill and P.J. Murphy, for putting forward this very important Private Members' motion. While I agree that it is not a silver bullet in terms of addressing all costs for energy, I do think it is a matter of justice. I travel through the west of Ireland. I am from County Mayo, not far from Galway and Roscommon. I travelled through that area to get to this House during my Seanad campaign and drove through many countries, including those I have mentioned and Monaghan and Cavan. I will never forget the devastation I saw. I do not think it was fully understood at more senior levels, I would say politically, but within certain utility companies as well. The response was not satisfactory and we have reflected that quite clearly.”
“The Citylink bus route took over the public service obligation from Bus Éireann after it ceased. It is the Ballina to Galway bus. It is a simple ask. I acknowledge Jimmy Mulroy and the whole Straide community, along with Councillors Neil Cruise and Donna Sheridan, who have campaigned alongside myself and others to have this bus reinstated. It is a simple ask but it would make the world of difference to vulnerable people who are otherwise disconnected from the major populations in each direction. It is very important for young people who are not driving, and people going for education, medical appointments or work. I call on the NTA to do this. It is very important for the Straide community that it listens and makes this happen.”
“It is something I will raise with the Minister, Deputy Burke, as Minister for tourism. I call on Tourism Ireland to do more in terms of campaigning on that. We are a very well connected island and we have a very good tourism story. We see fatalities due to extreme weather events across Europe, which put difficulty and pressure on vulnerable and elderly people. In this great country, we have a much safer weather system that we can use to attract visitors from Slovenia and across Europe. There is a story to tell. With the support of the House and the Minister, we can do more. I reiterate my call to the National Transport Authority, NTA, to support the Straide community on the reinstatement of the bus that passes by Straide village. It has the investment of two bus stops.”
“I acknowledge and welcome the ambassador of Slovenia and his team to the Public Gallery. We had a discussion on the way in about extreme weather events. I want to raise the extreme weather events we are seeing across the Continent of Europe. While we love to talk about the weather in Ireland all of the time, obviously we are experiencing very high temperatures here. I am raising this in the context of the opportunity for tourism in Ireland during the summer months. While we have warm weather by our standards, it is a lot better than the extreme heat of Spain, Portugal and other countries across the continent of Europe. I suggest we can do more in terms of attracting people on "coolcations", as it is called when people go on holiday to a better, more refreshing climate. There is a great tourism opportunity there.”
“I acknowledge Margaret Reilly, chair of the committee, who is doing brilliant work. We want as much support as possible for the committee ahead of the 250th celebrations next year, including the naval ship from Argentina, the Libertad . Hopefully, it will dock in Dublin and around Kilcummin Bay.”
“The committee is gearing up for the 250th celebrations next year. I am asking for the support of the House to make sure that the Government and all key stakeholders in the Irish Embassy in Argentina and indeed the Argentinian Embassy here support the committee's efforts to make sure we put on a show and a real celebration of the ties that link both countries, in particular the Admiral William Brown connection in Foxford. A play is being launched later this year called Liam . I met some of its producers at the weekend. They are enthusiastic. It was great to see the number of Argentinians, members of their diaspora here, celebrating the exploits of the Argentinian team over the past two games in the World Cup. They are passionate about the strong values and ties that connect both countries.”
“I will take the opportunity to highlight the commemoration celebrations of the birth of Admiral William Brown from Foxford, County Mayo. Members may be interested to know that he was the founder of the Argentinian navy. He was born in 1777 in Foxford and led an incredible life. He was very much inspired by the opportunity to help to achieve independence for Argentina, having left Ireland, which was under much oppression and political, economical and societal strife at the time. The impact he made is incredible. The weekend celebration was the 249th anniversary of his birth. There was a Mass in Foxford church and a march through the street by the Foxford Brass Band, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary. This was followed by speeches at the walkway by the River Moy and a get-together in the Admiral Brown Memorial Hall.”
“A blanket decision to keep the programme closed is not wise, considering the impact it has made. The projects are transformative, once-in-a-generation projects for clubs and organisations across the country, with programme funding provided at a scale that the State is not willing even to entertain. I ask the Minister of State, using whatever influence he may have, to relay my point to the Minister for justice and the Government more broadly. This would be much appreciated. All of us, including the Minister of State, can see the direct impact of investment under the programme in clubs and communities across Ireland.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I am aware that he is here on behalf of the Minister for justice today, but the reply is disappointing, specifically because there is nothing comparable in terms of funding for sporting organisations, clubs or community groups at present. It is not as if the Irish State can match the programme or put something else in its place. We had the begging bowl out and had the programme as an incentive for people to invest and engage in Ireland when we were under economic and financial pressure. The minute there was any improvement in that, the programme was wound up. The point I have made is that there are ways and means of doing this in a way that is constructive, protects our values and means no exploitation of loopholes or bad-faith actors.”
“I understand that there have been issues in terms of certain loopholes that may have been exploited. It is fair to highlight that, but what I am calling for is the reintroduction of the scheme in a way that benefits sports clubs and organisations and would not expose Ireland or allow loopholes for bad-faith actors. If we are smart in our policymaking and legislation, we can achieve that, but it requires political will to make it happen.”
“I welcome the Minister of State. The immigrant investment programme, IIP, was launched in 2012. This programme benefited organisations and communities across the country to the tune of €1.25 billion following its introduction. It was closed in 2023. I understand that there are a range of issues pertaining to the closure and winding down of the scheme. We have seen a real impact on investment in County Mayo in particular. Westport United received €2.8 million in 2023. As the Minister of State will be well aware, Islandeady GAA received €3.6 million, while Knockmore GAA received €2 million. These are substantial investments in sporting organisations, at a level and scale that no other State agency or body can match. It is really transformative for sports organisations and clubs.”
“The people who fundraise, the waterboys, the managers, the coaches and everyone else have kept together these rural clubs which were and are such a beacon for community and society across County Mayo and elsewhere. Many elderly Mayo supporters will not have access to view the game. They will not be able to travel up to Dublin for the game and do not have the technology or the devices in their houses to watch and enjoy the game. It is very disappointing for them to be excluded from this. Given the volunteerism and the social good within the GAA, there needs to be a broader discussion in this House to make sure there is access for viewers across the country. Finally, I wish to acknowledge Emma Rose Browne from the Sylvan Kelly School of Irish Dancing who won the under-nine national championship this weekend.”
“Better again. I also acknowledge Senator Ahearn’s father Liam. I know that his late mother, Theresa, would be immensely proud and I am sure she is looking down on him with pride. Senator Cathal Byrne spoke of the public service within the Ahearn family, through council chambers and both Houses of the Oireachtas. I know they all hold those values with great pride. I look forward to supporting Senator Ahearn in every way I can throughout his term as Leader. My colleague Mike Kennelly has done a lot of advocacy on the coverage of GAA games as we enter the business end of the season. Obviously, Mayo had a great win against Meath over the weekend and will play Cork this coming weekend. Unfortunately, both of these games will end up being broadcast on GAA+. As Senator Kennelly has outlined before, the GAA is based on volunteerism.”
“I join other Members of the House in congratulating my friend and colleague Garret Ahearn on his promotion to becoming Leader of Seanad Éireann. I know it is a great honour and privilege for him and all his family. I acknowledge and welcome them all here this afternoon, Laura, Daniel and Jamie in particular. While it is not my job, I would like to suggest if there is homework this week that with a bit of support from colleagues it might be dismissed on this special occasion.”
“Like Senator Boyhan said, I hope, and have no doubt, that they will work across the House in a constructive way on behalf of us all.”
“I ask the National Transport Authority, NTA, to intervene. I have raised the issue on numerous occasions and continually campaign for the community. I ask for the support of this House to see the route reintroduced because we need to have supports for public transport. We need public service obligations and this is a perfect example of it. I ask for support. I acknowledge Councillors Neil Cruise and Donna Sheridan who have raised the matter with me and asked me to continually campaign for it. We will not let up until the route is returned. I also acknowledge the local community, including Jimmy Mulroy, who has led a petition to reflect the demands of the people of Strade. I congratulate Senators Ahearn and Cathal Byrne on their appointments as Leader and Whip, respectively. They are brilliant achievements and I am delighted for them both.”
“I support the community of Strade in County Mayo who are campaigning to have a bus route returned that is a vital link for their whole community. The 52 bus route connects Ballina and Galway. It always connected into Strade where two new bus stops were recently built. Unfortunately, however, Bus Éireann ceased the bus route, much to the dismay of everyone, including me. Thankfully, a public service obligation kicked in and Citylink took over the route. Sadly, the village of Strade was left out of this important route. The village of Strade is a rural area and this bus was a vital link to connect people from the village into Foxford, Ballina, Castlebar and onwards to Galway for education, work and medical appointments. To have the route stopped has been a devastating blow. I reiterate my call to Citylink to include Strade on the route.”
“They raise funds for so many different organisations every time they host an event. They bring a lot of joy to the community as well as a lot of benefit to voluntary organisations across the town and the county. I thank them and acknowledge their 40 years and look forward to celebrating it with them on Saturday evening.”
“The club has brought so much joy to so many families. On Saturday evening the Moy Singers are also celebrating their 40th anniversary, having been founded back in 1986. Recently they took part in a brilliant concert at Knock Airport to celebrate the airport's 40th anniversary. The group has brought so much joy to the town and the county of Mayo, singing at different events. They will have a big night of celebration on Saturday night, again in the Great National Hotel, and I look forward to joining them in their celebrations. The line up includes the Lions Male Choir, PJ Duffy, Martin Moser, Mark O'Donnell, Damian Evans, Keif Mullis and Iarla Dunford, all of whom are taking part to support the Moy Singers. I wish them well and thank them for all they do in contributing to community life.”
“This weekend in Ballina there will be two very big 40th anniversary celebrations for two very special organisations that I would like to highlight on the floor of Seanad Éireann. The first is the Ballina Arch Club, a voluntary social group for adults with special needs. It has been a brilliant source of joy down through the years for parents, family members and adults with special needs, bringing them together in social settings. It provides brilliant opportunities for people to hang out together, go to events together and develop friendships throughout adulthood. It is also a great vehicle for parents to socialise and connect. The club is having its 40th anniversary celebrations tomorrow in the Great National Hotel in Ballina. I look forward to joining them in celebrating their incredible achievements down through the years.”
“I acknowledge Members across the floor for putting forward this Bill. I know it is very well intentioned. I do not want to sound patronising but obviously, I support the Minister of State and the Government in terms of the practical reality of its implementation. From the Fine Gael side of the House, we will not be supporting the Bill. We see what is happening before our eyes and especially over the past number of years, it has been absolutely devastating. However, in the practical reality of implementing this legislation, it is not possible.”
“We in north Mayo are playing our role in sustainable energy, including wind energy, but these are totally in the wrong location. I object to them and support the opposition of the local community. St. Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina is one of the tallest buildings in north Mayo. It stands at 46 m. One of these turbines alone would dwarf St. Muredach's Cathedral. At 180 m, these are monstrosities that are being proposed. I ask for the support of the House to support a community that has been very proactive. I compliment both of the action groups, which have been constructive in working with the communities that are constructively objecting to both proposals. Councillors Jarlath Munnelly and Gerry Coyle have been working with me on the rejection of both of these monstrosities, which would undermine the scenic beauty of north Mayo.”
“I stand in support of the people of the Lacken-Ballycastle-Killala area and Erris in their opposition to two proposed wind farm developments that are being advanced in both of those areas. These are areas of scenic natural beauty, home to rural areas and people who have faced depopulation and many challenges down through the years. They are resilient communities. Both of these proposals totally contravene county development plans and the wind energy strategy. They contravene "Wild Mayo", which was a Fáilte Ireland document released in Ballinglen earlier this year. What is being proposed will destroy areas with thousands of years of history, including neolithic, ecological and biological history, and precious ecosystems that we celebrate and promote. They will be undermined by both of these developments.”
“Ernie had some of those bricks, one of which he presented to President Biden, which was an incredible moment in time and a memory for us all to share in. More recently, in my political career, Ernie was very supportive of me when I joined Fine Gael and in the general election campaign, when he gave up his upstairs office space for our campaign headquarters. I thank him and offer condolences to his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
“I have just come from his funeral Mass and it was brilliant to see him so fondly remembered. It was just this day last week that I was chatting to him, and to see his passing so soon is heartbreaking. It is lovely to see how fondly he has been remembered at home in Ballina, County Mayo, and in this House. I offer my sincere condolences to Ernie's sons, Liam and Declan, and his daughters, Elizabeth and Miriam. He leaves such a void for the family, but also the community. He was a great friend to me when President Biden was due to visit Ballina. He was one of the main people to research the connection between Ballina and the US President. He discovered that President Biden's ancestor had supplied the bricks that built the cathedral.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to join colleagues in mourning the loss of a friend and former Member of this House, Ernie Caffrey, and offer my sincere condolences to his family. Ernie was a representative of both Mayo and Sligo county councils at different times in his life. He has a unique legacy and served here in the Upper House from 1997 to 2002. He lived an incredible life dedicated to family life, community life, volunteerism and the common good. He was a volunteer on the Moy Valley Resources board of directors for a vast number of years, served on a number of different boards, was an entrepreneur and was a founding member of the newspaper The Western Journal . In later life, he was at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth, where he won a silver medal at the age of, I think, 76.”
“Joe Gilmore, the chief executive, and Mr. Arthur French, who is the chairman of Knock Airport. I wish them well with the celebrations. Here is to the next 40 years of Knock Airport.”