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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“I thank the Minister of State for being in the House this afternoon for this important motion. I also thank Fianna Fáil for tabling the motion. There is no doubt that people across the country are feeling the pinch and are under pronounced pressure. That situation came to boil over the past number of weeks. It is worth reiterating that like the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, another external factor in Iran has caused huge upheaval in fuel prices and other energy costs, which has affected agricultural contractors, hauliers, anyone who works in the transport industry and, indeed, individual households. People are feeling the pressure but the Government has responded substantially with the intervention that was made either side of Easter.”
“Private wires legislation is a good opportunity to encourage 80% renewable supply for larger industrial developments such as data centres. Having the ability to directly access renewable energy without interacting directly with the grid is a good opportunity. On an individual level, we need to continue to support homeowners who want to do a full retrofit of their house, or individual measures, and mobilise and use the opportunity battery and solar offer. We need to be really progressive and swiftly move forward on key strategic opportunities. Where there is discussion on nuclear, we need to have a full and open debate on all opportunities as well the Inishkea gas field. Clarity is needed on strategic projects such as wind and solar farms. I welcome the Minister of State's contributions and thoughts.”
“We saw the vulnerability last January with Storm Éowyn. To support voluntary charity organisations with reduced costs for their energy on a strategic level, there should be State-built battery storage for a town, for example, which could benefit from the oversupply at certain times. We have some of the largest wind farms in the country in my locality, such as the Oweninny wind farm in Bellacorick just outside Crossmolina. When there is an oversupply, it should not be wasted. Can battery storage be mobilised in localities for communities to benefit from the oversupply that is being lost and wasted, whether that be sporting organisations with high bills, arts centres, charities and community groups? There is a great opportunity to realise that. I would welcome the Minister of State's contribution on that.”
“The energy cloud concept has been good in reducing bills and topping people up with hot water through their tanks when there is an oversupply of electricity on the grid. Rather than a dispatch down where turbines are turned off, energy is released back onto the grid free of charge, which helps vulnerable users to reduce bills. I welcome the leadership of Mayo County Council in piloting the concept. Hopefully, it will be rolled out further. The concept, which Senator McCarthy raised, of not wasting wind energy needs to be mobilised more. In a broader sense, an idea that I have thought about and perhaps raised previously in this Chamber – I welcome the contribution of both the Minister of State and the Minister in this regard – is to have battery storage in towns to benefit individual residents in the event of power outages.”
“Although the Minister outlined in his contribution that there is no risk to supply, we have an opportunity to increase our independence on gas use. A total of 20% of our gas comes from the Corrib field off the coast of Belmullet, County Mayo, but Inishkea gas field has enormous potential to supply more gas to the network in Ireland. I would welcome the Minister of State’s thoughts on the Inishkea gas fields. While we need to decarbonise, we must be pragmatic. We cannot be held ransom by rogue states and operators or have the whole cohesion of the country threatened based on external factors. If we can improve our energy security and independence, we need to do it. I welcome the Minister of State’s contribution in that regard.”
“This is something that is regularly asked for at both a county and national level. I am also a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy. This is needed to realise the potential of onshore wind. The same goes for solar. While solar is a positive measure on an individual basis, solar farms need to have defined limits. The Minister of State will have experienced this in his county. We all experience it in our areas. Clarity is needed as to what can be built and where and when it can happen. We cannot have a free-for-all process. In respect of gas exploration, we import 80% of our gas. While we have long-term energy reserves of over 80 days for fuel, we do not have the same level of security for gas.”
“I welcome the supports for individual homeowners, such as the deep retrofit grants and the targeting of the most vulnerable and most affected by high energy prices. Those in receipt of the fuel allowance may benefit from a 100% retrofit grant. That is a good approach. Further interventions, such as supports on solar energy and battery storage on an individual residential basis, can play a significant role in supporting people and mitigating the worst challenges of the variation in energy prices. We need clarity when it comes to wind and solar energy. Clarity is also needed for onshore and offshore wind farm proposals. They can and will play an important role but clear, defined strategies for all of our counties are needed. Previously, I was the chair of Mayo County Council’s enterprise, marine and planning strategic policy committee.”
“I thank the Minister of State as well as the Minister who was present earlier, for being here for this incredibly important debate and for listening intently on the contributions that have been made. We are in a perilous situation where nothing is the same as it was previously. We have seen that with the weaponisation of fuel and energy following Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. We have seen it more recently in the Middle East with the Strait of Hormuz. We see how quickly anarchy can be at risk of breaking out, whether in Ireland or anywhere around the world, when the supply and cost of energy are threatened and undermined. We have many opportunities in Ireland to turn a corner to decarbonise and improve energy security and independence. Wind and solar are two elements on which we can do more.”
“What will happen if the commission wants to increase the levy by 100% or 200%? Will we just wash our hands and say it has nothing to do with us because the commission is totally independent? Where will it stop if the commission wants to increase its staff? It began with 40%. What if it wants to increase it to 1,000%? Where does it stop? Where is the intervention from across the House? I would like to think that there is support from all sides on this. It is sensitive because it is important that there be separation but there needs to be intervention on it and I ask for the Leader's support on it”
“The reason they have increased their staff levels is to regulate further online media through social media platforms platforms, so why are independent broadcasters, which are the life and soul of local communities, which are there in times of emergencies such as storms, which are the beating heart of local sports and cultural events and which are under a lot of pressure because of challenges facing the sector ironically because of social media, being levied with 39% increases? This will be detrimental to some of these local media organisations. I ask for support from right across the House on this because it is totally unfair that this has been levied upon broadcasters. We need a debate on this and I call for the Minister to come to the House to discuss it further because it is totally unfair.”
“It was formed out of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which had 40 staff in 2020. Coimisiún na Meán now has a staff of over 220 and it is the local radio stations that are having to pay to be regulated further by it. It is totally outrageous. The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O'Donovan, says that he cannot intervene, and we must respect the delineation of powers and the commission's independence. However, it cannot go off and be a law unto itself. Was this levy adequately and properly discussed by the Oireachtas media committee? There needs to be some sort of formal process in place. Coimisiún na Meán cannot continue to grow its staff by the hundredfold and then start levying independent broadcasters.”
“I want to first welcome Gavin Brennan Morrow to the House. He is an intern with me and is a student in St. Muredach's College, my former secondary school. He is also a great active musician and a member of the community in Ballina. I welcome him to Seanad Éireann this morning and thank him for his assistance throughout the day. I also want to wish the best of luck to St. Joseph's Secondary School, Foxford. It is in the FAI schools national U15 B cup final against Coláiste na Sceilge, Cahersiveen, in Limerick this afternoon. I wish the team well. Last week, I raised the levy on independent local radio stations that has been initiated by Coimisiún na Meán. It is totally outrageous, and something needs to be done about it. I totally respect that we must have independence in the media but Coimisiún na Meán cannot be a law unto itself.”
“There are vulnerable students, be they locals or recent arrivals, as well as students with additional needs and they need to be supported. DEIS status is there to support those most in need and those most vulnerable. I ask that schools like Naomh Bríd would be considered for support through the DEIS support initiative, in particular for home school community liaison officers and supports. While I think in particular of the inclusion of Ballycastle's national school, Scoil Naomh Bríd, in any future support, I would welcome a broad discussion on DEIS schools.”
“Today I would like to raise DEIS status for schools. It is a brilliant programme for schools that benefit from it. I got a benefit from it in my own time in primary school. I call for the Leader's support in arranging a discussion with the Minister for education on schools that have missed out on either DEIS status or the home school community liaison element of DEIS support. I think in particular of Scoil Naomh Bríd in Ballycastle, an area that I raise regularly on the floor of Seanad Éireann. It is a three-teacher school with 73 students. A third of the school comprises students from international protection. It is a very rural, isolated area that, according to the Pobal index, has areas of deprivation. While it is a very vibrant community and school with brilliant staff and students, they do need support.”
“I call on Coimisiún na Meán to reverse it. I call on the Minister to make a statement on it. We need to support our local radio stations. If we compare it with TV, those stations are levied at 1.21% of turnover compared with radio at 2.8%. It is totally unfair that broadcasters in local, independently-owned radio stations are being unfairly burdened with this levy. It needs to be rejected and I call for support across the House on it.”
“I know others across the country are equally affected. Coimisiún na Meán needs to reverse this decision. I totally reject it. I have been in touch with the Minister on it. They are independent of it but it falls under the remit of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. There needs to be a total reversal of this and a way around it. We must support our local radio stations. They have gone through so many different challenges over the years, with constant innovation and, most recently, social media and other different challenges and headwinds the sector has faced. They are a valuable asset for local communities and to be penalised with a 39% increase and for that money then to be used to regulate these local radio stations further is totally counterproductive. It needs to be rejected by the House and needs to be reversed.”
“I wish to raise the shocking increase in the levy on local radio stations announced yesterday by Coimisiún na Meán. As we know, local radio stations across the country are the beating heart of every community. They provide updates in times of emergency and keep us informed on issues of the day such as local democracy, justice, sports or community involvement. This levy is a devastating blow for local radio stations. Coimisiún na Meán is there to regulate radio stations and puts enough pressure on these independently-owned broadcasters as it is. However, to then follow it up with a 39% levy to further resource its regulation seems totally counterproductive. It is causing huge distress and frustration for local radio stations, many of which have contacted me, including Midwest Radio in my own area.”
“In respect of the measures that will be proposed later today in the conversation we will have, I ask for Commencement debates on them and that we have the relevant Minister to make them a reality.”
“It is often commented upon that it is important to listen to communities and people on the ground because they are the eyes and ears. They understand it intimately, care about biodiversity and the precious ecosystem that is the River Moy and what can be done to protect it. It is also important to have clear data on the number of smolts and salmon in the river and what needs to be done to protect and enhance it for future generations. Blanket bans and closures are not always the answer. I will also highlight Thomas McMahon in Foxford in Mayo, who has innovated with an app that can help be part of that solution. Councillor Neil Cruise has been very supportive of it too.”
“I would like to take the opportunity this morning to acknowledge the work of the Moy Action Group, members of which - Martin Parker, Simon Leonard, Peter McHugh, Rob Cording and Ian Canavan - are here in the Gallery this morning, and acknowledge the work and leadership that they have brought to the table on behalf of fishermen and women in County Mayo. The ask is clear: that we have accurate data. There is no denying that there are challenges facing the River Moy and salmon stocks right around the world but the accuracy of data is part of that question. From the Leader's experience advocating for fishermen in Galway, he has been a strong supporter of them. I acknowledge the work of the team from Moy Action Group and look forward to the discussion we will have later today.”
“I have raised on many occasions here on the floor of Seanad Éireann how important and strategic the River Moy is in County Mayo. It begins in east Mayo and flows through north Mayo and out to the Atlantic Ocean. It has been fished by many people. It is known nationally and internationally. The late and great Jack Charlton fished there many a summer after World Cups. Later this afternoon the climate, energy and environment committee will have a discussion on the salmon decline in the River Moy.”
“I understand there are commercial sensitivities in relation to these discussions but I hope an outcome will be reached sooner rather than later. I hope the decision will be to make it eligible so that people can benefit from it. The Minister of State can take it from the House and from me that we would like to see Mounjaro supported and included in the scheme for the betterment of people who need it most.”
“I acknowledge the members of the Behy Irish Countrywomen's Association, ICA, as they head out the door, and wish them well on the rest of their visit and trip. I know Margaret is celebrating her birthday today. They might wish her a happy birthday; I know she is here. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I understand there is work under way. I know she has taken the point based on my contribution anyway, but I want to reiterate that we need to do whatever can be done to support the inclusion of Mounjaro. It can have a transformational positive impact on the lives of those who benefit from it, especially those who are suffering from long-term illness, recovering from cancer, and who are experiencing side effects from Ozempic.”
“If there are reasons the computer says "No", is it possible for it to be included in instances where there are side-effects from the patient taking Ozempic? I would welcome the Minister of State's consideration of it, in the interest of helping a family in need.”
“As a result, he has been forced to take Mounjaro injections instead but they are not covered by the plan. The family was able to manage this previously by crossing the Border and buying it in Northern Ireland. That was their workaround because it is more expensive here than it is up North. It is costing them €600 in the Republic versus about £400 in the North. The rules have changed, however, which means that they can no longer buy Mounjaro in Northern Ireland and have to buy it in the Republic. This is costing them about €600 per prescription and is putting huge financial pressure and a burden on this couple and their family. While, as I already mentioned, it is welcome that certain elements are included in the long-term illness scheme through the medical card, it is a loophole. Can it be included?”
“This matter kind of explains itself. I thank the Minister of State for being here. The ask is that Mounjaro be included in the long-term illness scheme through the medical card. I was contacted by a constituent in my home county, Mayo, whose husband has unfortunately been sick since 2010 and is a cancer survivor. His health is declining and the cancer treatment has caused a number of severe side effects. He is unable to work and his wife is his full-time carer. They have two teenage children. There are a lot of pressures on the family. He requires a lot of medication each day. Thankfully, many are covered by the medical card scheme under the long-term illness plan. However, he has type 2 diabetes and suffer from severe side effects taking Ozempic.”
“The answer I received from Irish Rail was that the passengers can stay on the first train because it will not leave before the next one goes, but try telling that to people who are afraid they will miss the connecting train and that the train will take off before they leave. Generally, human nature is to get off the train and be ready so you do not get stuck on a train going in the other direction. I ask that we have a discussion on rail infrastructure with the Minister for Transport to improve shelters, whether they be at bus stops in areas where they are needed or on platforms like the Manulla Junction, in order to improve the public transport experience for all routes. I would appreciate if we could consider having that debate.”
“We were successful in achieving the early-morning rail service, which has gone from strength to strength since it was introduced a number of years ago, and it connects a whole cohort of people in north Mayo. A constituent contacted me a number of days ago to explain how, when the Westport line stops and lets passengers off for the Foxford and Ballina line, all the passengers are left out on the platform and in inclement weather, especially at this time of year, all of the passengers are soaking wet by the time they get onto the next carriage because they have to wait for the other train to come. It is a very small and basic ask.”
“Very similarly, in relation to public transport and improving services for commuters in County Mayo, I would like to raise an issue that has been highlighted to me on many occasions. In my role on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, I have been advocating for a shelter at the Manulla Junction platform. For those who may not be familiar with it, in County Mayo there are two train lines, one originating in Ballina and the other beginning in Westport. They meet at Manulla Junction, which has no road or vehicular access. Over the past number of years as a public representative, I have been passionate about campaigning for improved connectivity between Mayo and Dublin.”
“They are here as guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, and are off to Croke Park this afternoon to play a blitz. It was lovely to meet all of the students earlier. This is the people's House and we are all here to improve the lives of young people and others right across the country. I wish Balla National School the very best of luck this afternoon. I met with Chelsea, Luke, Robbie, Jack Óg, Gabriella and Cian, among others. I am told that Balla boys do not stop. They asked me to say that. I congratulate them and wish them well in the competition this afternoon in Croke Park.”
“I ask that any of these packages are done in a way that is, of course, supportive of hauliers and key sectors like agricultural contractors, which we have already discussed, but is also supportive of all of the other sectors that have not been advocated for as much. They all need to be covered and included because there are livelihoods at stake. I acknowledge the work of Councillor Peter Flynn, who has been advocating for the ferry operators in his own area. He has raised their case with me and I have been working very hard with the Departments on it to make sure we deliver for ferry operators. Before I finish, I would like to welcome the students from Balla National School, who are on a tour of Leinster House today.”
“Today I reiterate my call for supports for every sector affected by the fuel crisis. One group I mentioned yesterday, and whom I have been working on behalf of and advocating for to Departments and departmental officials, is ferry operators who connect citizens of islands right across the coast of my own county of Mayo, but also across the whole country. They are equally impacted by the fuel crisis. Supports and packages that are being devised for all of the industries must include ferry operators and support their efforts. I would like to lend my support once again to those in the inshore fishery sector, who are also facing dire consequences because of the cost of fuel and the reductions in quotas. They are facing severe challenges and need to be supported.”
“I hope that this is an opportunity for us as a country to prioritise our energy security and move forward with critical infrastructure that means we can mitigate the worst challenges that can be put before us by a crisis like this. I acknowledge the people in Mayo who protested peacefully in Ballina and Castlebar over the past number of days and the gardaí who have been put in such a difficult position across the country. We need to make sure that we expedite critical infrastructure to make sure that we have energy security in this country.”
“It has been a difficult time for everyone. There has been a lot of hostility and anger. People have the right to protest, but they do not have the right to block and impede critical infrastructure. That undermines the operations of the State. That is what took place. There has been agitation by Members of both Houses and by members of protest groups, who have tried to undermine, mislead and conflate what is an international crisis. As Irish people, we work well and deliver well when we work together and pull together. This is something that has happened external to our control and the Government is trying to respond to it in real time.”
“In the last number of weeks, the Government has made efforts to respond to the crisis in energy prices. While it was not enough in the previous sitting of the Dáil to react to that crisis because of the volatility of the market, a second package was announced on Sunday and will be legislated for today. This will go into the pockets of the people who feel under pressure. It needs to make sure that these schemes deliver for the bus contractors on fixed-price contracts who are bringing children to school and the hauliers who are stocking the shelves and delivering produce across the country. It needs to deliver for the hauliers and for the ferry operators who are bringing people to and from the islands of our country. It needs to support everyone who is affected and out of pocket. It is a substantial level of investment.”
“The people of the nation are hurting. Over the past number of weeks in every community, town and village, the protests and demonstrations have reflected huge frustration and anger across the community. It has left a sour taste this afternoon in the Seanad and the Dáil and has divided us. It has divided us in reaction to a fuel crisis that has shocked international markets across the world. We are facing an international crisis. As a country, we have always worked well under pressure, whether that be the financial crash in the 2000s, or more recently with Brexit, when we worked together and supported each diplomatically to deliver a strong Brexit deal. During Covid we worked as a community, as a society and as parliamentarians together and got through that. More recently, there have been energy shocks with the Ukraine-Russia war.”
“We need to make sure we have actual delivery when volunteers step up to the plate and create a clear plan and a clear ask. We need to make sure that is delivered on. I commend the Brackloon community, the volunteers and the community futures programme in Mayo County Council and I hope that, across the board, we can make sure we deliver on plans like this for the betterment of communities like Brackloon.”
“I wish to acknowledge Tom Kitterick, who is the chair of the community group, along with the whole organisation which has put this brilliant document together. I ask the Leader to request a discussion on this with the Minister in order that we have the opportunity to have dedicated funds to realise these plans so it is not just something that gathers dust or sits on a shelf but is delivered upon because communities have done the heavy lifting, the consultation and the hard work and have produced really interesting data and proposals. It is now for the agencies of the State, whether that is the local authority or Departments, to deliver and invest in it. We rely a lot on volunteers in Ireland. It is part of how we operate as communities and societies but we cannot over-rely on volunteers.”
“While there would be policymaking and decision-making from the ground up that was led by the community, it needs to be supported from local authority and Oireachtas level to make the plans and hopes for their community a reality. A number of issues are identified, such as flooding and lack of footpaths and lighting. However, there are many opportunities in terms of improving connectivity and tourism links within the area, as well as connectivity to the local school and other amenities. They have a very proud heritage and history in the area. It sits at the foot of Croagh Patrick and is a very scenic area. This requires the support of all agencies and authorities to realise their plan, whether that is the tackling of flooding or the creation of playgrounds and more facilities for young people.”
“I want to highlight on the floor of the Seanad an event I attended at the weekend in my home county of Mayo on the community futures programme. This programme identifies an area, generally a rural hinterland. In this case it is Brackloon, which is a series of townlands that have come together to devise a plan, future and strategy for their community. The programme engaged with 279 submissions from 345 households in the area. It identified community needs. It identified opportunities within the area and identified the demographics of the area and where there might be potential need for investment into the future. The community futures model is something that needs to be commended. It would benefit every town and village nationwide where the local authority empowers a local community to engage in this process.”
“It could be done through that Department or through the Department of local government, led by the Minister, Deputy James Browne. At the moment, though, the maintenance of this infrastructure is not up to scratch. Whether at this level or at local authority level, we need to have a greater intensity in addressing this important matter.”
“I thank the Minister of State again for his reply. His commitment to meet the family is greatly appreciated. To follow up on Senator O’Donovan’s point, the investment in piers and in repairs to piers, slipways and harbours is welcome. It can be more. On the specific aspect of maintenance, the resources supplied by local authorities is something we need greater understanding of. We need safety audits and assessments in respect of all our piers, harbours and slipways. We need to find out the cost of making them safe and of their ongoing maintenance. If we can understand this through communication with the chief executives of the local authorities, then we can all campaign to support better funding for the Minister of State’s Department to support local authorities.”
“He is a local innovator in County Mayo who is doing great work to create proposals that will help make safety measures on piers a reality. Senators will not be found wanting when it comes to supporting the Minister of State in his efforts to request funding to deliver much-needed investment in piers and harbours. The Minister of State understands the importance of this work. There is a lot of jeopardy as well as dangerous moments at piers, which can happen very quickly. A brilliant legacy for us all would be to support the Minister of State and the McNulty family, in memory of their late father, to make sure that such a tragedy never happens again and that our harbours and piers are safe. I look forward to hearing the reply.”
“What I would love to see come from today is a message to all chief executives of county councils to have safety audits on all of our piers and harbours to identify exactly what needs to be done to improve safety, lighting and maintenance of piers, slipways and harbours, to ensure that tragedies like Buncrana or more recently Belderrig never happen again and that all measures are taken to protect them. I would welcome the Minister of State’s engagement on this. I ask him to meet with the McNulty family and in particular Joanna at some stage. She is working on a petition to encourage support to make sure that this vision of safety at all of our piers and harbours is realised. I wish to acknowledge the work of Darren Forde.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the floor of Seanad Éireann. Something I, along with my colleague, Senator O'Donovan, have raised continuously, is the maintenance of piers, harbours and slipways across the country. Indeed, in my home county of Mayo, it is something I have advocated for as a county councillor, and more recently as a Member of the Oireachtas. Something that sadly has borne out our worst fears was a recent tragedy at Belderrig pier, where Joachim McNulty sadly lost his life. I have met Joachim’s daughter, Joanna, his wife, Geraldine, and the Belderrig community, who have been immense in using this as an opportunity to say "No more" and to insist on better standards of safety at piers and harbours.”
“We need to have supports and targeted measures that somewhat ease the burden in what are unprecedented international circumstances.”
“I note that the hauliers' association is meeting with the Minister today to discuss this. Individually, people who are living below the poverty, are on social welfare or are living with disabilities are feeling the pinch because of the increase in fuel costs. There need to be targeted measures to support the most vulnerable in our society. I know the Government will be working over the coming days to propose a package next week at Cabinet but there need to be targeted measures relating to the fuel allowance and its extension for a number of weeks or as long as is feasible. People are under pressure at the moment. We all get the calls and talk to our neighbours and members of our communities. A lot of people are under great financial pressure.”
“Something that has been discussed at length over the past weeks, both here and in the Dáil, is the cost of living and the pressures people are feeling, whether at the pumps, with home heating oil, as hauliers or for school transport. I have engaged with a number of bus operators, for example, that are in fixed-price contracts with the Department of Transport for school bus routes. These fixed prices were for a certain defined number, which is now being well overshot with the current fuel prices. It is becoming unviable for certain coach operators to provide the service that was pre-agreed because of the unprecedented circumstances in which we now find ourselves due to fuel costs. Hauliers are critical to the operation of the whole economy and this is causing huge pressure on the industry.”
“There is a clear ask here as a public representative on the floor of the Seanad this morning for this survey. This is on behalf of people in my community who are working constructively and proactively to better understand and better react and respond to the decline of the salmon population. They deserve a better and more considered answer on this. I would welcome the Minister of State's support in achieving that because, as I said, a lot more can be addressed and answered in respect of the important Commencement matter I have raised this morning.”
“I thank the Minister of State. He is here on behalf of the Department and the Minister and I thank him for taking the Commencement matter. However, I am none the wiser in terms of the issue I raised. The latest assessment of Ireland's breeding cormorant population indicates a broadly stable picture since the mid-1980s. However, the context in which I am raising this is the rapid and significant decline of the salmon population on the River Moy. That is clearly outlined in the Commencement matter. It has been outlined here that further surveys and monitoring will be done in the coming years. That is quite vague in terms of when, what, where and how. I would welcome the Minister of State's support in getting us a more considered reply from the Department. We cannot farm off all responsibility when these are State bodies.”