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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“This Commencement matter, however, deals specifically with carrying out a survey of the breeding cormorant. One was carried out in Galway, where smolt shepherding allows for better protection of smolts as they move through the river. It helped to increase the number of salmon by one third. There was a marked improvement because of smolt shepherding on that river. It was a much easier area in which to do it than the River Moy. I would welcome the commencement of a breeding cormorant survey on the River Moy to understand what can be done to improve outcomes for salmon on the river. This is one small element of a much broader picture of challenges that salmon fishing on the River Moy, which is in decline, faces. I would welcome the Minister of State's contribution on the matter.”
“There is a real tradition and generational enjoyment of fishing on the river in a sensitive way. There has been a decline. I have raised in the House and at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy the need and potential for a LIFE project along the River Moy, which could help to identify positive, ecologically sensitive interventions that could be made to protect the spawning salmon and the sea trout that are further out in the estuary. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to improve the stock. I am raising this Commencement matter on behalf of the Moy Action Group who I met recently. One of the approaches is to use more accurate fish counters so we have better data to understand how many fish are moving through the river at each moment in time.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for being here for this Commencement matter, which calls on the Minister with responsibility for nature, heritage and biodiversity to carry out a breeding cormorant survey on the Moy catchment area, including Lough Conn and Lough Cullin, to assess their impact on the decline of salmon in the River Moy. This comes with the backdrop of a decrease in the number of salmon being caught on the River Moy, which is the jewel in the crown and is recognised internationally for the abundance of salmon in it, its special ecological status and the biodiversity along it. Unfortunately, in recent years, for a multitude of different reasons, there has been a marked decline in the number of salmon being caught. The area relies heavily on tourism and benefits a lot from it.”
“That cannot be accepted any more, especially when the State has such ambitious plans to deliver infrastructure and build homes in every town and village in the country. We need to back tradesmen and women who get up and work for an honest living and ensure they are not sucker-punched by thieves who take advantage of people who are trying to make a living in the trades. I am honoured to support the Bill. I hope we have support across the House to ensure we are strong in supporting our tradespeople and strong on law and order. That is a very powerful message and a vote of confidence we can send out to our tradespeople.”
“It is a great privilege to second this Bill. I compliment Senator Murphy on bringing it to the floor and on his work and advocacy on this proposal so far. This is an important Bill because tradespeople are the lifeblood of our economy and society. If this Bill is supported, the message that will go out to those in the trades is that they are valued and are being listened to. This is a very important element to communicate. In my home county of Mayo, we have had tool-marking initiatives, which we also have across the country. These are a symptom of the much broader issue of tool theft that Senator Murphy has outlined. This issue must be addressed and a message must go out because if we have lax laws and weak laws, we incentivise criminals, such as those with many previous convictions Senator Murphy mentioned, to carry on as normal.”
“For anyone who is not able to climb a mountain, to have at a busy tourist attraction a way to bring that experience to their doorstep through the visitor centre is something that we should highlight, share and promote. For all of the tourist attractions that we all have in our counties, it is fairly affordable to be able to do. It makes a big difference for people, especially those who are vulnerable or are not able-bodied, to be able to do something such as a climb or visit a cliff face. I compliment them. It is officially opening later this year, in May. We had a preview on Monday, before St. Patrick's Day. It is a positive investment in the area and it could be rolled out to tourist attractions around the country. I would encourage the Minister, Deputy Burke, to consider rolling out funding to support that.”
“I would like to highlight an initiative I visited on Monday at the foot of Croagh Patrick in the Croagh Patrick visitor centre. It is an immersive virtual reality experience that guides people up the mountain. I am highlighting it because it is a good example of a tourist attraction that would generally be inaccessible to many people for reasons of disability, inability or mobility. Thankfully, because of the ingenuity and the innovation from the Mayo north-east leadership programme, they have invested in this 3D technology, which brings you on a guided journey up the pilgrimage mountain. You are escorted alongside a St. Patrick figure, who brings you up and tells you the story of Patrick. It is an interesting, enjoyable and good telling of the story. It is a very good example of inclusive tourist experiences.”
“It take a long time for the benefits and knock-on effects to be felt by customers. We need to have a statement from the CCPC on it and I would welcome the Leader's support on that.”
“There is obviously ongoing unrest in the Middle East but the people who are being charged unfairly now are being charged for oil that was bought at a much cheaper price. There needs to be a wider conversation about this, where we encourage and write a letter to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, to investigate this. There is a wide range of different prices at different pumps and fuel stations around the country currently. It causes huge dissatisfaction. I have had a number of people contact me. I have seen a lot of people commenting on it online and there is huge frustration and dissatisfaction that prices are being increased so quickly when this fuel was bought at a much cheaper price. The prices go up very quickly but they do not always come down very quickly.”
“In light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, it is very disappointing to see how quickly both retailers, petrol pumps and home heating oil providers are instantly jacking up prices. It is totally unfair because it has been already outlined that a spike in crude oil prices should not result in an immediate knee-jerk reaction or an increase in the price of wholesale fuels at petrol pumps and from home heating suppliers. Just this morning, I was talking with a bus driver who said that yesterday, to fill a tank, compared with today it has increased by €60 already. It is totally scandalous that we have this predatory approach by retailers who are taking advantage of the perception of an increase in fuel prices.”
“Legislation is often trying to catch up and react to the different challenges that arise every time there is innovation. If there is responsible leadership in communities, that can be mitigated. I want to acknowledge the work of Achill Island Smartphone Free Childhood and the same group in Westport. I encourage the initiative in other towns, villages and communities across the country. It is a constructive approach to protect young people. I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I also thank my colleagues, the Fianna Fáil Senators, who have brought this issue to the floor.”
“I would like to acknowledge the speakers on the night. They included Emmet Major, from Planet Youth Ireland, and Hilary O'Connor, from Westport Smartphone Free Childhood, as well as community gardaí, Shane Nallen and Padraic O'Connor, and the local sergeant, Sinead Barrett. It is a great example of parents, community policing units, civic leaders and members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and the local authority coming together. A local GP, Dr. Noreen Lineen-Curtis, spoke about the health impact, including the mental health impact, phones can have. It was organised by Edwin McGreal and was a great example. Perhaps it is something we can encourage and support in other towns, villages and communities across the country. Legislation will never keep up with the speed and advances in smartphone and online technology and digital tools.”
“There have been initiatives in Westport, and the parents of children on Achill Island are showing similar leadership in collectively understanding that there is peer pressure for young people in terms of the use of smartphones and different apps. There are many worrying and addictive features and dark elements that need to be addressed, and that is what we need to do as legislators. There is also an element of responsibility in homes and communities. The initiative on Achill Island is an excellent example of leadership whereby parents are trying to get together to encourage all parents of children not to get them a smartphone until a certain agreed age. It is a good example of protecting young people from the harms, peer pressure, potential bullying and all of the other dark features and elements addressed on the floor of the House.”
“I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming our visitors from Norway to the Gallery. I thank Fianna Fáil Senators for bringing forward this important Private Member's motion during what is a seminal moment in time. We see the development of and advancements in technology, including AI, and the brilliant opportunities that provides for society, along with incredibly dark elements that need to be addressed and legislated for. This week I attended an information evening in Ted's Bar hosted by Achill Island Smartphone Free Childhood, led by my colleague, Deputy Keira Keogh, and attended by the local community, including parents and Councillor Paul McNamara. While we are legislators in Leinster House, in order to protect children there needs to be leadership in communities.”
“Next month, there will be conversations and meetings on this but we need to have everything answered and considered for farmers before any decisions are made to make sure the livelihoods and farmers in my home county of Mayo and right across Ireland are protected in any potential merger. I would, therefore, welcome an update from the Minister on this and clarification, in particular, for supports for farmers into the future if the ownership is incorporated outside of this jurisdiction.”
“Without trying to interfere in a process that will be democratic and no doubt constructive and maybe make sense for both parties, I would like to make sure, in the interests of the 10,000 farmers who are part of the Aurivo ownership, that in the event of challenges the sector may face into the future, whether that is something like we discussed yesterday with bluetongue or different scares that might threaten the industry, an incorporation of Aurivo outside of the jurisdiction of the Republic and outside of the European Union will not have a negative impact on potential supports for farmers. I am sure this will be discussed in any of these ongoing talks.”
“I share my condolences on the passing of former Senator Mary White with her family and loved ones. I am monitoring with interest the proposed talks about a merger between Aurivo and Dale Farm, which is based in Northern Ireland. Aurivo is a brilliant company owned by over 10,000 farmers. They contribute a huge amount to each of the communities where they are based and where the production is based. I would welcome a discussion with the Minister for agriculture on it.”
“If you go into a filling station bathroom, a notice on the back of the door will say it was last cleaned by such-and-such on Tuesday. That basic standard should be applied to piers. There should be a standardised approach and a service level agreement with local authorities and contractors to put adequate lighting, proper safety barriers and a proper cleaning schedule in place, to ensure it is safe for pedestrians, tourists, fishermen and women, and anyone on the pier. I call for an urgent debate. We need the Minister in the House. If the Minister is not satisfied with the local authorities, we need to summon the chief executives of the authorities, who are failing people in coastal communities.”
“It relates to the maintenance of piers and harbours across the country. Sadly, last week, we had a fatality at a pier in Belderrig in County Mayo, a man in his 60s. Because of a lack of maintenance at the pier, which I have called for on a number of occasions, his vehicle lost control and slipped into the water. I acknowledge the efforts of the firemen in Crossmolina, Belmullet and Ballina who attended the scene, supported by the Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club. On my way here this morning, I stopped at Knock airport and met with an individual who was home for the funeral of that neighbour and loved one. There is a lack of maintenance of piers, whether it is lighting or power washing and cleaning. The gentlemen I spoke to this morning made a point about putting barriers in place at times of year when the pier is not being used actively.”
“I acknowledge the visitors to the House, and also the previous visitors, the ambassadors of Ukraine and Estonia. It is a day of celebration for the people of Estonia, their national day, but it is not the same for Ukraine for obvious reasons. The people of Ukraine have had to endure so much hardship since the illegal invasion by Russia four years ago today. On behalf of the Fine Gael side of the House, I send solidarity to all Ukrainian people who have lost their lives, lost loved ones and lost a future in their home country. Please God we will see an improvement in that situation. I raise something I have raised in the House on two previous occasions in the past nine months. I raised it shortly after being elected and raised it more recently with the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley.”
“In the final seconds I have, I wish to mention my former secondary school, my alma mater, which is in the Connacht final tomorrow evening. I want to wish St. Muredach's College the very best of luck. It is playing St. Gerald's College. St. Muredach's has not won the Connacht A before. They are playing the game in Bekan, in Ballyhaunis. Please God, all of the management, players, supporters, and students past and present get out and support the college to get the win.”
“If it is a bank holiday weekend, that garda might have to wait until the following Tuesday to access footage of an incident, by which stage that garda might be off on leave, given that they might be seven days on, seven days off. As such, it could be two weeks before footage is actually attained. However, if we had a proper system in all of our towns and villages, there could be footage available for use within 60 seconds. Whether it was footage of someone vulnerable who goes missing, an incident or an accident, or something simple like something being lost or misplaced, we could have real-time information. It could improve safety and also the quality of life of citizens in communities. I ask that we have a discussion on this with the Minister to see that a proper scheme - not a bureaucratic scheme - for communities is introduced.”
“I know Councillor Jarlath Munnelly in Killala and Councillor Neil Cruise in Foxford have been doing a lot of work with their communities on it. It is something that represents a great opportunity in terms of making places and communities feel safer. It is about getting the mechanisms right from a funding point of view. There are companies that can do it and that meet all the different bureaucratic or technical obstacles that currently exist from a GDPR point of view. For example, at the moment in Ballina, if there is an incident at 5 p.m. on a Friday evening, a garda has to go to the council offices, which may be closed at that time.”
“I wish to raise the issue of CCTV in towns and communities right across the country. I have been working with community groups and different organisations that are leading on improved safety in their neighbourhoods, on their streets and in their towns and villages. There has been a scheme for CCTV in towns but complexities to do with GDPR and the funding mechanism for CCTV means it is impossible to get the funding. I am asking that we have a dedicated CCTV scheme for towns and villages that can be funded through community groups and organisations. This would allow communities to lead and deliver on these schemes. There are companies that are able to use the existing CCTV systems of businesses and tie them into an overall network of cameras within a town or village.”
“The housing crisis affects every town, village, nook and cranny of this island. Having to do market analysis when the dogs on the street know there is a housing crisis is totally unnecessary. People who have the financial ability can build large one-off homes in rural areas. If we build houses, they will be bought and will put a roof over people's heads. Where is there an example of oversupply in the country at the moment? There is none. We need to get rid of this obstacle before developing affordable housing schemes, so that in a small village a developer may be able to build a small scheme suitable for that village. The same would apply for a medium-sized town, where a local contractor could do the same. Having to apply to the Department of housing to be validated for something like this is a step too far. We have a crisis on our hands.”
“I raise an issue relating to housing. We see across the country the housing crisis that faces the State for so many different reasons. There are many potential ways to help to unlock housing supply. Many people, in particular young couples, are priced out of the market and fall between the cracks, in that they are not able to afford to build or buy their own home and are also not eligible, because of income limits, for social housing supports. In my case, in County Mayo, the towns of Westport, Castlebar and Ballina are eligible for affordable housing schemes through the Department of housing. This entailed, first, having KPMG do market analysis on the town and then a recommendation being made to the Department to say affordable housing is required for Ballina, or whatever the town may be. This is total overkill.”
“Every single one of us has a role to play as public representatives and leaders in our communities along with every citizen. They have to take a certain amount of responsibility and autonomy and vigilance. We as policymakers can be constructive. The ideas proposed this evening can be very constructive in terms of making this a safer country for us all to live in and making the roadway and byways safer for us all to use, because each life lost is one too many. We need to see a re-emphasis on road safety. I welcome all of the contributions this evening and we all look forward to working with the Minister of State and all of the State agencies and local authorities alike to make sure we have a drastic improvement in safety outcomes for all road users.”
“We have engineers in local authorities on the ground and representatives in communities who understand in a pronounced way the challenges in every neighbourhood. Connecting the funding and interventions closer together will make a big difference in turning around projects at much greater speed. We are in an age where there are so many different challenges in road safety because of more contemporary travel modes. We spoke at length about e-scooters and scramblers. We welcome the Bills that are coming in but it also requires the enforcement of them and the vigilance of every road user to protect the most vulnerable, whether schoolchildren, wheelchair users, cyclists, pedestrians, motorists, vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, and larger vehicles.”
“I thank the Ministers of State, Deputy Buttimer and Deputy Canney, for being here for such an important topic. I thank my Fine Gael colleagues and colleagues across all parties for supporting this motion. As has been outlined, we have a crisis in road safety. We have heard some brilliant and heartfelt contributions of ideas to help make our roadways, footpaths and cycle lanes safer for all road users. Today's announcement of funding and investment will go some way towards low-cost safety measures in communities which can improve safety. We would like to see drastic improvements in front-loading investment and prioritising low-cost safety measures in communities. As has been mentioned, perhaps there can be more devolved decision-making around safety improvements in towns and communities.”
“Can we have more devolved decision making for low-cost safety interventions at local authority level without centralising every single element of road investment, as it is currently? More devolved investment through local authorities would be much welcomed. I thank the Minister of State for his time and for his work on road safety. I know it is something he holds very dear and that he is working sincerely to improve outcomes and safety for all of our citizens - motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and every road user. This evening is a very good opportunity to discuss that and identify what we can do to help drastically reduce the fatalities on our roads to make our roads, footpaths and cycleways safer for all our citizens.”
“I raised an issue on the floor this afternoon about Culleens National School in my home town of Ballina and made the point that, for example, State investment in a national school is very welcome from a Department of education point of view but a joined-up approach and thinking in terms of ensuring a school is also safely accessible by walking and cycling infrastructure should be part of any future investments. In this instance, since the school opened, for the past year it has been campaigning and advocating for the basic intervention of a footpath and a reduced speed limit outside the school. These are basic requests and I do not think requests like this need to go to ministerial level in order to get basic interventions that could be done at local authority level. We have engineers.”
“That could be done in a way that is identified through one piece of work and then realised through a second piece of work, rather than having the regular over and back between a local authority applying to a Department and it being either funded or declined and then waiting year after year for much-needed investment in infrastructure in communities. We also spoke recently about the Love 30 campaign. The work of local authorities is under way to reduce speed limits in urban centres and that can be profoundly positive in improving safety. Road safety is down to the autonomy of motorists but we need to do more in strengthening the regulations and their enforcement. The Love 30 campaign has led to significant improvements in road safety in countries right across Europe where it has been introduced.”
“There is a finite need in certain towns for safety measures, whether that is pedestrian crossings and speed tables that can, in urban environments, reduce speeding and make them more pedestrian-friendly and safe. This has a public health benefit but it also has significant safety benefits for vulnerable road users. I ask that consideration be given to a transformational investment in certain towns and villages where councillors have identified a multitude of interventions that could make a significant difference to road safety in their town or village.”
“We have seen great investment in public transport and that can also play a vital role in bringing people from roadways and more dangerous environments to safer modes of transport. As a regular commuter from Mayo to Dublin, I understand that in difficult driving conditions on congested and busy roads we see drivers are, anecdotally, much more distracted and have much lower attention levels. This is having a negative impact on driver habits. As I mentioned, the investment in and roll-out of substantial infrastructure on roadways can be part of the road safety solution. The roll-out of low-cost safety measures in towns and communities is very important. It is something we just spoke about today with colleagues and that we have raised regularly.”
“Since their introduction they have led to a marked improvement and reduced fatalities on stretches of roadway on the N17 and the N4. I would welcome the Minister of State's consideration of expanding them, based on calls from local authorities and different communities where there are blackspots. If there is an issue of funding or resources either within the Department or local authorities, consideration should be given to a privatised approach that can help to roll out these fixed speed cameras in conjunction with the local authorities and with the support of local councillors in each community. That could have a very positive effect on road safety and could expedite the roll-out of fixed speed cameras without taking up much-needed resources of a local authority or the Department.”
“I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and we have had a series of sessions discussing and breaking down these very stark and sad statistics to try to air the different ideas and possibilities and hear from communities, advocates and various interest groups about how we can do more. The committee heard from motorcyclists last week and we will have representatives from the haulage associations in tomorrow to discuss road safety. From my point of view, in County Mayo we sadly have had many tragedies. I would like to focus initially on the introduction of fixed speed cameras. I called for them for a long time for specific roads in the county where there are numerous junctions and accident blackspots.”
“The Minister of State is welcome to the House this evening. On a day when there has been significant investment in road infrastructure right across the country, it is very welcome that a large element of it is low-cost safety measures that can make all of our towns, villages and communities safer. The motivation behind this Private Members' motion on behalf of Fine Gael Senators is the crisis we see on Irish roads at the moment. As the Minister of State will be aware, there were 185 fatalities in 2025, 76 being drivers, 41 pedestrians, 30 motorcyclists, 21 passengers, 14 pedal cyclists and three e-scooter users.”
“No. 199 of 2024, Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations 2024, which prescribe, amongst many requirements and prohibitions, that the minimum age to drive an e-scooter on a public road is 16 years of age and the maximum speed limit is 20km per hour, unless lower limits apply; - the Government's current Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 follows international best practice and aligns with EU targets and the Vision Zero ambition for 2050, which is to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2050 while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all; - as an interim target, countries across the EU are aiming to halve road deaths and serious injuries this decade; - there has been investment by Government and local authorities to improve safety on our roads, including Safe Routes to School, Community Involvement Scheme funding, low cost safety measures, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes and the upgrading of substandard roads; calls on the Government to: - expedite the introduction of Grace’s Law on banning scramblers in public places; - expedite new regulations for e-scooters; - allow the public to upload dashcam footage of dangerous driving to a new Garda portal, making it easier to report incidents; - introduce new road safety cameras to automatically detect mobile phone use and non-wearing of seat belts; - continue to invest in road safety initiatives; - continue to enforce existing road safety legislation; - continue to invest in our road network, road improvement, traffic calming and safety initiatives; - continue to invest in active travel schemes and safe cycling / pedestrian infrastructure; - continue to invest in alternatives to car use including local link and public transport; - examine mandatory awareness classes in secondary schools on the consequences of speeding and dangerous driving causing road fatalities, involving the Road Safety Authority, local authorities, Gardaí, fire brigade and the National Ambulance Service; - look at driving lessons being promoted during transition year; - examine the driving test to see that it is fit for purpose; - continue to deter the use of mobile phones whilst driving, including by those driving tractors, and examine the possible introduction of phone blocking technologies in tractors; - look at introducing a safe driving certificate for first time tractor drivers; - amend the Road Safety Acts to provide for mandatory prison sentences for drivers who drive while disqualified; and - examine the rollout of fixed speed cameras, particularly when entering built up areas.”
“I move: That Seanad Éireann: notes that: - there had been a downward trend in fatalities on Irish roads since the introduction of the first Road Safety Strategy in 1997; - 2021 saw the lowest numbers killed on our roads since records began in 1959; - three of the last four years have seen an annual increase in road-related fatalities and serious injuries; - according to Road Safety Authority statistics, there were 185 fatalities in 2025 of which 76 were drivers (41 per cent), 41 were pedestrians (22 per cent), 30 were motorcyclists (16 per cent), 21 were passengers (11 per cent), 14 were pedal cyclists (8 per cent) and 3 were e-scooter users (2 per cent); - behind each fatality lies heartbroken families, friends and loved ones; - for every fatality, there are eight serious and possibly life-changing injuries, causing pain and hardship; - the four main causes of fatalities are speeding, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt, and intoxicated driving; - the aim of our Road Safety Strategy is to reduce speeds to safe, appropriate levels for the roads being used and the people using them; - cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists are even more vulnerable to fatalities and injury, and at even lower speeds; - research from 2022 indicates that approximately one in four motorists are not only checking their phone, but also writing text messages while driving; - the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland reveals that e-scooter accidents are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in children admitted to the paediatric neurosurgical centre at Children’s Health Ireland, Temple Street; acknowledges that: - the Department of Transport has directed local authorities to commence a review of their urban road networks with a view to increasing the number of 30km per hour zones; where this lower speed limit is appropriate and in accordance with the statutory guidelines issued by the Department, changes will be made at the discretion of local authorities; - the Government introduced the Road Traffic Act 2024, addressing a number of key areas of road safety concerns, including in response to the concerns about increases in cases of drug-driving, the Act introduced mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions on the same basis as would happen with alcohol; - the introduction of S.I.”
“It also addresses the long-standing delays that have hindered investment in key sectors, as the Minister of State mentioned, such as energy, renewables and low-carbon industries, as well as pharma, food, waste management and intensive agriculture. IBEC has welcomed this pragmatic Bill, which will be practical both for our environmental credentials and our ambitions to become a low-carbon green economy while also still being an attractive location for investment. That is the balance that this Bill brings. It gives certainty to the private sector while also being strong on our green ambitions. It supports Ireland's climate and circular economy and sustainable development goals by enabling faster and proportionate regulation. I believe it is measured, and business and environmentally friendly.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to Seanad Éireann. I thank him, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Department for bringing forward this important Bill. I am a member of the joint committee on the environment, where these matters have been discussed at length. Many of the points that have been raised by the Minister of State and in contributions by fellow Senators will be addressed by the Bill if it passes. It is a practical step to modernise and streamline licensing processes without weakening environmental safeguards. It provides greater certainty and predictability in decision-making timelines for industrial emissions, integrated pollution control and waste licences.”
“We have well-educated and very competent engineers in local authorities around the country and sometimes we overcomplicate the process in delivering projects like this. I lend my support on the floor of the House this afternoon to Culleens National School, the teacher Deirdre O'Loughlin, and all the teachers and students. More broadly, we need to look at how we make schools safe and how we invest in basic services around school infrastructure for the safety of children in a pragmatic and fast way that can deliver, as opposed to paying consultant after consultant without any change on the ground.”
“A protest was held outside the school where students animatedly campaigned for a reduction in the speed limit there and the provision of a small path to connect with an existing path. When the State intervenes and builds a new school like the Culleens National School, there needs to be joined-up thinking in terms of investment from the school as well as the local authority, supported by the Department of Transport, to make sure that it is a safe school and is connected and walkable for residents who are living on the Killala Road. The safe routes to school model is positive but we often see more money spent on consultant after consultant and report after report when basic interventions like connecting a footpath to an existing path to a school and pedestrian safety measures can do the trick.”
“This afternoon, I would like to raise the topic of road safety especially for the most vulnerable road users and the most vulnerable people in our society, namely, children. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport recently highlighted the Love 30 campaign, which proposes reducing speed limits to 30 km/h in certain neighbourhoods. The safe routes to school is a very positive model that has seen very beneficial interventions outside and close to schools to connect children, students and teachers from their residences to their schools. Last week on the floor of the House, I highlighted a school, which I had previously raised as a councillor in Mayo. Culleens National School is looking for basic interventions.”
“It is local journalists who hold the truth and can bring it to bear for local communities, especially on sensitive issues to do with policing, where a lot of fearmongering can go on within communities. Journalists play a really important role in reporting on those matters. I would appreciate clarity on this from the Minister. I support the inclusion of media at all meetings of public interest.”
“The chairperson has clarified there is no media ban as such. It would be helpful if the Minister for justice could clarify exactly what role the media has in LCSPs. In an age of disinformation, the media has an important role to play. Local newspapers and radio stations have had a difficult few years but it is becoming even more important to have strong local media attending and reporting on all public meetings that are in the public interest. I ask that clarity be given such that we have a clear understanding of the role of media within the LCSPs. It is not right that they be excluded from the initial meetings or any meetings. They have an integral role in reporting county council meetings and strategic policy meetings. In this age of disinformation and sometimes populism, people can run off with a story.”
“I welcome the Lithuanian ambassador to the Chamber on his country's national day of celebration. It is good to see him. I wish to highlight the local community safety partnerships, LCSPs, that are being established. I am a former member of the joint policing committee of Mayo County Council, which was always an excellent forum for airing views in a constructive way on behalf of one's community. It gave a voice to communities on antisocial behaviour and various issues that fall under the remit of An Garda Síochána. There was always a positive and constructive approach, with county councillors, gardaí and agency stakeholders attending. The new local community safety partnerships have been established in Mayo and there is some discontent about the lack of media attendance at the meetings.”
“It is somewhere people can go. I would like us to discuss this with the Minister. Consideration should be given to a grant for their development in towns and villages across the country. It would be welcome and it would also be more affordable. As we all know, funeral costs are incredibly expensive for families who have sadly lost a loved one.”
“I raise an issue that has been highlighted to me by many people in my home county of Mayo. It relates to funeral expenses and recent developments regarding columbarium walls in cemeteries and church grounds. During a recent discussion on "The Tommy Marren Show" on Midwest Radio, Eddie Clarke of the Ballindine cemetery committee spoke about how it was a more effective and affordable option for community groups and organisations. There is an increased demand for it. I wished to highlight the issue here in the House. I have raised the issue previously on Mayo County Council. We should ask the Minister to consider a grant for the development of columbarium walls for those who have a loved one who is cremated. They sometimes do not know where to put the ashes. Columbariums offer people dignity in their final place of rest.”
“Councillor Donna Sheridan, who is a friend of Ms Loftus in Mayo, has raised the issue with the Tánaiste. I understand that there are arrangements for them to meet. Root-and-branch reform is needed. I acknowledge the work of the new Garda Commissioner, who has offered a lot of hope of reform and improvements within An Garda Síochána. Ms Loftus, as part of her story, had to face a harrowing experience. Countless times, she, her story and her family were undermined by different elements of an Garda Síochána and the State. That cannot be overstated. I encourage everyone who is available tomorrow to attend and lend their support to Ms Loftus, her case and her story so that no other women have to go through what she experienced.”