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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“Any intervention that is made - I refer, for example, to outdoor seating, covered and sheltered seating, proper lighting infrastructure or car parking facilities - needs to be done in a way that makes sense for the businesses and the visitors who enjoy that space. There are many boat users and outdoor recreational users in that area, and it needs to be practical and make sense for them. Therefore, I am calling for the businesses on this site, which contribute so much to the area, to be consulted and listened to properly before any measures or interventions are carried out.”
“I ask that in any discussions on urban regeneration and development, we act in a cohesive and inclusive manner, we make sure interventions are made not to displace businesses but to support them, and we pursue projects that are not unnecessary but are practical to make sense for businesses. Boho Barista, Coast Hair, Noo Chocolates, Bella Beauty, Paul Kilcullen Physical Therapy, Roots Wellness, Studio Five Reformer Pilates, Ella and Joe, and Turning Tides are among some of the on-site businesses that offer a positive lifestyle experience in this part of the town. Other businesses in the area include Quay West, Keane's bar and shop, and the Ice House Hotel.”
“I wish to highlight discussions on urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, and rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, funding. As the Leader knows, the URDF is a substantial fund for urban regeneration development. We have benefited from it in the innovation quarter of my home town of Ballina. Proposals around additional URDF projects need to be pursued in consultation with the local community, no matter where that is and what town that is. There are proposals and discussions for the quay area in Ballina, which is the jewel in the crown in terms of the setting of the town. There is a very vibrant business community there. Indeed, it is a very vibrant and active recreational location. It employs over 100 people. The businesses that are there are very much complementary to the whole area.”
“It always lives with people. This is something that is a reality and will increasingly be a reality. I welcome this proposed instrument to give better flexibility to make sure there is better management for communities. It proposes to bring the situation into line with the current reality as opposed to the situation in 1925 when I believe the previous legislation was enacted. I compliment my colleagues here in the Seanad on their legislation. I support the Bill and hope to see it passed.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being in the House for this very important legislation. I acknowledge Senators Rabbitte and Daly for their great work in bringing this Bill to the floor of the Seanad. It is a very common-sense and practical Bill for all the reasons outlined. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy. We all know too well that, because of climate change, the increased intensity of rainfall and the predicted increase in such intensity will have pronounced impacts on communities right across the country in respect of flooding and flood risks. Flooding causes such devastation to people’s homes, lives, families and communities. It also takes such a toll on people mentally if they suffer from flooding. There is also the anxiety and fear that arise from the possibility of flooding.”
“However, preventative healthcare measures that enable older people to live healthy, active and independent lives can ultimately save the State significant long-term health costs and reduce hospital admissions. The vaccine is only available privately at present for those who can afford it, at considerable cost. The positive health benefits outweigh all upfront costs the State may incur in funding and supporting the roll-out of this vaccine. I use this opportunity today to highlight it on the Seanad floor and encourage the Minister to consider this request. I am sure it has been raised in other forums but it is something that could have a very positive health impact on our country if it were supported. I ask for the support of the House for consideration to be given by the Minister of this issue.”
“I want to raise an issue that has been highlighted to me by Bonniconlon ICA, a group of brilliant volunteers and community activists who have done great things in their community and continue to do so. They have highlighted, as concerned residents in Mayo, the policy on the shingles vaccine. They request its inclusion in the national vaccination programme funded by the HSE for the general population, similar to programmes in the UK and Australia. Shingles is a serious condition with potentially debilitating effects. It can lead to long-term pain known as postherpetic neuralgia. HIQA has assessed the vaccine and a decision was made that it would not be cost-effective at that time.”
“As I have said, we need a united voice from the House so that we can fight the case internationally on behalf of families and communities right across the island.”
“Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy regulation states that quotas should be shared out on a sustainable basis. In fairness, the hook-and-line fishermen are sustainable in their practices. This is a lifeline for families and for rural communities. There is a great depth of history to it. It needs help and support. An increased quota for these fishermen in Erris and right across the coast of County Mayo would result in a marked improvement in their livelihoods and for the successive generations that rely on this income. I thank the Minister of State for his work on this. I also thank my colleagues across the House who have advocated very strongly on this pressing issue and the need to support the industry.”
“The hook and line-caught mackerel quota is only 1% of the overall quota Ireland has got from the EU. That 1% is shared out among 1,500 vessels while the remaining 99% of the quota is shared among 50 vessels. The fishermen I have spoken to are totally aggrieved by this. They are pleading the case for this quota to be increased in whatever way it can be. If they do not use the quota, they are happy for it to be returned. I understand there are complexities. I really welcome this motion as a demonstration that the House is strong in its support for the fishing industry right across the country. Let us project that support to our European counterparts on a united basis. We need to be very strong on it. We need to fight for multigenerational families who feel left out and aggrieved by the issues that have been mentioned.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening for this very important discussion on supporting the fishing industry, which is holding on by a thread in certain communities. I compliment Senators Manus Boyle and Noel O'Donovan, who have done great work in representing fishermen and fisherwomen and coastal communities right across the country, for their leadership on this issue. With regard to my home county of Mayo, I will specifically raise the issue of the hook and line-caught mackerel quota, which is affecting many families and the industry in the coastal communities of County Mayo. It is the same in every community. It is multigenerational. There is history, heritage and a huge depth of knowledge of the waters, of the industry and of the practice.”
“It is penalising fishermen and potentially a whole tourism industry when there are many other issues that need to be addressed first, such as pollution by sea trawlers. There are some constructive approaches that need to be aired out, as opposed to targeting fishermen and women along the River Moy beat. I acknowledge my colleague, Councillor Neil Cruise, who has done great work on this. We are working together on it. There needs to be more discussion and engagement with fishermen and women and organisational groups, not just a brush stroke without full details and facts.”
“I compliment the Soroptimist groups across Ireland, in particular in Mayo, Ballina and Castlebar, who are doing great work on highlighting it. I also take this opportunity to highlight proposals by Inland Fisheries Ireland in my home county of Mayo, particularly on the River Moy in Ballina. The Ballina Salmon Anglers Association has huge concerns about the planned reduction in the number of salmon allowed to be caught during the season next year. It has come out of nowhere and the data and statistics in relation to this are questionable. There is a lot more information that we need to be shared with us as representatives and people who support the inland fisheries and the anglers along the beat of the River Moy.”
“I join with colleagues in the House in supporting the Orange the World campaign, which supports 16 days of activism against gender-based violence between now and 10 December. I wish to highlight the Soroptimist groups in Ballina and Castlebar, County Mayo. I met this morning with the Ballina group, which has launched its campaign and has a series of events organised between now and 10 December. The Castlebar Soroptimists have similar plans. It is so important for this work to be highlighted here and in every house and chamber in the country to make sure we eliminate violence against women. In my political life, I have seen way too many times women who are in desperate need, seeking emergency accommodation and refuge from difficult and unimaginable domestic situations.”
“They cannot be expected to be overwhelmed by an influx of people. There needs to be a considered conversation on this issue and on the planning exemption in particular. I totally disagree with it because it undermines the whole system we all subscribe to. Finally, I welcome Councillor Yemi Adenuga to the Public Gallery. I thank her for her work and commitment to public life in her constituency. I sympathise with her on the negative vitriol she has experienced online. While we all experience that in politics, no one has experienced it more than her. I have seen and read about that first hand. Thank you, Yemi, for your bravery and leadership in politics.”
“It has been taken advantage of by people in the political system and agitators outside the system. It causes such division, splits communities and creates extreme tensions. There needs to be a coherent conversation like this evening's debate to find better ways of managing it. Strong, firm and fair are the words that are often used. We need to be compassionate, but we also need to be strong and fair and not taken advantage of. In county development plans, we have targets, such as population targets for our towns and villages, which we use when we try to increase housing or zone lands to build houses. Based on that argument, it is only fair that we have a similar metric for international protection accommodation. Towns and villages have finite resources in terms of services and a finite ability to respond to demands like these.”
“In more recent years, a challenge has emerged and is something I have spoken openly against, which is the circumvention of the planning system which allows the alteration of buildings for international protection accommodation without any planning permission. It is something that I have an issue with and do not agree with. I welcome the move to more public supply of provision. The reason I do not agree with is because of the lack of conversation that has been allowed to be had. As correctly mentioned by previous speakers, the far-left and far-right have shouted down any coherent conversation. It has meant that when any building is disturbed in any village or town, the immediate rumour is that it is for international protection accommodation. This causes consternation and fear among people.”
“I thank the Minister of State for joining us for this debate and for all of the contributions made thus far. Like Senator Kyne, my own political experience in relation to immigration has had its own challenges. One of the first interactions we experienced in my home county of Mayo was the war in Ukraine and the huge compassion felt across the country and the willingness to help and empathise with those who were fleeing war and terror in their home country. The Irish response to that has been incredible. Like everyone else, I volunteered at the time to send aid such as food and clothes to help Ukrainian people. We also welcomed so many in.”
“I encourage as many colleagues as possible to come and attend. It is at 10 a.m. It is an incredible charity recently formed. Sadly, 600 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year. Of those, 500 pass away within the first 12 months. It is a scourge of an illness. We can do so much better as a country. It is a difficult one to address but there is no better place than starting the discussion. I encourage and ask my colleagues to support it if they can.”
“I call for a debate to make sure that, where there are certain populations, they are guaranteed to have all-weather facilities, whether that be indoor or outdoor, for Gaelic games, soccer, basketball and all those different types of facilities, and also less mainstream sports like skateboarding, which is now an Olympic sport. Does every town over a certain population have one? It should. I am also talking about all-weather tracks and pools. We need to have a clear picture of all amenities and infrastructure in every town and village and make sure that we work back from that to positively discriminate areas that need specific types of investment. If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me in the last couple of seconds that I have, I am hosting the Pancreatic Cancer Ireland charity in the audiovisual room tomorrow.”
“In particular, indoor facilities in the winter months that are all-weather and can be used all year round can have such a positive impact on people's physical and mental health and also for athletes training for competitions. It can have such positive societal value. However, there are gaps in terms of both amenities and sporting infrastructure across our communities. Sometimes, it is because a grant opens and closes and some town gets another facility that it may or may not need as much as another town or settlement. We need a joined-up approach on that.”
“I support the previous speaker's contribution in relation to winter readiness. It is a very good discussion and very worthwhile. I extend my congratulations to my party colleague, Paschal Donohoe, on his retirement from political life after an incredible contribution to the State and to society generally. He has had a remarkable political career. I wish him the best. I have no doubt he will do great things for Ireland and the world in his new position. I call for a discussion with the Minister for sport on the standardisation of sporting infrastructure. Right across the country, we see great examples of sporting projects and facilities.”
“It is the first children's hospice to be built outside Dublin. Another €7 million is to be raised, so it is no mean feat. It is being led by volunteers and an incredible team of Martina Jennings, Laurita Blewitt and a wider committee of a board of directors and staff which is supported by volunteers in every charity shop of Mayo Roscommon Hospice across the region. I want to acknowledge and highlight that. I wish them well and look forward to supporting them in seeing this project realised.”
“There were young people going into the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday evening to see Ronaldo at the end of his career but now they have new heroes and they are Irish heroes who have grown up across the country, with the likes of Troy Parrott who has done an incredible job of delivering when we needed it most in the crucial last seconds of the game in Budapest on Sunday. I want to thank the whole team. I hope we can support them come March. I also wish North Macedonia the best of luck this evening as well because it would be very helpful to us if it gets a result. In my remaining moments, I want to highlight the incredible work of the Sunflower Children's Hospice which was launched yesterday. It has already raised €7 million for this hospice which will give great dignity to and care for families and children in their hour need.”
“May I also offer my condolences on the tragedy of the five young lives lost on the road. It is an unimaginable thing for a whole community, for their families and friends and I want to offer my sympathies to them. I also wish to share in congratulating the men's national team and its manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson. It has been an incredible few days for Irish sport. It has unified the country in a way that only sport can by bringing people together and celebrating remarkable success. It gives us all a bit of hope going into the longer evenings ahead of play-offs next March.”
“This is a huge financial investment in the ESB, and small interventions like that to support homeowners who are impacted at source is a marked way of bringing people along on this journey we are going on as a country where we are trying to rapidly increase the provision of critical infrastructure like housing, transport and energy while also rapidly decreasing our carbon footprint. It is unprecedented in terms of its investment and ambition, and I welcome that, but, as political representatives, we always must take this into account. We always must bring communities and people along on this journey with us. I commend this Bill on behalf of my colleagues in Fine Gael in the House. I look forward to further discussion on it.”
“Like I said, we have live issues where we have proposed developments in places that are totally unsuitable, so we do need to have clarity in terms of where and what is being proposed and developed, and when they are developed, there needs to be strong gain locally. People need to see that if there is an investment into improving the electrical supply for the State then the domestic user who is next to these farms should see a positive impact for their bill. I believe it is a very easy way of showing the benefit that Senator Boyhan has outlined.”
“I welcome the discussion on it this afternoon in the Seanad and I hope that we can collectively move forward with it as soon as possible. Senator Boyhan mentioned rural communities. In my own county of Mayo we have some of the largest windfarms in the country, but we also have some operators who are trying to chance their arm really because of the lack of regulation on where is the right and suitable location for inland turbines and renewable energy projects. We do need clarity on that, and we need to see gain and community benefit at source in these communities in these counties. I know there are some, but it does need to be improved upon.”
“Importantly, as we decarbonise as a country, we need to have the infrastructure and the networks and grid to enable that both from a macrogeneration point of view - we all know the opportunity that is presented with offshore renewable energy and onshore, again, in the right places - but also microgeneration for community-owned renewable projects and, indeed, individual homeowners can all play a small part in us decarbonising as a country but also growing our economy and growing the ambition of the country. In particular over the past number of years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the weaponisation of energy we have seen right across the Continent and, indeed, worldwide, we need to have a strong, secure and stable energy supply and we need to be resilient in relation to that. I welcome this ambition and this investment.”
“On a day when we have the launch of the new housing plan with the ambition over the next five years to build 300,000 new homes, the bedrock and the conditions need to be set for that, and one of the most fundamental is electricity and, obviously, water and wastewater infrastructure to facilitate this ambitious target. We know that housing is the pressing social need of the day. This investment can and will be critical to enabling that ambitious development, so I do welcome that. However, we are also talking this morning about delivering homes and building communities. We need to have strong transport-orientated development around these new developments and new settlements right across the country. We need to strengthen and make more resilient our transport network and this investment can help do that.”
“The Minister is welcome to the House this afternoon to discuss the energy and electricity Bill. I welcome the urgency of it moving ahead at speed because we do need to move at speed both in terms of legislating for this important Bill but also in creating the critical infrastructure that is needed to deliver on the ambitions that have been set out by Government, including housing, transport and, indeed, energy. The €1.5 billion investment into ESB Networks over the next five years is critical for the growth and ambition the Minister has outlined, as well as the increased borrowing limits from €12 billion to €17 billion. It is very ambitious and should set the conditions for that.”
“It does not make sense from an accessibility point of view for businesses or An Post employees who will have to travel much greater distances. It is environmentally unfriendly if these are the grounds you want to argue on. It is not pro-business and it will not support businesses in the same way. We have gone to great lengths to fund and support An Post in recent budgets, so we need the services and the existing infrastructure to be maintained and protected in County Mayo. The same goes for Belmullet where a sorting office is to be relocated to my home town of Ballina. Belmullet is one hour from Ballina. That relocation does not make sense and it needs to be totally reconsidered. We need clarity. I ask that we discuss this with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to seek clarity on the logic of this proposal.”
“I wish to highlight the multiple issues that have been raised with me regarding the An Post network, particularly in my home county of Mayo. Councillor Alma Gallagher in Ballyhaunis raised with me the proposal to relocate the delivery unit of An Post to Castlerea. In 2015, this unit was relocated from Bridge Street to the enterprise unit on Clare Street, which is owned by Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce. It has operated successfully. It handles approximately 2,000 packages per week and serves many of the businesses within the town. Within the last week or so, there have been proposals and discussions for it to be relocated to Castlerea. That is something that I am totally against, as are Councillor Alma Gallagher; the business community, including Dawn Meats, Major Equipment and AgriSpread; and local GP practices and shops in the area.”
“I am hosting Pancreatic Cancer Ireland in the audiovisual room at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 20 November and I encourage all Members of the House to come along to see how we can collectively support the charity. The issue needs a lot more attention. Outcomes can be improved. Let us be leaders as a country in improving those outcomes in what is a devastating disease. In my last few seconds, I also acknowledge David Newcombe from Ballina who has set up a new organisation called Awaken Ireland, which is attempting to empower young people to get involved, interested and engaged in politics because they are our future. I compliment Mr. Newcombe on the work he has done leading on this and I hope it gets plenty of engagement and gets the next generation of young people interested in politics.”
“On 20 November, it will be World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Pancreatic cancer is one of these devastating diseases. In Ireland, 600 people every year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and, sadly, 500 people pass away within the year. Five in six people pass away within the year of the diagnosis. It is a devastating disease and I would like to highlight efforts to try to improve patient outcomes and conditions for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Those efforts are led by the co-founder of Pancreatic Cancer Ireland, Niall Rochford, who, as we speak, is walking from Cork to Cong, County Mayo, to raise vital funds for the charity he co-founded in memory of his late wife, Stella, who passed away in 2022. I use this opportunity to highlight Mr. Rochford's work in the charity and the incredible personal journey he is on.”
“While it might not be financially viable in the larger cities - the living city initiative might not have had the uptake that was hoped - there are lower real estate values in towns with a population of over 10,000 and market towns generally. It might just be the perfect match. I will continue to pursue this issue. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, for his time this morning. We need to reconsider this proposal and broaden it to cover towns with populations of over 10,000.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. We need to revisit this. The reason I say that is that anyone who walks through any of our towns with a population of over 10,000 will see substantial buildings in a state of dereliction, disrepair and vacancy. In Mayo, two towns, Castlebar, where the Minister of State is from, and Ballina are examples of that. There is a housing crisis in the towns with a population of over 10,000. Even in rural areas, there are challenges across the board. We need to use every measure and instrument to move the dial on the housing crisis. This is one small measure and it needs to be revisited. I look forward to pursuing this further with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, because it has real merit.”
“We have substantial buildings that are not viable to regenerate and bring back into use. They are a scourge on the high streets of all our market towns and built-up urban areas. The living city initiative also presents a huge opportunity to bring life, people and families back into the heart of our towns. That could have a positive social impact and help in a small way to move the dial on what is the most pressing social issue of the day. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to the House. My Commencement matter relates to the living city initiative. The initiative is a tax instrument to stimulate regeneration and redevelopment in cities across Ireland. Budget 2026 extended the living city initiative to other regional towns, including Athlone, Sligo and Drogheda. My call is for this incentive to be expanded to all towns with a population over 10,000. One size does not fit all in trying to solve the housing crisis, as the previous Minister of State just mentioned. We need to have a full-court press and a whole-of-government approach to it. This is one such measure which can help stimulate regeneration, especially above-the-shop living and living in historic buildings and our market towns.”
“We need to tackle this head on and take it seriously. There is a meeting in Ballina this evening which I, unfortunately, cannot attend, but I wish Margaret Walsh and the Mayo Pyrite Action Group the very best. They gathered homeowners together to collate the priorities of each individual homeowner. I hope the Minister can deliver and respond to the asks of homeowners who, through no fault of their own, are in a difficult situation. For them, their families and communities and for the future of homeowners, we must deliver. I call on the Minister to come to the House as soon as possible to discuss the measures that are to be enacted to ensure that we deliver for these homeowners in their hour of need.”
“I welcome the changes that have improved the scheme over the past number of years, but more needs to be done. I ask that the Minister come to the House to discuss this issue in advance of publishing new guidelines and policies. Hundreds of homeowners are affected in counties Mayo, Donegal and Sligo and across the western seaboard, and in other pockets of the island. We need to create schemes that work for people. We need to make sure the scheme is orientated to each of the individual families and homeowners who have experienced their own challenges and difficulties. Each situation is unique and different. We need to make sure that we have a tailor-made scheme for that. We need to make sure that this never happens again. There is still no test for defective country blocks in the industry, which is scandalous.”
“I join my colleagues, Senators Boyle and Flynn, in raising the issue of defective concrete blocks. I entered politics six or seven years ago. We obviously all enter politics to try to help people, communities and society, and the most pronounced and most pressing issue since I entered political life has been defective concrete blocks, in particular the pyrite situation in County Mayo and the mica situation in County Donegal. People buy a house in good faith, pay their local property tax and home insurance and play by the rules in trying to build their forever home. I have met affected families, joined them in protest and seen the difficulty and challenges they face in everyday life. The stress and pressure that puts on people cannot be overstated.”
“They need to be given powers so that if councillors are experiencing issues on the ground, there is someone they can talk to and they can act quickly. Conditions like asthma can be very pronounced when air quality is low. I thank the Minister of State for his work on this. I support the Bill.”
“I support the Bill and its measures. There is a great opportunity here to bring people on a journey. Strong enforcement measures are needed for the 0.01% who do not play ball and are bad-faith actors. We must also be conscious of people who are in fuel poverty and make sure that we target such homeowners and residents with a positive approach to retrofitting in order that we have less fossil fuel burning and a shift towards heat pumps and fuel efficient practices. These measures can bring people on a journey, improve air quality, improve the quality of life of the people living in the houses and improve the beauty of our towns and villages. We can be very constructive and proactive with this Bill if it is interpreted adequately by local authorities.”
“The environmental impact was the equivalent of extracting carbon dioxide from five mature trees. We have an opportunity to improve the quality of air in our towns, while also improving the aesthetics of towns and making them more beautiful places to live, breathe and work in. We need to highlight the positives of many urban areas where we have green spaces. We need to protect those spaces and encourage more interventions in urban greening. In Ballina, we have Belleek Woods, which only yesterday received €200,000 from the outdoor recreational scheme. It is about encouraging people to use those spaces but also about protecting air quality. We need to think of the lungs of each town and village. The example from my home town and community is a very positive place that, unknown to people, is having a positive impact on air quality.”
“We need to improve monitoring, as provided for in the Bill, to have key data and statistics. We need to make sure we have that in places with amenity spaces where people are most likely to be affected by poor air quality, namely, near football pitches, playgrounds, schools and walking tracks where, especially during wintertime, fog creates smog and has a negative impact. That could be a very positive outcome of the Bill that brings people on a journey to a cleaner, greener future and supports energy retrofits. A positive measure we have worked on in Ballina is the revitalisation of our town, in particular laneways. I recently worked on a project called Cascade in my role as a county councillor where I worked with Ireland’s greenest town. We revitalised a laneway in the town and created a green wall with a beautiful space of 17 sq. m.”
“I recall playing on astroturf in heavily built-up areas in the last couple of years. The negative experience of poor air quality is something I have reflected on. We need to be conscious of fuel poverty. I was playing a game of football in an area of high deprivation identified by Pobal. We need to be proactive in encouraging retrofits and making sure we have a positive approach to improving air quality and that we do not target those who cannot afford retrofits or are most vulnerable to fuel poverty. They need to live and to heat their homes. Obviously, we want them to do that in a way that has a minimal impact on air quality, and this Bill provides for that, but discernment is needed to make sure we do not persecute people who are in difficult financial situations.”
“I welcome that this is being highlighted this evening and I hope it forms part of the general conversation around air quality and pollutants. A carrot and stick approach is needed. I welcome measures to improve public transport fleets to reduce toxic emissions and the grants to retrofit houses, whether local authority houses or private homes. My personal experience of this, which I know is shared by many people, is that when out walking or playing football in a heavily built-up area on a winter’s night, there is a lot of fog and it causes pronounced difficulties in air quality. We have young and old people playing recreational and elite level sports on astroturf, football pitches and tracks. We need to be cognisant and mindful of the air quality that sports people are experiencing.”
“I welcome the Minister of State and the opportunity to support Second Stage of the Air Pollution Bill 2025 on behalf of my Fine Gael colleagues. The negative health implications of poor air quality are stark. The Minister of State identified 1,700 premature deaths per year due to poor air quality. That is a stark figure, which obviously has a major human impact on families and communities, but there is also the financial cost. The ESRI identified that just five air pollution-related conditions cost the State €56 million. That is an incredible figure. It is a well publicised and advertised fact that carbon monoxide is the silent killer. There is a lot of public information on that but carbon dioxide is also a silent killer. Its negative impact on communities is potentially even more prevalent.”
“Finally, with the last couple of seconds I have, I acknowledge the work of the autism-friendly town initiatives popping up all over. It is a great initiative. There is one in Ballina, one in Westport and I believe others in Belmullet and Ballyhaunis as well. These are great initiatives to make our towns and villages more inclusive. I welcome the inclusion of autism-friendly initiatives within the strategy. It is something we need to support. With that, I acknowledge Rebecca Connor-Wood, Janette Kenny, Elisha Beattie and the whole team in Ballina who have spearheaded this and all the different volunteers across the country, supported by AsIAm, which is leading this through a community, grassroots, ground-up approach, which is very welcome. I thank the Acting Chairperson and the Minister of State.”