Mark Ward
Dublin Mid-West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“The second largest part of the subvention is the €4.1 billion that relates to public debt. Ireland would have no legal liability to pay any part of this. The cost of defence and international relations is approximately €2.7 billion and almost none of this expenditure relates to activity taking place in the North.”
“It has not allowed us, as a nation, to reach our full potential. I also think it is important that we take the current financial situation in the North seriously. It is always disappointing when Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael use the North as a stick to beat Sinn Féin. Even the Labour Party used this tactic this week.”
“It has been a long-standing policy of Sinn Féin to bring waste management back to public control. Privatisation has failed ordinary people. Bin companies act like a cartel in how they raise their prices. When one company increases its price, the rest follow.”
“The total subvention includes central British Government costs allocated to the North that would not be relevant to a united Ireland and here is why. The subvention from the British Exchequer to the North was €16 billion in 2023.”
“I thank Deputy Sherlock for bringing forward this legislation to bring bin collections back to public control. I am disappointed but not surprised that the Government is opposing this legislation. Fine Gael has a long history and policy of privatising public services.”
“We have a situation that allows multiple bin trucks to operate on the same street. On my road there could be three different companies coming down the road, sometimes at the same time. This goes against everything we are trying to achieve to make waste collection more environmentally friendly.”
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“There has been a lot of talk and repeated announcements on issues such as asking those in the international protection system who are also in work to pay towards their accommodation but nothing has actually happened. On migration more generally, nothing has been done to cap the number of international students, something I have raised with the Minister on a number of occasions. While Government signed up to all aspects of the EU pact, it is not prepared for implementation. Sinn Féin supported a number of aspects of the pact because they were in Ireland's interest. We supported opting in to the asylum and migration management regulation and the Eurodac regulation but we opposed opting in to all other measures.”
“The Minister of State has spoken about the asylum, migration and integration fund supporting the implementation of the EU migration and asylum pact. The Government's decision to sign up to this pact is highly contentious. In Sinn Féin's view, the vast majority of measures contained in the EU's asylum and migration pact are not in Ireland's best interests because we must retain sovereignty over these matters if we are to have an immigration system where decisions are made quickly and those decisions are enforced. Decisions are still taking too long and, despite some high-profile flights, deportation orders are not being enforced as they should be. These are all issues that can be sorted by the Irish Government and which do not require us to sign up to the pact.”
“It appears to be an anomaly that this does not apply in the same manner to ferry passengers. This will encourage those seeking to evade PNR to take the ferry. Deputy Carthy raised this anomaly with the Minister when we last discussed a motion on the transfer of PNR. At the time, the Minister pointed out that the European Commission had published a feasibility study which examined the possible use of advance passenger information from land and maritime travel operators. Can the Minister of State give an update on plans to collect PNR data from ferries travelling in and out of Ireland?”
“While it may be appropriate in this case to opt in under Article 3, it is crucial that protections of Protocol 21 annexed to the Lisbon treaty are not abandoned or watered down by always opting in under Article 3, when the option of opting in under Article 4 or opting out is available to Ireland. While this particular proposal may be clear and straightforward, we have seen the Government push through many Article 3 opt-ins where it is clear that the final proposal will be in Ireland's best interest. This is something I will talk about later this afternoon. There is considerable travel in and out of the Irish State by ferry as well as by air. Sharing the PNR data is designed to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute serious crimes and terrorist offences.”
“I will again make a number of points about what I see as an increased drift towards opting in under Protocol 21 of the Lisbon treaty and moving further away from the spirit of that protocol, which gave Ireland the right to opt out. Whenever the Irish people have voted on EU treaties, protecting and maximising Irish sovereignty have been to the fore of many people's concerns. That is why Protocol 21 is in place. I have a concern that since Britain, which was also covered by Protocol 21, left the European Union, there has been increased resistance, or perhaps it is a lack of courage, on the part of the Government to exercising our right to opt out of measures related to freedom, security and justice.”
“Sinn Féin has discussed previous motions in relation to the sharing of passenger name record data. This data is important for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of serious crimes and terrorist offences such as drug-related offences and human trafficking. This information forms a part of the broader management of our borders. International co-operation in the fight against crime is crucial, and the sharing of this information is a key aspect of that. I raise with the Minister of State the fact that this data is not collected in respect of those travelling by ferry. The motion relates to an agreement between the EU and the Republic of Korea. Sinn Féin will not oppose it.”
“While the judge recommended he does not come back to the area on his release, she is already dreading this day. It took her months to feel safe walking in her area again. She hopes to never have to feel fear like this again. As a victim of such an horrendous crime, she was strong that night. She persevered through our justice system, not only to get justice for herself but to protect orders. She deserves to feel safe again. She and other victims and survivors feel that without the protection this Bill offers, they will continue to live in fear while their attackers are free.”
“Victims and survivors have made it clear that having such a provision in law would make a significant difference in their lives. I was contacted by a woman in my constituency who asked that I share her story but also that she remain anonymous. She was sexually assaulted and the perpetrator was out of jail awaiting sentence. He was required to sign on every day in the Garda station close to her home. She would see him regularly. Three days after he pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault, he walked into the local shop. She froze and wanted to scream but moved herself to a safe space before she ran all the way home. Just before sentencing, she was out walking and almost bumped into him. She nearly walked out into oncoming traffic in her bid to protect herself, knowing that the last time he was that close to her, he was attacking her.”
“I thank Deputy Carthy and Senator Maria McCormack for the work they have put into this legislation. Most of all, I thank the women who have shared their horrific experiences of sexual violence. I welcome many of them into the viewing Gallery today. The women I met today have unselfishly acknowledged that, in some cases, this legislation comes too late for them, but they are thinking of women who will come after them. As night follows day, there will be more such women. This Bill provides that when someone is convicted of a crime of sexual assault, a court could impose an order restraining the person convicted of the offence from approaching the victim. I do not think that is too much to ask. This is not just common sense; it is simply the right thing to do.”
“I am aware that South Dublin County Council is very interested in this site but it could be outbid by a private developer. Is there anything in the directive to local authorities to rezone land that could prevent developers from land hoarding and sitting on land, givne once this amenity is gone, it is gone forever?”
“The Minister for housing issued a directive to local authorities to rezone land. However, there is an opportunity for developers to abuse this. They could buy land that is not currently zoned for housing and sit on it to wait for a change in zoning. The Coldcut site, which is owned by Dublin Bus members, is up for sale. This site is over 10 ha. It straddles north Clondalkin and Palmerstown. Many local soccer clubs use this facility. The all-weather pitches are always extremely busy. I attended a public meeting this week with Collinstown football team, Palmerstown Football Club, North Clondalkin Running Club and Clondalkin autism parents. They all want to see these lands remain as an amenity for the people of north Clondalkin and Palmerstown. There will be a public protest on Sunday morning.”
“It is important that the Minister makes a commitment to revisit this to make sure jurors are not out of pocket in order that they can take part in the judicial system.”
“Sinn Féin will not oppose the Bill but I believe the Government has missed an opportunity with the Bill to include the introduction of compensation for expenses in court by those who undertake jury duty. Deputy Carthy has raised this with the Minister on numerous occasions. The absence of such a payment impacts on people already struggling with the cost of living, as well as those with caring responsibilities and the self-employed. Self-employed people and full-time carers can be excused from jury service but this means these groups are under-represented on juries. Simply speaking, those who wish to serve as jurors should not be out of pocket. Low income jurors face barriers due to inadequate allowances and the time commitment required. Deputy Carthy tabled amendments to the Bill but they were ruled out of order for some reason.”
“Today, as we speak, Stephen and Gillian still do not have an answer to this. We have seen reports from a whistleblower - reports I know the Minister is well aware of - stating that Harvey was removed as CHI deemed him to be palliative. This is totally unacceptable. We just need to get to the truth of this matter. Why was Harvey removed from the list, who knew about it and when did they know about it? This is about what happened at CHI level and at Government level. It is not about a witch-hunt or anything like it. It is just about finding out what happened so that it does not happen to another child. Harvey's case must be a reminder that management and political failures have real-life consequences. We need to see full accountability. The statutory inquiry should be how we finally get justice for Harvey.”
“The inquiry also needs to look at HIQA’s role in all of this and why it did not sound the alarm bells sooner. We need to see full accountability. The tribunal should be able to issue recommendations while it is ongoing. That is what the advocacy groups have been calling for. While the inquiry is ongoing, these recommendations must be implemented in a timely manner. It would be remiss of me if I did not mention the tragic death of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt. I have got to know Harvey’s parents, Stephen and Gillian, over the last couple of years. They have tirelessly campaigned, both before Harvey passed away and since his untimely death, for better healthcare for children. Last year, I asked in this House why Harvey was removed from the waiting list without his parents’ knowledge.”
“The scope of this public inquiry must not be too narrow. We do not need to see little bits of the jigsaw but, rather, the whole picture. The public inquiry must look at this and it must be able to compel people to appear to simply get the answers. Documents must also be compelled to help the inquiry. The facilitator appointed to consult stakeholders must be independent and he or she must ensure that no cohort or particular group of children are left out of this process. We need to have an overall view of the care children have received. This includes an investigation into the deaths of children and whether these deaths are linked to waiting on scoliosis surgery. The inquiry must also look at children who have post-op complications, including infections.”
“I wish the Minister well as she tackles this issue. There is no one on any side of the House who does not want to see children get timely access to the care they need. I commend the advocates who have long been calling for a statutory public inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services. I cautiously welcome the fact the Government has agreed to this. The reason I say I cautiously welcome it is because the terms and references have to be spot-on in this. We have all heard about the unregulated springs used in operations of children and the unnecessary hip operations, so we need to find out from a governance level what actually led to these failures in the first place so that they do not happen again. We simply cannot allow the wreckage of the past and a toxic culture in CHI to take hold in a new CHI hospital.”
“I welcome one line in the statements of the European Council, where it stresses the importance of the de-escalation in the West Bank and calls for an end to settler violence. What the occupied territories Bill aims to do is sanction Israel for illegal land grabs of Palestinian land, which cannot go unpunished. One thing I am really concerned about at the moment is the lack of media focus on Palestine. It used to be the first thing on the news. My concern is that when eyes are not on Gaza and Palestine, Israel will continue to act with impunity and to inflict genocide on the Palestinian people. I am very concerned about that.”
“The Government did not oppose the motion, but not opposing something and supporting it are two different things. My problem is that during my time in the House, the Government has been a serial offender in breaking its commitments and promises. I am simply asking that the Government keep its promise in this regard and pass the occupied territories Bill in its entirety, not in a watered-down manner. As we speak, Israel continues to act with impunity. There has to be accountability and passing the occupied territories Bill is a necessary step for the Irish Government if it wants to be taken seriously at all about its commitment to uphold international law and human rights.”
“The number of Israeli strikes across Gaza has decreased but they have not stopped altogether. A ceasefire to me means that firing simply ceases. Last Thursday, the Palestinian health authority said 260 Palestinian people have been killed and 632 injured since the ceasefire began. Is this really a ceasefire? Among the civilians murdered and injured in recent weeks are dozens of innocent men, women, children and elderly Palestinians. Collective punishment of the Palestinian people by Israel has not ceased. We need the European Council to call out Israel's ongoing and blatant disregard of the ceasefire, and not only that, but to place real sanctions on Israel. This morning, we had a debate on a collective Opposition motion on the occupied territories Bill.”
“I was going through the minutes of the European Council meeting. They state, "The European Council welcomes the agreement reached on the first phase of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict put forward by President Trump". The minutes went on to call on "all parties to fully commit to implementing all phases and to refrain from any actions that jeopardise the agreement". The ceasefire in Gaza has been in place for five weeks. This is not a ceasefire that operates as I or ordinary people would expect. Since the ceasefire, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health authorities. Much of Gaza remains under Israeli military control. Humanitarian organisations argue much of Gaza is still suffering as a result of insufficient aid coming in and talks of lasting peace have somewhat stalled.”
“Understandably, as he is just starting to work as an apprentice electrician and does not have this sort of money to pay upfront, he opted to pay the deposit with the balance paid over nine months. To his shock and horror, the cost went from €1,933 to €2,503. This young apprentice electrician is penalised by an extra charge of €570 for not having the money upfront. Here is a young man, starting his journey to making a positive contribution to society and he is being punished. How is that fair?”
“As has been said, the cost of car insurance has sky-rocketed in Ireland. The average cost of motor insurance rose by 9% last year to its highest point in five years. That is almost double the European average and over four times the rate of inflation. Why are Irish drivers being penalised more than their European neighbours? It is because of a weak Government with weak policies that prioritises big businesses over ordinary working families. One of the calls in the Sinn Féin motion is for the Government to stand up to insurance companies and address the disproportionate profits of this industry. I had a father contact me this week. He has an 18-year-old son who took out insurance on his first car after passing his test. That in itself is a brilliant achievement for such a young man. The policy cost €1,933 for the year.”
“As we speak, Irish drivers who are going about their business and driving home from work are paying more for their petrol and diesel than drivers in other European countries. The Government will point to geopolitical factors as the reason for these high petrol and diesel prices, but people should not let the Government fool them. It is Government policy that is driving up the cost of filling up their car. In the budget the Government increased the carbon tax on petrol again by adding an extra €3 to the cost of filling up a tank. This was a Government choice. In the previous term, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs voted to increase carbon tax by €15. Again, this was a Government choice. During a cost-of-living crisis, Government policy has actively driven the cost of petrol and diesel through the roof.”
“Children are being denied the right to reach their full potential. How is the Government going to address the failures children are experiencing?”
“I was at a public meeting last Monday in Neilstown hosted by parents of children with disabilities. They raised a multitude of areas and how their children are being failed. There are long waiting lists for assessment of need, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. There is no access to appropriate school places. There are limited SNA allocations. They also talked about not even getting appropriate places for school transport and arbitrary timeframes for filling out forms. If they do not fill out the forms within the timeframe, there are consequences for their children. I got a response this morning saying the average wait time for an assessment of need in my area of Dublin Mid-West is three and a half years, even though the statutory timeframe is six months.”
“Residents feel that there is a credible threat to their personal safety and that of their families. The majority of the residents of Balgaddy are honest and hard-working people who just want to live in safety. I raised this matter with the Garda Commissioner at the justice committee yesterday. Will the Taoiseach relay to the Minister for justice the message that we want the Dublin crime task force to be deployed to Balgaddy as a matter of urgency?”
“I want to raise concerns over the violent and persistent intimidation being experienced by residents in Balgaddy in my area. This has been going on for months. Residents in Balgaddy fear for their safety and that of their children. In recent weeks, a gang has engaged in repeated violent acts of intimidation and criminal damage. I have received countless emails and phone calls, and many people have visited my constituency office to tell me they have been terrorised. Residents have told me that they have received death threats. Their windows have been smashed and their properties vandalised. There has been intimidation of residents, including of those who are elderly or who are vulnerable in other ways. There are gatherings late at night, with open drug use and drug dealing.”
“This is victim blaming. It went on to say that the child had absconded from care. Prisoners escape and abscond. Ten-year-old children do not. Again, this is victim blaming. Tusla, which is meant to care for some of those vulnerable children in society, needs to take a long hard look at itself. I also call for an immediate public inquiry into this matter. In the context of the Bill, I have concerns about the ability of Tusla to look after vulnerable children any longer than is necessary.”
“A ten-year-old child was recently sexually assaulted while under the care of Tusla, which took place in Citywest, in my constituency. People want to know how a ten-year-old girl under the care of Tusla could go missing. It is a legitimate question. There is a disturbing pattern of children in the care of Tusla being failed. We think of six-year-old Kyran Durnin, missing and presumed dead, three-year-old Daniel Aruebose, whose skeletal remains were found in Donabate, and 17-year-old Vadym Davydenko, who was stabbed to death in an unregulated Tusla care facility. People have asked me what is going on with Tusla. Tusla needs to examine how it responded publicly to the case of the ten-year-old girl. It stated that the girl had been voluntarily placed into care by her family earlier this year due to significant behavioural issues.”
“The term "victim" describes a person who has been subject to a crime. However, this does not imply any weakness, assume any guilt or assign any blame. The term "survivor" can be used as a term of empowerment to convey that a person has started the healing process. People who have experienced sexual violence do not have to be either one or the other; they can be who they want. They can also be both. The women I heard speak today at the briefing were, quite simply, heroes. The Bill also seeks to make amendments to the Child Care Act and the Family Courts Act in regard to Tusla. It seeks to extend childcare by Tusla when there is an upcoming court case and I have concerns about this, which have already been relayed.”
“There are provisions in the Bill we are discussing today to speed up the judicial process. Victims of sexual violence are our families, friends and neighbours and live under a range of circumstances. They may have families, loved ones, friends, jobs, illnesses, exams and bills – all of the everyday dilemmas big and small that people deal with on a daily basis all over Ireland. Having been a victim of sexual violence and then experiencing an inhumane delay in getting justice in the courts can become too much. We need to make this process victim friendly and I hope the increase in the number of judges and supports for courts will make this happen so that women may become survivors and are not just victims. Every time I speak on this issue, I am conscious about using the terms "survivor" and "victim".”
“This will be debated in this House on 25 November. It is no coincidence that 25 November is international day of the elimination of violence against women. For the 5% of the victims and survivors who make it to court, the challenges do not end when the court case ends, even when there is a conviction. The women today spoke about the fear they feel as their assailants come to the end of their sentences. They fear contact from perpetrators and fear encountering the perpetrator as they go about their daily lives. What I heard today is that something as simple and humane as a court imposing a restraining order on the person convicted of sexual assault from approaching the victim would go a long way in making the victim feel safer. I am urging cross-party support for the Bill on 25 November.”
“One of the main problems within the justice system is the length of time it takes for court cases to be heard. Justice delayed is justice denied. These long delays in relation to sexual violence cases increase the trauma for victims. I was at a very emotive briefing today, hosted by my colleague, Deputy Carthy, where we heard very powerful testimonies from women who were victims of sexually based violence. One thing that struck me, which is directly related to the legislation we are discussing today, is that only 5% of all cases of sexual assaults make it to court. I cannot help thinking if we had a faster, victim-based judicial process, we would see this number increase. I hope this Bill will go some way in helping this process. The briefing I was at was about victims of sexual violence and the civil protection orders.”
“Why was the person who was arrested for this crime still in the country, despite having a deportation order for months? These are genuine questions that I have been asked, which the Government must answer and that people need to held accountable for. People applying for international protection are subject to the rules of this country. Nobody will argue with that. These rules are not enforced and people are not processed quickly. If people have not got the right to be in this country, they should be processed quickly and returned to their country of origin as safely as possible. This is what Sinn Féin would do and this is what Government has been failing to do.”
“When the Government decided it was going to house people seeking international protection in Citywest, it did not do an audit of the services that were in Citywest to see what impact this was going to have on the community. In fact, as we speak, there are fewer services in Citywest then there were when the Government purchased the facility. The gym is closed, leaving 3,000 members stranded without that facility, and the restaurant is closed. The Minister said he was going to do everything in his power to keep those open. I again urge him to do that. The violent sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl at Citywest has left the community devastated and afraid. Questions need to be answered. How did a child under the care of Tusla end up in Citywest in the first place?”
“Government will cite the meetings that it has had with the community engagement team as meaningful but meaningful meetings need to have positive outcomes. I mean no disrespect to the people who are from the Department who are on this community engagement team. They are simply the wrong people. We need people at these meetings who are from different Departments who can also make decisions. Information I received today indicated there have been 15 meetings so far but nothing has really happened. Rathcoole Garda station is still only manned part-time. There is no long-term commitment to increase the visibility of policing in Saggart. There is no increase in school places or places on school buses and there are no increases in medical services, such as public health nurses.”
“When the Government decided to purchase Citywest as a public IPAS centre, I found out in the national newspapers. No information was supplied to Opposition TDs. On 17 June, I asked the Taoiseach if the Government was purchasing Citywest. I did not get an answer. At the same time, the Minister for justice was on the plinth outside announcing the purchase of Citywest. Residents of Saggart and Opposition TDs are finding out information from the media and not from the Government. This is simply unacceptable and it has led to mistrust of the Government among the people of Saggart. This mistrust is still prevalent today. We have been calling for meaningful engagement from the Government for the local community about the Citywest centre.”
“It stops a problem for that very short time and then that problem turns into addiction. I have only got half a minute left, which I will use to speak about local services. I have worked for years in front-line addiction services in my area. I do not know how long we have been calling for multiannual funding for. It is so important because it would allow agencies that are dealing with the front line to forward plan to deal with things when they arrive at the door. We knew the crack cocaine problem was an issue long before it was being discussed in this House because the front-line services were seeing it, but they had not got the resources to go out and tackle it. We need multiannual funding. If I could get one thing out of today, it would be that.”
“We were sent to a school that was deemed inappropriate for other pupils in a more affluent part of the constituency but it was okay for the students of Greenfort, Shancastle and Harelawn to attend that school. That is what you are being put against. You had to fight that all the time. A lot of my family, friends and neighbours succumbed to addiction over the years. That is just a simple fact of things. While you cannot physically change the environment you are living in people look for alternatives and one of the alternatives they had to was to look at drugs, because they give people the ability to self-soothe and give calm to an anxious inner world. It is called getting out of your head for a reason. If you cannot get out of your estate you can get out of your head in a different way without having to move.”
“When I say "area of high disadvantage" I am speaking about the government policies of the time, like putting people from the same socioeconomic background into the same area at the same time without having the necessary infrastructure there. When I say we were disadvantaged and in poverty we were not in poverty because of a lack of character or of strength, because the people from my area – my parents, neighbours and friends – had to get out and fight for every single thing our area had, whether that is schools, something simple like buses, health centres and everything else. My very first interaction with activism was fighting for a school in my area.”
“North Clondalkin is an area of high disadvantage. I have seen the devastation drugs have inflicted in my area since I was a child. I live in the community still and I have seen the intergenerational addiction and trauma within families. This trauma, as I said, comes from poverty but also from parents of my friends being products of the industrial schools, the Magdalen laundries and the mother and baby homes. I can speak to this from personal experience because my father was sent to work in the Magdalen laundries at the age of 12. He is 72 now and is only starting to speak about it. This is the trauma people experienced and he knows I am speaking about this today. This trauma was unwittingly passed down by parents to the next generation.”
“I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this really important motion. I apologise to Deputy Sherlock for interrupting her photo opportunity earlier as that was not my intention. What underlies addiction is poverty, and a symptom of poverty is trauma and a symptom of trauma is addiction. It is a circle that keeps going around. I am from north Clondalkin. I grew up there in the eighties. It was a time of economic hardship across the country but areas like mine suffered the most. We grew up in poverty. This is not me standing up and saying "poor me", because when I say I grew up in poverty I did not know it because everybody around me was experiencing the same thing. We simply did not know any better. What we did know was not to ask our parents for too much because it simply was not there.”
“I support the Neurological Alliance of Ireland in its call for an increase in the number of rehabilitation beds at Peamount hospital in my area from 15 to 25 . That small investment would make a huge impact for people who have MS.”
“I always advise men, especially men newly diagnosed with MS, not to do what I did at first and do Dr. Google, because it brings you down a kind of dark path towards the worst possible outcome. They should take medical advice from their neurologists and link in with MS Ireland, which - I have to say this now, and I have always said it - has been a tremendous support to me regrading my journey with MS. I have managed to live a really active life and have enjoyed a good quality of life. I manage my symptoms to the best of my ability. I am on the third year of a four-year cycle of treatment at the moment, and the prognosis is good. Deputy Cullinane mentioned the budget. I am trying to decipher where some of the money is going.”
“Some of the symptoms that affect men are: vision problems; numbness or tingling; persistent aches and pains; involuntary movements, such as twitches and spasms; difficulties with mobility, walking and balance; fatigue that is not due to physical activity or lack of sleep; and changes in cognition, including brain fog. I have experienced all of these symptoms over the years. I still experience some of them today. The reason I am talking about this matter is to say that for other men who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, MS, it is not the end of the world. Once you get into the system, you get the care. The problem sometimes is trying to get into the system and getting that diagnosis. Treatment has dramatically improved over the years and there is no doubting that since I was first diagnosed.”
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on men's health. As a person living with multiple sclerosis, MS, I am going to speak in a personal capacity in order to raise awareness. I will also speak as a TD and use my platform to call for additional resources. I have mentioned it before - and I do not talk about it too much - but at least once a year I come in here and talk about being diagnosed with MS 18 years ago. MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Males and females often have similar symptoms, but there are some differences. As we are talking about men's health today, I will focus on some of those differences.”
“This is especially the case for vulnerable people, people living alone, people with kids and especially people with kids who may be on the spectrum and have sensitivities to noise and fireworks.”
“We have Clonburris going up in the middle of Clondalkin, with an estimated growth in population of up to 22,500 people over the next ten years. It is currently being built, and people are living there, yet we are seeing a reduction in the number of gardaí in the area. People in my area contact me regularly to say they are calling the Garda, but with all the will in the world, if there are not enough gardaí there to answer the phones or to come out in the car and drop in to people to see what the issue is, then people are left home alone and frightened. At the moment, especially in and around Dublin, the run-up to Halloween is always a really frightening time for people.”
“This funding is irrelevant, though, if the Minister is unable to recruit the gardaí. I am on the justice committee, and my estimate is that by the end of this year the Minister will probably have about 600 to 700 new gardaí recruited, so we are already behind. We are never going to get up to that 5,000 target he said is needed. In fact, in the first seven months of this year, Garda numbers have only increased by 63, and this is taking into account the number of people who have retired or left the force in the last while. In my area of Dublin Mid-West, we have fewer community gardaí than we had five years ago. For example, Ronanstown Garda station has 38% fewer gardaí compared to 2020. Clondalkin Garda station has seen a reduction of 30% in the same period. This is an area where there has been a huge population increase.”