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.”
The complete record
Every one of 625 lines we hold for Mark Ward, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 13.
“As a wheelchair user, if that path is not dished, she will not be able to do that. I have committed to working with her with South Dublin County Council to get all these issues resolved in the local area. When I go to South Dublin County Council, and this is where the budget comes in, it will tell me that because of successive cutbacks to local authorities it does not have the funds to go out and dish those paths and make them more wheelchair accessible the way they did in the past. This is another implication of the cutbacks in budgets to local authorities. Communities right across Dublin and the State are vulnerable and exposed to crime. We have far too few gardaí to prevent crime. The Minister for justice was congratulating himself again this year regarding the budget to recruit 1,000 gardaí. This is the minimum of what is needed.”
“The Government should be looking after the ordinary people, but it made its choice and it left people with disabilities behind. On Monday, I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young lady called Rebecca Nolan. She is a very impressive young woman who I have known for some time. If I had an ounce of her energy, I would be absolutely flying. Rebecca is a wheelchair user advocate for the Stewarts Care's service in the Rossecourt Resource Centre. She decided to bring me out on a walk around Balgaddy and Rossecourt. She showed me some of the difficulties she had getting from A to B. As an able-bodied man, she brought me back down to earth as quickly as possible when I saw some of the obstacles she had getting in her way. Some of the obstacles were things I and everybody here would take for granted, such as simply stepping up on a footpath.”
“There was all that expert policy advice and the Government still chose to cut the cost of disability supports to the value of €1,000 for a person with a disability. On top of this, the Government has decided it is not worthwhile to keep the real value of the disability allowance in line with inflation. The prices for people with disabilities go up as they do for the rest of us. When the cost of milk, bread or petrol goes up, it goes up for people with disabilities as well. Yet they are being subjected to more cutbacks than anybody else. This was a budget about choices. The Government had a choice about who it looked after and what it did. What did it do? It decided to bail out people who have already built apartments. They are getting a big cash intake, rather than people with disabilities being looked after.”
“There are other carers in my area who either will not go back to work because they are afraid to go over the threshold or they will not take a promotion in work. This is creating a glass ceiling for carers who give so much back to our society. Sinn Féin will continue to fight for carers and to put the Government to the cosh so that every carer gets the recognition and respect they deserve. Sinn Féin simply does not break its promises. The budget announced last week condemns people with disabilities and households to poverty. This is a fact. It is not only us saying it because other agencies have come out and supported this statement. The Government has actually shown its true colours.”
“The Government has broken its promises to carers. In the general election, the Government promised to abolish the means tests for carers. This was another broken promise. In this budget, so little money has been allocated that at this rate of investment it would take 30 years under Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and, in the case of the Minister of State, Independents, to abolish the means tests. This is a horrible betrayal of carers. Carers in my constituency tell me they do not even bother to apply for the carers allowance because they know they are going to be over the threshold. I said it before and I will say again: I think this is a direct plan by the Government because it does not want people to apply for the carers allowance.”
“Those backbenchers and Independent TDs have the chance to do the right thing today. Like me, they heard the heartbreaking stories from other parents whose children, as we speak, are suffering in exactly the same way that Harvey did because of a broken promise by Simon Harris. I have no confidence in CHI and neither does the Minister if she is disbanding it. The buck stops with the Tánaiste. He needs to be held accountable for the broken promise he made to Harvey Morrison Sherratt. I have no confidence in Simon Harris.”
“While Harvey suffered, CHI for some inexplicable reason removed him from the waiting list with no explanation to his family. They have not received an explanation. Harvey Morrison Sherratt died on 27 July this year. He was only nine years of age. In his short life, he touched the hearts of a nation. He certainly touched mine. His parents have continued to campaign to get justice for Harvey in order that no other child will suffer. Yesterday I attended a very emotional presentation in Leinster House - I was not on my own - at which I heard the term "medical orphan" used to describe children waiting for treatment for scoliosis. I do not know how we have allowed this to happen in a modern society. Government backbenchers who spoke yesterday at the presentation said it is unacceptable that children are suffering. I agree with them.”
“The Tánaiste promised in 2017 that no child would be left waiting for over four months for surgery that would save and improve the lives of children with scoliosis and spina bifida. There is a real human impact of this broken promise. Harvey was left suffering on a waiting list to have an operation for 33 months - not under four months, as the Tánaiste promised. In those 33 months, Harvey was constantly in and out of hospital as the curvature of his spine increased, putting pressure on his rib cage that twisted around his heart and lungs. I would like to take a moment to imagine what it was like for a young boy to have his lungs crushed and his heart pressed in, or to imagine the sense of helplessness that Gillian and Stephen felt as parents as they watched their beautiful boy deteriorate in front of their eyes.”
“Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison are constituents of mine. They are my neighbours and the parents of Harvey who, as we all know, died tragically earlier this year. I got to know Gillian and Stephen very well over the last while. I am really fond of them. They are just an ordinary family trying to do their best for their children and build a life for themselves. They carried themselves with dignity and humanity when they tried to get treatment for Harvey while he was alive. They have continued to do so in their unselfish pursuit of justice for Harvey since he passed away. This pursuit is unfortunately too late for Harvey but it is not too late for all the other children who have suffered and languished on waiting lists for life-saving surgery.”
“There is no other reason they would do this to them – none whatsoever. I demand that the funding be restored immediately because everybody has the right to recover from addiction and to be given every chance. The Ministers opposite let down working-class communities; that is the truth.”
“The Government has abandoned whole communities to the drug crisis. Yesterday, it reduced the overall budget for drug and alcohol task forces by a shameful 25%. I am a director of an addiction service in Clondalkin and I know the devastating effect this is going to have. The cut will have a negative and immediate effect on some of the most disadvantaged communities. In the area where I grew up, there is not one person - be it a particular individual, a neighbour, a family member or a friend - who has not been affected by addiction. Funding for addiction services was butchered during the austerity era but there is no excuse doing that now. What is the excuse? The country is awash with money. The cuts are nasty and cynical. I believe that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael absolutely despise working-class communities.”
“I have a simple question: does the Minister think that €500,000 is an affordable price for a house under the Government's affordable housing scheme?”
“The Minister can criticise Sinn Féin’s housing plan all he wants, but I am going to be straight with him. I live in the real world, and the prices of affordable houses in my own area in Dublin Mid-West are simply not affordable. I will give some examples. A two-bedroom affordable home in Clonburris costs €380,000. A three-bed affordable home on the same scheme costs €418,000 and a four-bedroom affordable home costs €465,000. How is this affordable? Pop up the road to Saggart, another part of Dublin Mid-West, a three-bedroom affordable home costs a whopping €494,000, almost €500,000 for an affordable house under the Government's affordable housing scheme. I do not know what planet the Minister is living on, but €500,000 is simply not affordable to ordinary workers and families who are trying to put a roof over their head.”
“I do not see anything in yesterday's budget that will make these homes more affordable or bring down the prices. I have a simple question. Does the Minister think €500,000 is an affordable house under the Government's affordable housing scheme?”
“I thank the Minister. One of the problems we have at the minute is that the Government’s social and affordable housing targets are too low. Not only are they too low, but they are simply not being met. The Government has failed in its pre-election promise of 40,000 new homes to be delivered this year, but I want to concentrate on the affordable purchase schemes. Last year, the Government only delivered 779 affordable purchase homes. Even with this low number, the affordable housing that came out of that was way too expensive, with so-called affordable houses in my own area in Dublin Mid-West costing up to almost €500,000. I do not know how people think that is affordable. This is making it impossible for ordinary workers and families to afford a home of their own.”
“Sports capital grants are welcome, but they must be put in place in a timely manner. I am an avid League of Ireland supporter. I am never happier than when I am in Richmond Park cheering on St. Pat's at the weekend. I am a season ticket holder and I want to take this opportunity to wish St. Pat's all the best in the League of Ireland semi-final on Friday night against Cork City. The standard of football in the League of Ireland has improved dramatically over the years, but the clubs need more help. It is crucial that the League of Ireland gets funding for its academies in the upcoming budget, not only to protect the game but also to preserve football for future generations so that my kids can go and watch the standard of League of Ireland improve year after year.”
“Collinstown Football Club in my area is right at the heart of my community. There are 28 teams with over 400 players. Since 2019, it has been waiting for a dressing room from South Dublin County Council through a sports capital grant. Nothing happened until 2024 and the club had to apply for more money because of the delay which meant costs had spiralled. This football team, which caters for boys, girls, men's and women's teams, has no dressing room. Some 400 players are without a dressing room. It is simply not good enough. South Dublin County Council is prioritising two other projects in the next while, but they have been delayed. Collinstown Football Club will not be provided with a dressing room until the other projects have been completed. There is delay after delay.”
“Families do not even have time to bury the remains of their dead children or loved ones before they have to run. Gaza has been razed to the ground. Hospitals, schools, water, power stations and civilian infrastructure have all been destroyed. Entire neighbourhoods have been wiped out. Journalists, medical professionals and aid workers have all been attacked with impunity. I listened recently to the new peace deal on offer. I will be honest, I will not start saying we need X, Y and Z in this peace deal; what I will say is that we need to stop the slaughter, the genocide and the bombs. Everything else can be sorted with dialogue but right now what the Palestinian people need is the genocide to stop, the bombs to stop, the guns to stop firing and food and aid to be delivered.”
“This is real life and these are real people getting murdered as they queue for the most basic of human needs, food. Israel has weaponised hunger and forced mass starvation. What we are witnessing is genocide in real time, played out for the world to see right across our TV screens and phones. There has been eight decades of oppression, occupation and apartheid in Palestine. Today there are 6 million Palestinian refugees right across the Middle East, just because Palestinian lands have been taken by Israelis. Today there are over 750,000 illegal Israeli settlers in illegal settlements. These are war crimes under international law. Israel has ignored it and the international community has ignored it. Israel has caused the mass displacement of Palestinians from their homes. Families are running from one slaughter to another.”
“As we speak, there are boats on the way to Gaza, boats with aid for a starving population and with support for a population inflicted with genocide. The only arms on these boats are prosthetic arms for children who have lost limbs during this genocide. There are also 22 Irish civilians on these boats. One of them is my friend and comrade Senator Chris Andrews. I have been in regular touch with Chris over recent weeks and I fully support the flotilla. I wish him and his fellow activists safe passage as they deliver food and aid. We have to ask why they are doing this. It is because the Israel Defense Forces have murdered starving civilians as they queued for food. They have shot them dead where they stood waiting for food. It is like a real-life version of "The Hunger Games" but this is not a fictional film.”
“It does not matter what your income is; a carer is a carer. The Government failed to keep its promises at the last election. It has a chance to rectify that in the budget and a chance to keep its word to the people. I thank the carers in this country for the service they provide. It is absolutely invaluable. I value them and it is high time the Government valued them too.”
“That is nearly the entire payment. She appealed this and only yesterday - I will send the Minister the details - we got news that she lost this appeal. This is simply not fair. Other carers tell me they do not even bother to apply for the carer's allowance, even though they should get it, because they know they are going to go over the threshold. I think this is something the Government wants. Other carers are afraid to go back to work in case their carer's allowance is taken off them. It is creating a glass ceiling for carers. There is another lady who is working part time and caring for her son. Her partner refused a promotion because their income would bring them over the threshold and she would lose the carer's allowance. Can the Minister tell me how this is fair, valuing carers or valuing the people who carers care for?”
“I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion. It is simple: the means test for carers needs to be abolished. The means test excludes thousands of carers right across this State. I will give some examples. These are real people from my constituency who have come into my constituency office looking for help. There is a woman from my own area who was in receipt of carer's allowance. Her income and her partner's income were reassessed in January 2025. The Department used her partner's payslip from November 2024, which included his Christmas bonus. She explained this to them and then submitted the payslips for January and February 2025 to show what the normal income was. The Department continued to assess his income from the November payslip and reduced her carer's allowance by over €200 a week.”
“We have statistics and the Minister of State mentioned some herself. One in four people between 15 and 16 has vaped. One in five between 15 and 16 is currently using. We know the dangers of smoking. They have been well researched and have been known for a long time, but we do not know the long-term effects of vaping because the relevant studies have not been done yet. The legislation the Minister of State talked about needs to be introduced as soon as possible to stop the vapers of today becoming the smokers of the future.”
“Residents have contacted me about young people who are regularly seen going into the shops in their uniforms to buy vapes. There seems to be no regulation or policing of these issues. Vapes are definitely being sold to underage people. The Minister of State mentioned the flavours of vapes. You have to look at the flavours. They are like something out of a sweetshop or in a cocktail, not what you would find in a tobacco shop. They include blueberry, sour raspberry, pineapple ice, lemon and lime, banana ice, menthol, and pink lemonade. I could go on and on. This is another thing that does not happen by accident; it is a deliberate marketing ploy by the vape shops. There is also an issue in that vape shops argue vapes are a cessation method. What they are actually doing is encouraging the next generation of vapers or smokers.”
“I acknowledge that the Minister of State mentioned legislation is coming down the line. This is really welcome but it cannot come soon enough. If it is sensible and gets to the core of the issue, the Minister of State will receive support on it. Again, as Deputy Graves said, we are again having statements. There is a vacuum, and when there is a vacuum it is like the Wild West when it comes to vape shops. They are popping up all over the place. There is nothing to stop them from popping up outside schools. I walk through Clondalkin village and have noted there are vape shops throughout. With their bright lights and colours, they are lit up like Christmas trees. They are enticing young people to come in, and this is a deliberate marketing ploy. The colours are vibrant and attractive.”
“Then again, they have to be properly resourced to do that job. If proper investment is made now in youth justice, probation, the bail supervision scheme and restorative justice services, it could stop the next generation from progressing from antisocial behaviour into being hardened criminals. However, we need to invest in the here and now. What our communities need here and now is more investment in gardaí and more gardaí on the streets so that we can keep our communities safe.”
“There were 61 incidents of attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassment or related offences. This is when the suspect is a young person who was out on bail. I have always said that detention should be the last resort when it comes to young people, but when it comes to serious crime, what we are doing at the moment is simply not working. One solution, which the Minister touched on, is enhancing the bail supervision scheme. I have seen first hand in my own area how this works and it just needs to be properly funded. There is also an argument to be made, and I would like the Minister to take this on board as well, that it should not be led by An Garda Síochána because the gardaí should be out on the streets policing our communities. However, it could be led by either probation services or youth justice services to free up gardaí.”
“The consequence of it being at capacity is that young people who have committed serious crimes are being turned away and released back into our communities without the wraparound supports and the rehabilitation they need. Young people who probably should have been remanded in custody because of the serious nature of their crimes are given bail because of the capacity issue. Information I got very recently says that over the past three years, almost 3,000 crimes have been committed where the suspect was a young person already on bail. This figure is far too high. Our justice system needs to work better for our young people but also for our communities so everybody can feel safe. A breakdown of some of those crimes committed by young people who were on bail is very stark.”
“The community gardaí in my area, who I know because there are only four of them, so it is very hard not to know them, do Trojan work but there are simply not enough of them. Radical overhaul of Garda recruitment is needed, including opening a second training centre, which will increase the recruitment to 1,500 gardaí a year. Is this something the Government will commit to? Currently, the only detention centre in the State for young people is Oberstown Children Detention Campus. It is constantly at capacity. It is that much at capacity that it is like a tinderbox. We have seen and I have heard reports this year of violence against staff members. It only has the capacity to hold 46 young offenders.”
“Of the 1,000 gardaí he promised this year, even optimistic estimates will say he will be lucky to get 650, so we are already behind. This is simply not good enough. It is putting our communities at risk, and the failure to recruit new officers will inevitably lead to more overworked and overstretched gardaí leaving the force. I was at a meeting during the week with a residents' association in Lucan who told me their concerns regarding criminal activity in their area. What I found out at that meeting was that there are now only four community gardaí in Ronanstown police station. This police station covers a vast area, including some of the areas with the highest disadvantage.”
“For example, the figures I received in May of this year tell me there are 140 fewer gardaí in the Dublin metropolitan region than there were in 2020. The numbers are going down. There was a lot of fanfare, when the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, came into office, about his recruitment drive. I saw him at the National Ploughing Championships at the weekend doing it again. It is all welcome but we are not seeing the results. Nothing has been done too in terms of increasing the number of gardaí available to police the streets of Dublin. In fact, since the Minister came into office in December, there has only been three additional gardaí in Dublin. The Minister promised 5,000 new gardaí over the lifetime of the Government and in year one he is already behind.”
“Shoplifting is not antisocial behaviour; it is a crime. Destruction of public playgrounds is not antisocial behaviour; it is a crime. Until we start treating these offences as crimes with real consequences, I am afraid there will just be an endless cycle of lawlessness in our communities. We can deal with the cause of this criminal activity later but right now we must deal with the effect. We have too few gardaí in our communities. We have too few gardaí to prevent crime and to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime. We have too few gardaí in community policing and in roads policing. I listened to the Minister talking about recruitment and what he has done over the last while but the figures I have do not match up.”
“I thank Deputy Paul Gogarty for bringing forward this motion and giving us an opportunity to discuss antisocial behaviour. I may not agree with everything in the motion but I do agree with its sentiments. Basically, something needs to be done to address antisocial behaviour. I agree with the Minister when he said that a lot of the stuff Deputy Gogarty spoke about was not antisocial behaviour but actually criminal activity. The phrase "antisocial behaviour" is often used to describe a myriad of low- to mid-level criminal activity. I want to be clear: low- to mid-level criminal activity is not antisocial behaviour. Drug dealing is not antisocial behaviour; it is criminal activity. Intimidation is not antisocial behaviour; it is a crime. Driving scramblers without tax and insurance on public roads is not antisocial behaviour; it is a crime.”
“The Government must learn from this mistake so that communities know in advance. I have spoken to the Minister about this privately. The Government must also keep its promises to the people of Saggart. That means no increase in the number of people seeking international protection being based in Citywest; a quicker decision-making process; no plans to develop the cemetery; the gym and the restaurant must remain open for the people of Saggart and;there should be better services for Saggart and ongoing communication with residents. If the Government fails the people of Saggart and it fails to keep its promises, the Minister will find it even more difficult to open any more public IPAS centres in other communities across the State.”
“However, if people arrive at these shores seeking international protection but they do not have the right to remain, they should be returned to where they came from as safely and quickly as possible. This is where the Government has failed. It takes too long to make decisions. It does not enforce deportation orders. When the Government is considering IPAS centre locations, it must consider the current pressures on services in the area. The Government must communicate directly with communities, which should not find out about proposed IPAS centres from national newspapers. Likewise, TDs like me should not find out from national newspapers. As the Minister will be aware, that is exactly what happened with Citywest. I doubt Citywest will be the last public IPAS centre in the State.”
“The reason we have capacity problems in housing, health and public services falls squarely on the shoulders of successive Governments, not on those who are coming to this country to make a better life for themselves. It suits governments if certain sectors of society point to migration as the cause of our problems, because it lets them off the hook. Let me be clear: it is not migrants who cause the problems that we face today in housing, health and in other services; it is successive Governments. While the problems remain in housing and public services, migration must be managed in that context. People who arrive on these shores seeking international protection, and who have a right to be here, should be given every opportunity the State can afford so they can make a positive contribution to society.”
“Migration must be managed in the context of Ireland. We should not simply allow it to be determined by global and domestic market forces. The Government must manage migration in a fair, efficient and enforced manner that has the best interests of the people of Ireland front and centre. The Government must consider Ireland's needs in terms of workers for key sectors such as health. I visited Galway hospital last year. I did not see one Irish person working there and I could not have been looked after better. The healthcare that was provided to me was very good. We must also put this into the context of the housing capacity and the capacity of public services.”
“Is the Minister aware that the EU passed a delegated Act that classified nitrous oxide as harmful to reproductive health and it plans to prohibit the sale in 2027? Will the Government wait for the EU or will it act now in the best interests of our communities?”
“The EU studies have shown harm to reproductive health of people working in medical settings caused by nitrous oxide. These studies showed there is a decreased level of fertility in these workers. My fear is that people who are misusing nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, are taking much more concentrated doses than those who took part in these studies. There has also been a 175% increase in the number of young people who are presenting to the HSE with problems from nitrous oxide in the past year. It can have fatal consequences. I did a quick search online today and I can buy any amount of nitrous oxide. There are very few balances and checks. It comes in flavours, similar to vapes, such as strawberry and apple. It is targeted towards children.”
“Eventually, Harvey underwent the first of two spinal operations but it was too late. However, there was remarkable improvement in that short time. His breathing improved and he started eating solid food for the first time in six years. However, by the time these operations took place, the curvature in his spine was so severe that the outcome was tragically limited compared to the situation had Deputy Harris kept his promise that this surgery would be done within four months. This morning, we heard of more increased waiting times for children with scoliosis. Unless there is a radical overhaul of CHI and real accountability, including at ministerial level, Harvey will never get justice and there will be more Harveys. We have a chance to do the right thing here.”
“Last year, I spoke about Harvey being removed from CHI waiting lists for urgent scoliosis surgery without the consent or knowledge of his parents. The Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, said back in 2017 that no child would have to wait more than four months for surgery. The Tánaiste broke his promise to Harvey and to other children. Harvey spent more than three years waiting on life-changing surgery. While his parents waited, their lives were on hold while Harvey suffered. During Harvey's three years on the waiting list, his spinal curve caused his ribcage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing. We have all seen that heart-wrenching video that was put on social media. Harvey spent the last two Christmases of his very short life in hospital.”
“I pledge to continue to support them in their fight for justice for Harvey and to ensure that no other child has to suffer the way he did. I spoke to Harvey's dad, Stephen, just this morning in the car on my way in here. He informed me that the family have yet to receive any words of condolence from the Minister for Health. This is the very least the Minister could do. Harvey may have died but, from speaking with his parents, I know that only strengthened their resolve to get justice for him. They are calling for an independent statutory public inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis care at CHI. CHI is responsible for the oversight and management of waiting lists. It has also allowed non-medical grade devices to be placed into children. This is inhumane, negligent and, in my opinion, downright criminal.”
“It is the first day back in the Dáil and it is important that we talk about Harvey Morrison Sherratt. Harvey was born with complex health conditions, including spina bifida and scoliosis. Harvey spent years on waiting lists for life-changing spinal surgery. Harvey died on 29 July this year. Harvey was just nine years of age. Harvey lived in my area of Clondalkin and, over the last couple of years, I have got to know his parents. I was away when Harvey died but I took the time to contact his parents to offer them my heartfelt condolences. When I returned home, my first port of call was to visit the family to offer my condolences. I take this opportunity to publicly offer my heartfelt condolences to Harvey's parents, Gillian and Stephen, their wider family, their neighbours and their friends on the loss of Harvey.”
“It has tied the hands of local authorities in relation to the tenant in situ scheme. The Government actually got something right in the last term by introducing this scheme. What does the Government do when it gets something right? It pulls the plug. I ask that the Government reinstates fully the tenant in situ scheme and gives local authorities the means and the ability to purchase homes to stop families and children going into homelessness.”
“I do not know how the Taoiseach has done it but he has pulled off an amazing feat of illusion. Somehow the Taoiseach has normalised the housing crisis. I want to be clear that it is not normal for people to be still living in the back bedrooms of their parents' homes. It is not normal that rents have skyrocketed and that most young people feel they will not be able to buy their own home. It is not normal to have 16,000 citizens of this country homeless, as we speak, and over 5,000 children, at this moment, staying in emergency accommodation. It is also not normal to knowingly and willingly push more people into homeless accommodation but that is exactly what the Government has done by scrapping the tenant in situ scheme. I heard what the Taoiseach said to Deputy Ó Broin a few minutes ago. That is exactly what the Government has done.”
“Even though I was not directly involved, through youth organisations I have seen at first hand the benefits it has not only for the victim of the crime, but also for the community and for the young person involved in crime. It leads to positive change. The Minister of State mentioned youth diversion projects. That is really welcome. We had a debate earlier and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, talked about having youth justice projects right across the State. I hope the Government sticks to that commitment because it is really needed. We need targeted youth diversion projects in our areas. In my own area, we have recently had upheaval as the result of a feud. We could have done with a properly resourced youth diversion project in the area, which could have dealt with the issue. We will be looking to progress that as well.”
“If we are serious about reducing crime and making our communities safe, we need to embed restorative justice practices in our justice system. I welcome the fact the Government will not oppose the Bill. Dr. Ian Marder has been mentioned. I spoke to him recently to get an understanding of restorative justice practices and I thank him for this. I heard the Minister of State, Dr. Marder and our spokesperson on justice, Deputy Carthy, on the radio recently. A commitment was made, which I do not think the Minister of State referenced in his statement, to a 10% increase on a yearly basis in the number of people using restorative justice. It is welcome that the target is there but we need to be a bit more ambitious. I have worked in organisations that practise restorative justice.”
“It is very important to put on the record that the Bill will not force anybody to take part in restorative justice. There is no pressure. People can make this decision themselves. It will give them the opportunity to avail of it on their journey through the justice system. The benefit of encouraging more people to engage in restorative justice practices is that we can reduce the number of people who end up in our prisons which, as the Minister of State knows, are seriously over capacity at present. As I mentioned previously, we can also reduce the rate of recidivism. The Minister of State mentioned amending legislation with regard to children. I am happy to work with him and table amendments on young people going into restorative justice practices.”
“It allows the victim to question the motives of the person and ask why they did it, why they chose them and whether they feel guilty for what they have done. It can be very empowering for the victim to be able to look the person in the eye and pick apart what they did and why they did it. It can also be life-altering for the person who committed the crime in the first place to have to address somebody they have hurt or harmed directly. It humanises the victim and helps a person to see the impact the crime has had on the victim. We know restorative justice has helped to reduce reoffending. This is why the Sinn Féin Bill is so important. It aims to increase opportunities to refer somebody to restorative justice by creating obligations on justice professionals to make these referrals. It is very similar to what happens in the North.”