Martin Daly
Roscommon-Galway · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The relationship between Ireland and Spain is hugely important with €15 billion in total in trade, including €10 billion in goods and services from Ireland to Spain, a country that is in the European Union and has shared our values, culture and history. It was a hugely important meeting and is a hugely important relationship.”
“I accept that answer and I thank the Minister very much for that update. It is important because people sometimes equate healthcare with hospital beds, but that is not reality. In isolation, beds cannot provide for the healthcare needs of the public.”
“I thank the Minister very much. We had the excellent Professor Rose Anne Kenny, co-ordinator of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, TILDA, in recently with the health committee. She pointed out the demographic challenge we are facing in health.”
“I ask the Minister for an update on the plan to increase the capacity of inpatient beds by 4,000 or 4,500 across the country and if she will make a statement on the matter. We know we currently have 12,000 public beds and 2,500 private beds, which is about 2.9 beds per thousand of the population.”
“We will probably start with proper screening programmes at the age of 50, with the whole population moving into better-resourced primary care, step-down beds and rehabilitation beds. I also support Deputy Seán Kyne’s call for the Minister to press for the 300 additional beds in UHG.”
“I wish to ask if the Government has or is developing a policy for the development of industrial hemp production in Ireland. Industrial hemp is a remarkable plant.”
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“Delivery has been too slow; held up by inconsistent planning and resistance to planning. It takes too long to deliver wastewater and electricity infrastructure. It takes twice as long as the EU average. We cannot pretend that a seven- to ten-year wait to produce a wastewater treatment plan is acceptable. I welcome the fact that we will have developer-led wastewater treatment plans, especially in the small towns and villages around County Roscommon and east County Galway, as Deputies Dolan and O’Meara pointed out. That is a game-changer because it will let it allow communities to grow. I am delighted that in my own town of Ballygar, County Galway, our wastewater treatment plant will start next year. However, it has been 15 years since a block has been laid in our own town. It is simply not good enough.”
“I welcome the plan. The housing crisis is a societal blight. Owning a home is part of the social contract in Ireland, yet for many young people, that remains a dream. Housing supply and affordability are international problems, such as in the UK, Australia, Canada and in the European Union. The first ever housing Commissioner has been appointed because of these issues. One in 10 people in the European Union cannot afford to pay their mortgage or rent on time. The price of houses in the Union has gone up by 60% in the past ten years. In the United States they have gone up by 60% since 2019. However, we have to solve our own problems. Nobody can be satisfied with our homelessness figures and the fact that our young people cannot get skin in the game and put down roots in our own country. This document moves us from planning to delivery.”
“The Government has done that with targeted supports, such as increasing the fuel allowance and the maintenance of the 9% VAT rate. I will paraphrase a recent successful election campaign: a country we can afford; running for office to lower the cost of living for working-class people; building affordable housing; childcare for all; reducing the cost of energy; ensuring affordable groceries. That was not in Ireland; it was in New York city. It went on: life does not have to be this hard, life can be more affordable and it is a government's job to deliver it. That was the campaign of Zohran Mamdani in New York city. These issues are international but we must solve our own problems by disruption of the status quo and with a meaningful, determined strategic development of affordable, clean, abundant, sustainable energy.”
“None of this, however, explains why the gap between wholesale and retail electricity prices is bigger here than almost anywhere else in Europe in spite of the assertions of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU. People are not naive. They are asking who is watching the watchers. Right now, the State regulator cannot cap prices. It cannot directly stop unjustified price hikes or intervene when retail prices diverge far from reality. We need a market that works, not one that hides behind complexity because complexity reeks of anti-competitive behaviour. Here is what I believe must happen. We need real transparency around pricing, not vague statements; strong regulatory powers that ensure competition; and a rapid transition to Irish-generated renewable energy. We must continue to protect the households with the least resources.”
“Ordinary people cannot understand why electricity retail prices are 200% to 300% higher than wholesale prices. I can understanding hedging, but there is deep suspicion of profiteering. There is a moral hazard. Our energy suppliers are no less susceptible to this than anyone else. Try to explain hedging to ordinary people and families. Ireland has vulnerabilities. We rely heavily on natural gas and an expensive grid. The drive to sustainable and clean solar and wind-generated energy takes time. Thankfully, 40% of our energy is already renewable and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has suggested we will get to 60% in the next couple of years.”
“I add to Deputy Crowe's congratulations to the Ceann Comhairle on the manner in which she hosted the visit of President Zelenskyy and his entourage yesterday. Rising energy costs in Ireland seem as if they are inexorable and progressive, without restraint or any hope of correction. They are punishing and unsustainable. They affect families, businesses, the economy and competitiveness. While I accept this is an international problem because of the rapid economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, reducing investment in fossil fuel production in the past decade and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we must still be cognisant that households are opening bills with a sense of dread. Our electricity costs are among the highest in Europe. People do not need another index; they need fairness. Something is deeply off about this market.”
“The public health service provides the bulk of healthcare in this country. Let us get that straight. If you have a stroke in this country in the morning, there is no private facility that will admit you to hospital, and the same applies for hospice care. People need to remember that. They need to remember that our public hospital service underpins everything that happens in this State and it is exceedingly good value for money for what we get.”
“In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and as the Minister of State has said, there has been a significant increase in public funding, but without the commensurate increase in productivity. I want to reflect briefly, because I am running out of time, and I do appreciate this time, that the major health insurance companies are now investing fortunes in advertising and in these big centres in urban areas offering all sorts of services. That is fine, but there is no risk equalisation for the rural person who is living in a county like Roscommon or east Galway, where there is no access to private beds. Are they subsidising access for people who are living in urban areas to these super-duper 365-day centres run by various health insurers? Finally, people say private health insurers are so efficient.”
“I have had multiple patients come in to me to find out at critical times of illness that they do not have insurance cover for particular procedures in private hospitals and it was not that clear to them when their policies were being sold. I have sent them to the Health Insurance Authority and advised them to seek help there. However, that there are 336 plans means to me that people are being confused by what they are being offered and it does not serve the consumer well. On the public side, productivity remains an issue, and one of the issues around productivity is that we can keep throwing money at an archaic structural organisation like the HSE but unless we achieve digitalisation and really improve productivity in our hospitals and our clinics, we will not get value for money.”
“They do so because they do not have confidence in the public health system to deliver healthcare for them when and where they need it. That is what we need to reflect on. We also need to reflect on Sláintecare. I am a publicly funded doctor. I have worked mainly in public practice with the medical card system. I believe in a public health service but I believe we need to reflect on Sláintecare. The capacity is not there. It is difficult to see how we will create a capacity for the 46% of the population who feel they must insure themselves. Many sons and daughters fund private health insurance for their elderly parents because their parents cannot afford it and want access. I am also concerned about private health insurance companies. There are in or around 336 plans and, to me, that represents a lack of transparency.”
“I want to reflect on the Bill, which I fully support it. It is vital that we maintain community rating through a risk equalisation scheme and the stamp duty paid. I also want to ask and reflect on why 46% of people feel they must insure in this country. As a practising GP who has been involved in medical politics for many years, it is my view that one third of people cannot afford insurance and are covered fully by the public system. One third of people may always insure, no matter what public system we have in place, and I think that experience is borne out in other countries. One third of people feel that if they had a choice and the capacity was there in the public health service, they would not insure and they are certainly hard pressed to insure themselves.”
“I appreciate the Minister's answer, which is given at short notice. I am glad I raised the question on the floor of the House. The young man I mentioned is in difficulty. He is a self-employed businessman and is now disabled with multiple non-traumatic fractures. He asked whether there was a possibility he might be reimbursed for this medicine. However, it is down to the company to apply for a licence, as the Minister said. I accept that completely. We will have to revert to the company. I appreciate her reply.”
“I apologise to the Minister as this question contains incorrect information. I contacted her team to convey that message. I will ask the question and she might get back to me on it. I gave her short notice in respect of it. Romosozumab is a licensed treatment for post-menopausal women with advanced osteoporosis that does not respond to all other therapies. I have had a representation from a young middle-aged man who has a rare form of osteoporosis that has rendered him disabled. He does not have access to this drug by virtue of being a male.”
“I welcome all those initiatives. It is really important that they are integrated with existing mental health services. Initiatives must be even and consistent throughout the country, with adequate access. In addition, we need to look at acute mental health capacity in its totality in terms of beds. In the acute psychiatric unit in Roscommon University Hospital, up to a third of beds are taken by people who would be better served in supported situations in the community. In County Roscommon, there were many community hospitals and problems were identified with them. However, after the closure of the psychiatric hospital in Castlerea, there has been no replacement capacity in the community to step people down into those beds and create space for acute presentations to the psychiatric unit in Roscommon University Hospital.”
“Putting specialist nursing teams into all model 4 emergency departments is a good initiative because it will provide an immediate assessment by a specialist nurse.”
“I thank the Minister of State. It is extremely important that we continue to progress investment in our mental health services. We still lag behind the internationally accepted norms for spending on mental health as a proportion of our budget. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has done some tremendous work in this regard. We have identified the tsunami of mental health issues that have arisen since Covid. As a practising GP, it is important to me that when we refer people who are in crisis that there are adequate pathways for them to achieve treatment. I have dealt with situations where young people in crisis, who are actively suicidal, have sat in emergency rooms for eight or nine hours waiting for an assessment.”
“The question is in the context of significant additional funding for mental health services over the past five years, resulting in a €1.6 billion investment in mental health services for 2026. For the sixth year in a row, there has been an increase in staffing. I would like the Minister to make a statement on the funding provided for mental health crisis supports and suicide prevention in 2026.”
“If we want families to regain trust, we have to earn it. As a GP and someone who believes the health system should serve the most vulnerable first, I will continue pushing for urgency, honesty and accountability because these children deserve nothing less.”
“The planned statutory inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services is a necessary step. It is not a tick-box; it is not a gesture. It must be a turning point. I want to acknowledge the families and advocates whose persistence has brought us to this point. They have shown more courage and patience than any system should ever demand of them. As for the integration of CHI into the HSE, it may well be the right long-term move, but let us be clear: structure alone will not fix culture. Governance changes must be matched with accountability and day-to-day improvements must be felt by real families. Progress is real but it is not enough. We need more theatre capacity, more consultants, better planning for surgeries and demand, and communication that treats parents as partners, rather than supplicants.”
“I welcome the hard work of clinicians, the spinal management unit, the multidisciplinary teams and the new transition pathway for adolescents because it is their efforts that are turning numbers into reality for families. However, I will also say this. They need more support, more capacity and more consistent communication structures. Families cannot be left chasing letters, clarifications and updates. The various reviews, the HIQA report, the Boston review, the internal examinations and the ongoing Nayagam review are not comfortable reading, nor should they be. If anything, they show that oversight did not come soon enough. The audit into governance and equity of access is essential and, frankly, overdue. Families deserve transparency, not a maze of inconsistent processes and varying standards.”
“Up to the end of October, 446 spinal procedures were completed, slightly more than last year, but demand is rising even faster. Some 462 new cases have been added to the list this year, which tells its own story. We are adding cases more quickly than we are clearing them. Nonetheless, there are improvements. Some 68% of children are now waiting less than six months compared to 56% a year ago. The number of those waiting over a year has halved and outpatient lists have fallen by almost 50%. These are signs of a service that is trying to pull itself out of a very difficult period, but it is also a reminder that the gains are fragile and that the system is still heavily stretched, especially when one retirement or one ICU bed shortage can derail a week’s worth of surgeries.”
“Every one of us in the House has met families whose lives have been shaped by scoliosis or spina bifida. These are families who do not have the luxury of waiting until next year for improvements. They need treatment now. As a GP, I have seen how timely spinal care can change the entire trajectory of a child's life, and that perspective shapes what I want to say today. Yes, progress is being made, but we have a long way to go before any of us can be satisfied. We need to be honest. Too many children have waited too long for spinal procedures. While some indicators are now moving in the right direction, nobody should pretend that the job is done or that families can suddenly feel reassured. They do not, and I do not blame them.”
“It requires us to inspire young people, especially our young girls, to step into fields where their talents are needed, and it requires us to ensure the benefits of scientific progress reach every community in Ireland, not just a few. I thank the educators, researchers and community groups as well as the industry partners who make Science Week possible each year. To the students taking part, keep asking questions and keep challenging assumptions. To the girls in our schools who are wondering whether science is for them, let me say clearly that science is absolutely for you. Ireland needs your ideas, leadership and voice, then, today, and tomorrow, and here is to the next 30 years of science and the people who will shape it.”
“Our ability to diagnose early, treat effectively and deliver care in the right place at the right time depends on investment in evidence-based practice, digital health, data systems and modern medical technologies. Science and medicine advance together. When science progresses, patient outcomes improve. As we celebrate 30 years of Science Week, we should think not only about the discoveries that have brought us here, but the kind of scientific culture that we want to build for the next 30 years, a culture that supports curiosity, welcomes women and men equally, recognises the value of rural innovation and sees science not only as something distant or elite, but as a shared national project. My message today is simple: science is not a spectator sport. It requires investment, participation and public engagement.”
“The recent budget shows this Government's support for research and development, with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, being instrumental in increasing the amount of tax relief available to businesses undertaking research and development activities in the State. The threshold for first-year refunds in the research and development tax credit scheme will increase to €87,000 for smaller projects. I know the Minister, Deputy Lawless's commitment to the concept of our higher level educational establishments, linking with industry to create the technology and jobs of tomorrow. Rural Ireland should not be the last place to benefit from innovation. It should be the driver of it. This is especially clear from a healthcare perspective. We cannot deliver 21st century medicine with 20th century systems.”
“Until access is equal, participation cannot be equal. This is particularly important for rural Ireland. The future of Irish science is not and should not be urban-centric. We have extraordinary potential in the west of Ireland, with world-class medtech clusters, agricultural innovation, digital health research and a strong network of universities and higher institutes linked to industry, producing genuinely world-class work. Potential needs support. It needs investment in research capacity, educational outreach and infrastructure that ensures that scientific opportunity is truly national.”
“I will repeat what Deputy Jen Cummins said, as it is worth repeating. A recent survey of 2,300 transition year students highlighted the stark differences. Some 55% of girls in single-sex schools say limited subject choice is a barrier compared with 37% in mixed schools. Some 46% of girls cite limited subject options more broadly as a barrier to STEM careers and the contrast in access is striking. Just 5% of girls in all-girls schools can study construction studies compared with 84% in mixed settings and only 6% can take engineering compared with 74% of their peers. The pattern persists nationally, with 71% of girls schools offering only one additional STEM subject beyond maths or science compared with 96% of boys schools. These gaps matter. Early exposure shapes confidence, ambition and opportunity.”
“These are reminders that the direction science takes is not neutral by default. It is shaped by who is at the table, and if women are not fully represented, we all feel the impact. I have spoken to many bright young women in schools across Roscommon and Galway, students who are curious, engaged and ambitious. They are interested in engineering, medicine, technology and research but they still tell me they do not see enough people who look like them in these careers and that visibility matters. Role models matter. Mentorship matters. Pathways matter. If we want to inspire the next generation, we need to signal clearly that science is for everyone, not defined by gender, postcode or background. If we are serious about widening the pipeline, we must confront the structural barriers that still shape girls' access to STEM.”
“This is not because girls lose interest, but too often, the system loses them, and the consequences of that under-representation are not abstract. Women shape the quality of our research, the fairness of our systems and the safety of our innovations. When women are not fully included in shaping scientific questions, designing algorithms or leading research teams, the solutions we produce risk reflecting only part of society and have real-world implications. Historically, medical research often excluded women, leading to gaps in diagnostic understanding and treatment. One example is the under-diagnosis of acute heart attack in women because of different symptoms. Early voice recognition technology struggled to recognise female voices because data sets were skewed and, even today, AI systems can replicate biases if teams lack diversity.”
“Science shows up in every decision we make in practice and this is not unique to medicine. Whether we talk about agriculture, manufacturing, communications or energy, science is embedded in the practical, everyday functioning of our society. That is why Science Week is so important. It brings science into the public square and strengthens the connection between innovation and ordinary life. However, when we talk about the future of science in Ireland, we must address one of the most persistent challenges, that is, the under-representation of women in key scientific fields. We know the pattern. In early education, girls show just as much interest and ability in science as boys, but somewhere between secondary school, higher education and postgraduate research, we see a narrowing pipeline.”
“Science Week celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades of encouraging curiosity, innovation and public engagement with science. However, Science Week is more than a calendar of events. It is a reminder that science underpins almost every aspect of modern life, including health, the climate change response, the economy, infrastructure and the daily choices we make as individuals and communities. This year's theme - Then. Today. Tomorrow. - invites us to reflect on the progress we have made, the challenges we face and the kind of scientific future we want to build. As a doctor, I am reminded daily that science is not an academic concept; it is the practical foundation of modern healthcare. It is the diagnostics, treatments, evidence and technology that allow us to deliver better outcomes for patients.”
“Perhaps the Minister has already done so, but will he commit to publishing regular statistics on approvals, refusal rates, processing times and appeal outcomes? Perhaps the Minister will also establish a working group with parent representatives and disability advocates so that we deal with this issue in a humane and compassionate way.”
“I thank the Minister for the tone of his reply. It was really important because this is about compassion, fairness and efficiency. The fact that such a high proportion of decisions are overturned on appeal suggests that the initial assessment process is not working as it might. It does create unnecessary stress and pressure on parents who are already under additional pressure. I also want to recognise the increase in the income disregard in the carers' allowance. For a long time and for many of those families in that situation, this was the only payment they were getting from the State to support the children with disabilities. With the Minister's initiative on the income disregard, many more of those families will hopefully receive more support.”
“Between 2020 and 2024, 52,541 applications were made, with 35,234 granted. Out of the 17,695 that were not allowed, 11,087 were appealed, with 60% of the appeals seeing the original decisions overturned and DCA allowed. Out of 67 cases that were taken for judicial review, 50 were won. I absolutely accept the Minister and the Department's bona fides in this regard and that we must have a robust system so that the DCA goes to the people who need it most, but we have to be careful that the system is not too rigid and does not leave people behind.”
“I am taking question No. 78 on behalf of Deputy Ardagh. She has been called to another meeting in her constituency. I want to raise the issue of the high rejection rates for the domiciliary care allowance, DCA, applications. Families caring for children with disabilities are under immense pressure and when these applications are refused, it adds enormous emotional and financial strain. Almost one in three applications are being turned down, with many only succeeding on appeal. A considerable number of the rejected applications are being overturned on appeal. I recognise, however, the decreased waiting times for appeals.”
“In the longer term, it would be good to have a cost-of-disability payment for people who have considerable needs because it would enable them to re-enter the workforce, which would be good for their sake, most importantly, but for our sake as well.”
“As a result of being on the disability committee and having witnesses come before it over the past 11 months, I am struck by the quite variable needs of some people in terms of their disability. I am concerned that if we sometimes provide supports that are too thin to too many people, we need to have some nuance in order that we support people, especially those who have considerable needs that are not being addressed. There is a need to get these people into employment because, as we know, the level of poverty associated with disability in this country is quite considerable, as is the unemployment rate among people who are disabled. That is where my concern lies.”
“Sometimes we have to consider this in the round in terms of access to services and getting people back to work, particularly young people.”
“I appreciate the figures the Minister outlined and the reference to the growing caseload and broader demographic change. While expenditure is rising, so too are the challenges faced by those depending on supports. Is the Department examining any reforms, either administrative or structural, that would protect recipients while ensuring that schemes remain sustainable? If we are moving towards a cost-of-disability payment,it is important that we focus our resources on people and on the actual costs of disability. Not every disability or every person claiming a disability or invalidity payment is the same. The concern lies with the experience in the UK where there has been an exponential rise in claims, especially from young people aged between 16 and 24, in the areas of social phobia, anxiety and mood disorders.”
“My question relates to the annual cost of the disability allowance and invalidity pension schemes. These payments are essential supports for people living with long-term illness or disability. They represent a significant and growing component of the Government's budget and also that of the Department. I am seeking clarity around the current annual expenditure, the trends over recent years and the pressures that might be driving increases in demand. It is important to understand how these schemes are evolving and whether the funding remains aligned with need.”
“The cost of disability payment should be considered also. There is a lot of work to be done. The direction is right but we do need a huge focus on it.”
“I am following on from what my colleague Deputies have already said about the care of the offspring of people who are getting older and have no certainty around what is going to happen when they are not here any more. It is a major challenge within the community. It seems like a cliff edge. When you die, you get a residency. That is not good enough. There has got to be planning around that, and it should be seamless. A lot of work has been done on the provision of special education classes, and special school place provision. We have done stuff around increasing the income disregard for the carer's allowance and we are getting to an abolishment of the means test but also I think we need to address flexible arrangements around getting more people who live with disability into work and out of poverty without losing their benefits.”
“As international experience demonstrates, it would fuel the rise of extremism that would undermine the confidence of people who have come here with the vital skills and energy that drive our economy and enrich our society.”
“That progress must accelerate and be sustained because if we fail to act, we do not just undermine the immigration system, but we undermine social cohesion and create a political vacuum that will be destroyed. We have seen the extreme forces who feel emboldened to try to burn, injure, maim and murder vulnerable women, children and men. The law must identify these people and deal with the perpetrators with severity. Ireland must remain compassionate but it must be rigorous and prompt in the application of immigration laws, in keeping with our international obligations and in the common interest. To do otherwise would be politically irresponsible.”
“We also need to be frank. Many people currently seeking international protection are doing so for economic reasons. While I fully understand their desire, we cannot conflate legal and illegal immigration. It does legal migrants, genuine asylum seekers and refugees no service. If a claim is fairly assessed and rejected, then deportation must follow. This is not institutional harshness; it is the rule of law and it protects the integrity of the system. I acknowledge and commend my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, who have brought renewed urgency to processing and enforcement. In his speech, the Minister acknowledged his predecessor who also had initiated some change, but there has been a palpable change since he has stepped into his Ministry and it has been noticed by the public.”
“I have lived it and we need it in this country but we do ourselves a grave disservice if we fail to maintain a fair, efficient and respected immigration system, one that is compassionate, yes, but also transparent, timely and enforced. If we want the Irish public to have confidence in immigration, then the immigration system must be one that deserves that confidence. We need a mature national conversation based on facts, not one where genuine concerns are dismissed as racism. We have to be honest when the State does not manage its borders effectively and when processes are slower and sow doubt. It does not produce compassion; it produces false narratives and resentment and it is the extremists, the racists and the chauvinists who step into that vacuum. If we do not govern this space responsibly, they will occupy it destructively.”
“Ireland has always been shaped by movement. For much of our history, we were a people who were forced to leave to seek opportunity abroad. However, in recent decades, as our economy has flourished and our society modernised, it has become a place where others come seeking safety, work, opportunity and hope. I want to speak on this issue from personal experience. I am the son of an immigrant. My mother came here from India. She worked hard, contributed to her community, raised a large family and loved this country with deep and abiding affection. She would be horrified by the rise of racism, both casual and overt. I know the positive contribution that legal, well-managed immigration brings.”
“If we continue to invest in prevention, training and community-based supports, we can deliver better outcomes not only for men, but for their families and for the well-being of Irish society as a whole.”
“The chronic disease management programmes for secondary prevention are an exemplar in general practice internationally and have been shown to help. The forthcoming national men's action plan 2024 to 2028 offers an opportunity to build and expand programmes like Engage and Men in Mind, targeting high-risk groups and scaling up initiatives such as men's sheds, On Feirm Ground and Ahead of the Game, which enables men to take ownership of their health. I must recognise the high morbidity and mortality among the farming community in rural areas, often surrounded by loneliness and an inability to go and seek help. Encouragingly, three out of four adults now express concern about men's health. That public awareness should help us and empower us towards real change.”
“I acknowledge my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for her sustained leadership in this area and her announcement of €2 million in new funding for community-based mental health supports, which will make a tangible difference. The physical picture is equally alarming. Men are three times more likely to die prematurely than women. They drink more, they smoke more, and they carry a high blood pressure burden. With the increased prevalence of diabetes, high cholesterol and poor diet, this is creating a perfect storm. The five leading causes of morbidity and mortality among men are coronary artery disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary airways disease, lung cancer and suicide. All of these can be mitigated with lifestyle and medical modification.”