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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“The national strategy must be enhanced to promote healthier lifestyles through education, community initiatives and improved access to affordable, nutritious food. We need simple, visible and transparent food labelling and regulation. We are what we eat. We must also protect our regional healthcare services. In my constituency, Portiuncula hospital and Roscommon hospital are critical parts of our local healthcare infrastructure, providing a span of accessible services that ensure timely diagnosis and treatment. These services must be maintained and expanded. There will be increasing use of healthcare data to plan our healthcare services, AI and brain-computer interface devices, and a growth in personalised medicine. However, this will only happen in an ecosystem of innovation, security and human expertise.”
“Telemedicine and remote monitoring can improve care, especially in rural areas, by providing medical advice without unnecessary travel. Wearable health devices and digital diagnostics will increasingly help early detection of conditions and monitor existing ones. However, none of this will be possible without investment in our healthcare workforce: GPs; consultants; nurses; allied health professionals and carers. We must improve recruitment and retention by offering better working conditions and career pathways. Prevention is key. One in four adults and one in five children in Ireland are living with obesity, leading to increased rates of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other chronic conditions.”
“The future of healthcare in Ireland is at a turning point. Demand is increasing, with a growing, ageing and more sophisticated population. We have an opportunity to create a system that is patient centred, community driven and sustainable. Our focus must be on prevention and accessibility and ensuring that care is delivered where and when people need it most. A strong healthcare system relies on robust primary care and community care. Hospitals play a vital role but they cannot be a default option. We must continue to invest in GPs, primary care centres and home-based care to ensure that treatment is available locally. This would reduce pressure on emergency departments and improve patient outcomes. Technology is vital for meeting the increased demand that lies ahead.”
“I am reassured by what the Tánaiste said. What we need is a reassurance that we learn lessons from this storm. There needs to be the three corridors. We need Uisce Éireann and our local group water schemes to be generator ready. The three corridors issue might be a bit more complicated to solve, but it has to be solved in the national interest, when 700,000 households were without electricity, some of them for almost three weeks. In that context, people need to be reassured that every asset of the State is put into play when we are under pressure with an emergency that struck the west coast in particular. In retrospect, perhaps we should have called a state of emergency and utilised all those assets. Again, it is easy in retrospect to say that. However, we need to learn the lessons from this storm.”
“I am reassured by the Tánaiste's answer regarding the Army's role in dealing with any future natural disaster. We must put it in the context of the devastation that was caused on the west coast, most especially in the Roscommon-Galway constituency that I represent but also in west Galway, Leitrim and Cavan. Forests were blown down, roads were blocked, water supplies were cut off and people had no electricity. In some cases, people did not have water supplies for up to 20 days. This was an intolerable situation. It was unprecedented. I pay tribute to ESB Networks, local authority workers, voluntary groups, sports groups and emergency hub workers. However, I feel it was important, and people on the ground would have liked the visibility of the Army out on the ground helping people in that situation.”
“In the context of Storm Éowyn, will the Tánaiste outline the specific protocols and contingency plans in place to ensure the Defence Forces' assistance in future natural disasters and the criteria that are used to determine the deployment of the Defence Forces in emergency situations?”
“We must move forward proactively. I know the Minister's personal commitment and that of the Taoiseach to this issue. To quote St. Francis of Assisi: "Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."”
“I welcome the programme for Government's renewed focus on disability committing to the UNCRPD and prioritising a national disability strategy with a vision for 2030. I also welcome the establishment of the disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, which will give weight and focus to delivery. The strategy must be underwritten by principles of equality, accessibility, the right to live independently, the right to education, adequate healthcare, employment and the right to participate in daily life. I welcome the recognition of carers in the programme for Government. In the context of an existing €6.5 billion spend, we must ensure funding is directed to the most vulnerable. If reform is required, we should embrace it. Ireland has lagged behind EU counterparts in supporting people with disabilities.”
“They reflected the frustration and anger that thousands of parents feel. We have ageing parents who have dedicated their lives to caring for their children with special needs, yet they are unable to plan for their children's future. Minimal planning is available. I recall a mother who cared for her son with severe intellectual disability for 48 years. At 80 years of age she sought residential care for her son. After years of requests, she was told it would be sorted out when she was gone. When she died suddenly from complications following a hip fracture, his long-term care was arranged within ten days. A lifetime of struggle should not have ended that way. Disabilities can take on diverse forms, some easily recognisable while others remain hidden from view. Each person's journey is distinct and deserves to be understood on its own terms.”
“I wish the Ministers of State, Deputies Naughton and Moynihan, well in their new roles. The opportunity to make this statement is timely. I am moved to refer to the heart-breaking interview on the "Oliver Callan" show last Friday of Radie Peat and Dan Lambert about their daughter who has non-verbal autism. They eloquently articulated the horrendous difficulty parents and their children with special needs face in seeking early diagnosis and intervention. As a GP, their story is the reality for many parents. Theirs is a constant battle to obtain services that should be a right. Every day lost to early intervention is an irretrievable cost. Those with the least resources suffer the most. Radie and Dan waited 18 months for an assessment in 2023 only to be placed on a five-year waiting list for intervention.”
“Given the current fluid international political climate and the apparent disengagement of the US from European security, Ireland may be expected to contribute more to EU security. Historically, we have under-invested in our security forces, relying on others to protect our airspace and waters. With the need to protect our infrastructure and secure our borders, do we have a strategy for formal security co-operation to address potential threats or attacks on ourselves or the European Union?”
“In 2015, Roscommon University Hospital was allocated €7.85 million for a vital rehabilitation unit. It was part of a deal for the reconfiguration of the hospital after 2011 and of the enhanced infrastructure that was promised at that time. This project remained a priority under the HSE capital plan for eight years up to 2023. The last update indicated progression of the unit's design. Given this long-standing commitment and the critical need for the regional rehabilitation unit, why was Roscommon University Hospital unit omitted from the 2024 HSE capital plan? Will the Cabinet committee on health be able to comment on such?”
“We must have capacity in the community sector, whether it is supported living or robust community support for people in their own homes. I know that the Minister of State and this Government share my commitment to improving mental health services. We have taken important steps but we must continue to listen to the concerns of patients, families and mental health professionals. By working together, we can deliver-----”
“The expansion of the national clinical programmes for specialist mental health services is a welcome development, and I acknowledge the significant efforts to roll out self-harm and suicide-related services across all emergency departments. However, we must ensure that these services are properly staffed and extended into the community, where they are equally needed. When we moved from the institutional care model for mental health services, we promised people reinvestment into community psychiatric services. It was never going to be less expensive, just a more appropriate, humane delivery of care in people's own communities. The investment has not happened as intended. We see a third of patients in inpatient beds for more than 12 months and high rates of readmission. That reflects a failing community sector.”
“We have approximately 24 beds per 100,000 people. The European average is 75 per 100,000. We have moved away from institutional inpatient care to the community, but there is always a need for inpatient treatment for people. The stark reality remains that one needs to be exceptionally ill to get into hospital. Staffing shortages across psychiatric services continue to place immense strain on the system. In the community, we do not have enough fully resourced multidisciplinary teams to provide early intervention. Without adequate staffing, prevention becomes impossible and more people end up in crisis. I know this Government is committed to improving mental healthcare.”
“Increasing prevalence of substance abuse is leading to increased anxiety, depressive disorders and psychosis. Our services must be resourced not only to treat those in crisis but also to provide early intervention and prevention strategies. Eating disorder hubs have been either not rolled out or inadequately rolled out, denying young people, especially young women, timely intervention for a disease that has such a high morbidity and mortality, causing untold misery to sufferers and their families. I welcome the Minister of State's statement of the expansion to 14 units. I hope that they are fully operational and that the additional two units will be established forthwith. Capacity is the issue. There are not enough inpatient beds, meaning that people in severe distress often cannot be admitted.”
“GP psychiatry referrals, both adult and child and adolescent, are returned without actual assessment or a recommended pathway. In no other part of the health service is an experienced GP's referral for a second opinion bounced back without assessment. Acute and chronic services are overstretched, and patients in crisis are struggling to get the care they need. We cannot ignore the impact of modern lifestyle factors on mental health. Social media are contributing to rising levels of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, particularly among younger people. Children and adults who have had mental health issues associated with neurosensory disorders or ADHD have until now had no adequate pathways for assessment and treatment. I welcome the Minister of State's statement on the establishment of that service.”
“Mental health services now receive a smaller proportion of the health budget, at just 6%, than they did over three decades ago. That is significantly lower than the UK spend of 9%. This long-term decline in proportional funding has made it increasingly difficult to provide timely and accessible care, even as demand continues to rise. Even then, the Government must ensure that current funding is effectively targeted. We do not have enough community or inpatient capacity. In the Roscommon acute unit, there are 24 acute beds. Eight of those are taken by people ready for discharge for the want of appropriate accommodation in the community. Some are in those beds for years rather than months. In my constituency of Roscommon-Galway, care has become increasingly inaccessible.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak as a TD and GP about an issue of deep concern to my constituents in Roscommon–Galway and, indeed, people across the country, namely the status of our mental health services. While I fully acknowledge the very significant personal commitment of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and that of the Government in prioritising mental health care, delivering the Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life strategies, introducing the new Mental Health Bill, and having provided additional funding of almost 40% since 2020, bringing the figure to €1.5 billion, it is clear that significant challenges remain. We must be honest about the gaps in the system and take decisive action to address them. Mental health professionals, GPs and families on the front lines are raising serious concerns.”
“Given the possibility of reduced access to the highest levels of the US Administration, that international forces may well be working against us in the US because of our stance on human rights in respect of Gaza and Palestine and the commencement of a trade war by the Administration of the United States against the European Union, can the Minister report on his plans for the establishment of a new US-based body that will specifically be tasked with further strengthening US-Irish relations? I realise he gave a comprehensive answer to Deputy Gibney. Does he have anything to add to that?”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his answer. It is critical for a country as small as ours, with a small economy very much exposed to the tariffs coming from the United States or any change in the economic climate affecting the relationship between the United States and the European Union, to work through the European Union, which is a powerful economic bloc, to advance our interests. I thank the Tánaiste for his answer.”
“I congratulate the Tánaiste and the Minister of State. President Trump was elected on a platform of isolationism and protectionism. It is not clear whether he is using tariffs for crude political leverage or engaging in a true trade war. Neither is it clear if the traditional American guarantee to European defence is secure. Given the consequent economic and security instability and Ireland's unique exposure to the threat of tariffs, I ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on any discussions on EU-US relations at the recent Foreign Affairs Council.”
“Too many communities were left without access to life-supporting clean water. This cannot happen again. Healthcare services were also severely impacted, particularly GP clinics whose network is the backbone of health services throughout the country. While hospitals have back-up generators, GP surgeries were left without power and telecommunications. This is unacceptable. The HSE must conduct a full audit and ensure that GP clinics have robust power, water and telecommunications systems and backups. I am calling for the establishment of inter-agency task force to ensure proper emergency planning across all State bodies. The people of Roscommon-Galway and communities across the country deserve not just words but action. Let us make sure that the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn leads to real, meaningful change.”
“Emergency responses must be uniform, efficient and proactive. ESB Networks corporate must also provide answers. In a meeting last week with its senior management team I specifically asked about its risk management and infrastructure audit protocols but could get no answers. Answers are needed. Forestry and tree husbandry seem, on the face of it, to have been neglected by ESB Networks management. Approximately 80% of the outages were as a result of fallen trees. We need an urgent audit of tree lines near power infrastructure, and forestry corridors established in the national interest. We need transparency, investment in infrastructure and a clear plan to prevent a repeat of this crisis. Water supply resilience was also a major concern. Uisce Éireann and our group water schemes must be generator-ready.”
“It is our responsibility to ensure that their concerns are not just heard but are acted upon. At the same time, I acknowledge those on the ground: community volunteers; the remarkable farming community who cleared trees from the roads before anyone else was even moving; ESB crews and their international teams; local authority workers; community and primary care teams; and the emergency hubs. Their dedication is commendable. However, Storm Éowyn has exposed systemic weaknesses that must be addressed. We have seen a lack of consistency in how local authorities, Intreo offices and community welfare officers responded. In spite of clear direction from An Taoiseach for maximum flexibility in dealing with distressed citizens, constituents have had vastly different experiences, leading to confusion and delays.”
“As a newly elected TD and a republican, I thank the people of Roscommon-Galway for placing their trust in me. It is an incredible honour and I take this responsibility seriously. I thank my family, friends and campaigners for their support. I rise today to speak on behalf of my constituents in Roscommon-Galway who are deeply frustrated and upset in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. The storm resulted in a blanket loss of power, water and communications. Families were left without heat, unable to contact emergency services and were cut off from the basic necessities. The most vulnerable in our communities, older people, the sick, and isolated rural residents have suffered the most. Businesses and farmers have been devastated. Many are still without power and their frustration is justified.”