Mary Fitzpatrick
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“It would help inform policy, not just in the drugs space but in all areas of mental health, physical health and our social well-being. I draw the House's attention to the publication this morning of the Government's latest progress report on housing - Delivering Homes, Building Communities.”
“This morning's news coverage is dominated by calls from medical professionals for a ban on e-scooters. This follows calls for bans on social media. The Government has moved to ban vapes. We are actively engaged as a country in banning a lot of things at the moment and there is very good reasoning behind a lot of these proposals.”
“That is just in the first quarter and it is up 33%. More than 46,000 new homes have commenced. There is a lot of activity in terms of supply. Affordability is a huge issue for a lot of people but, in the last year, more than 20,000 first-time home purchasers acquired their own home.”
“I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for her forbearance and patience with us. I thank Martin and all of the staff of the Seanad Office on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group. It is a tremendous personal honour and privilege for me to serve with all of the Senators.”
“We all understand the value of our local democracy and the incredible role our elected representatives undertake to represent and champion their communities and ensure they are properly served. The Minister came into the House and gave a response which, unfortunately, there was not a hard copy of to share with Senators.”
“Population growth and changing demographics mean that electoral areas must be reviewed and it is really important to ensure that there is fair and adequate representation. Every citizen's voice should carry equal weight, regardless of where he or she lives, so the boundary review is really important.”
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“I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for her forbearance and patience with us. I thank Martin and all of the staff of the Seanad Office on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group. It is a tremendous personal honour and privilege for me to serve with all of the Senators. We only operate to our best because of the support we are given by the staff of the Houses and we are eternally grateful. Enjoy your break from us and we will be back with a vengeance in September.”
“We all appreciate that there is continuing pressure and demand for increased supply and affordability, but I encourage every Member of the House to examine the report and to engage in the debate in a constructive way.”
“That is just in the first quarter and it is up 33%. More than 46,000 new homes have commenced. There is a lot of activity in terms of supply. Affordability is a huge issue for a lot of people but, in the last year, more than 20,000 first-time home purchasers acquired their own home. Close to €1 billion has been allocated by the Government for more than 7,900 affordable homes. Progress is being made. It is important that we do not lose sight of that progress. Regarding the reusing of vacant properties, more than 13,000 vacant refurbishment grants have been paid out already and more than 3,400 additional homes are in the process of being converted from commercial spaces into residential homes. Nobody thinks the job is done.”
“It would help inform policy, not just in the drugs space but in all areas of mental health, physical health and our social well-being. I draw the House's attention to the publication this morning of the Government's latest progress report on housing - Delivering Homes, Building Communities. This report details progress that has been made up to the end of this month. While we are all very conscious of the number of people who are still being accommodated in emergency accommodation and that number remains stubbornly high - we all understand the reasons for that - it is important we engage in the debate on housing in an informed way. We must examine the progress that is being made. There was a record supply delivery in 2025 of more than 36,000 homes. In this year so far, over 7,800 homes have been completed.”
“This morning's news coverage is dominated by calls from medical professionals for a ban on e-scooters. This follows calls for bans on social media. The Government has moved to ban vapes. We are actively engaged as a country in banning a lot of things at the moment and there is very good reasoning behind a lot of these proposals. However, we have an obligation to examine the deeper causes of the behaviour and understand and attempt to understand the causes of the behaviour. That is something we did at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use. Our report included a recommendation for an Irish primary prevention system, particularly for adolescents. I would appreciate it if we could have a debate early in the autumn term on that proposal for an Irish primary prevention system for our adolescents.”
“It did not tell us how the Government is going to respond and it did not give any clarity on if and when there will be a review of the local electoral boundaries. These are not just important to the officials who will administer those local elections and to the councils, councillors and candidates who will contest them, but are actually more important to the communities they will serve. My request to the Acting Leader is very simple. In the first week we return, I would like the Leader to arrange at least a two-hour debate for this House with the relevant Minister on the Government's response to the local democracy task force. Our communities, councillors and local authorities all want to know how the Government is going to work with them to support them to strengthen our local government.”
“We all understand the value of our local democracy and the incredible role our elected representatives undertake to represent and champion their communities and ensure they are properly served. The Minister came into the House and gave a response which, unfortunately, there was not a hard copy of to share with Senators. We are assured we will get a copy but I do not understand what the issue was in the Minister's Department that no hard copy was readily available. What was more disappointing was that the response was essentially a description of what has gone on over the last year or so. Any of us worth our salt know what has been going on. We know the amount of engagement and we know the level of commitment and interest in that local democracy task force. It was hugely disappointing. The response did not answer the question.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my Commencement matter this morning. It called for the Government to respond to the final report from the local democracy task force. I submitted that Commencement matter as our party’s spokesperson for local government. It is an issue that I have raised a number of times in the course of the past year. I commended the Government on establishing the local democracy task force and making its work plan time-bound. I commended the councillors, the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA, under the chairmanship of Jim Breslin, on the fine work they did. Indeed, this work builds on the work of the Cathaoirleach and the consultations on local government in the previous Seanad. Everyone in this House values local government.”
“They want to know what the Government's response is to this detailed, evidence-based, informed report. They also want to know what action the Government will take to support local communities, local democracy and our elected local representatives. When it comes to the boundary review, I would appreciate if the Minister of State would ask the Electoral Commission to come back to us with a written report or statement on how it proposes to undertake the boundary reviews. We are very conscious it is not just a local electoral boundary review. There are potentially general election and European election boundary reviews. The Electoral Commission is doing fine work, but is it really set up to undertake three reviews in a short timeframe with all the other demands that are going on?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. It would be nice to have a copy of it; we will get it from the transcript. However, I have to say it is terribly disappointing. The Minister of State's response has essentially just described the process. We are all aware of the process. We are all very engaged in and understand how many people participated and contributed, and how many councillors and officials gave of their time, energy and talents to produce a report. The Government has a very significant task and has an awful lot of demands on it. I urge the Minister of State to push the Government to respond meaningfully to our elected representatives and, most important, our local communities. Our local authorities, councillors and communities deserve it.”
“Our local democracy is of incredible importance. It is the part of government that is closest to the citizens and our communities and it is really important that there is transparency and clarity around this. I want a review or a response from the Government that is going to strengthen local government and local democracy, as well as empowering our elected representatives and our local communities. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.”
“Population growth and changing demographics mean that electoral areas must be reviewed and it is really important to ensure that there is fair and adequate representation. Every citizen's voice should carry equal weight, regardless of where he or she lives, so the boundary review is really important. It is also important for the communities because they want to know that their natural historic boundaries are going to be respected and protected. I have a couple of questions for the Minister of State. What recommendations from the local democracy task force has the Government accepted? Is there going to be a review of the boundaries? How will that review take place? When will it take place? Has the Electoral Commission got the resources to undertake it and how are councillors and local communities going to be consulted on it?”
“More recently, in March, I sought an update from the Minister on the progress of the task force report. I again urged the Government to take on board the recommendations. It was in March that the local democracy task force actually submitted or presented its final report to the Minister, Deputy James Browne. I know the Minister has been considering it with his officials. However, councillors and councils right around the country - we have 31 local authorities - and the communities they serve are really anxious to hear a response from Government to that report. They are really engaged in their local communities and in local democracy. One issue that is of particular importance is the potential for the local boundary reviews. The local elections will obviously take place in 2029.”
“As the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on local government here in the Seanad, this is an issue I have raised previously with the Minister of State and other Ministers. I raise it not just because I am a spokesperson on local government but I am a former city councillor myself. I fully appreciate the value of local government and local democracy and how local communities really value their elected local representatives. It is really important that the Government responds constructively to the local democracy report. Last year, we had statements on the task force and at that point, I highlighted the need for the Government to take actions to strengthen local democracy and ensure that local councils can effectively represent their communities and respond to their communities' needs.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad. It is always good to have a return visitor here in the Seanad and he is always very welcome. This morning, I seek an update on the Government's response to the final report of the local democracy task force and particularly its recommendations around strengthening our local democracy and local government and reviewing or potentially revising the local electoral boundaries. At the outset, I thank the councillors, including those from my own party, Fianna Fáil, and others, along with the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, under the chairmanship of Mr. Jim Breslin, who worked on and produced an excellent final local democracy task force report.”
“I would appreciate if the Leader could arrange for the Taoiseach to come to the House early in the new term to update us on the Dublin city task force, which falls under his Department's remit, and all the great work being undertaken on O'Connell Street and its environs.”
“I am calling on the Government to engage the Land Development Agency, LDA, which is, in essence, the State home-building company, to deliver affordable housing on the site. If we put the Carlton site together with the Government-funded work on the national monument at Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and the up to €500 million earmarked for investment in the GPO under the national development plan, the transformation that is already taking place and that will continue on O'Connell Street represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. As part of that once-in-a-generation opportunity, the State must take the opportunity to deliver affordable homes.”
“I really hope the Dublin women will achieve justice in Thurles next weekend for the Kerry triumph against the men's team. Last week, the Government announced that Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, had acquired the Carlton site on O'Connell Street. I welcome that news. Anybody arriving in Dublin from Mayo, Kerry or any part of the country will come up O'Connell Street. For almost 30 years, that site has been more or less derelict. The Government has a massive opportunity now to develop the site. It has been acquired for the MetroLink project, which will transform public transport infrastructure in the city. However, there is also potential to deliver affordable homes on the site. It was previously in private ownership but now it is owned by the State. TII has a transport remit.”
“I hope that all public representatives from all parties and none will work in support of the Government over the six months to ensure the Presidency is a success for all of the European Union. This Saturday marks the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The US comes in for an awful lot of bad press an awful lot of the time. It does not help itself by bringing a lot of it on. I am somebody who at a point in my life was lucky enough to get a green card through a lottery to go to the United States, like many others. Independence Day on 4 July is an important day. It is important that we celebrate the good things. I wish every American everywhere a very happy Independence Day and a happy fourth of July.”
“I think of them and the little girl and her family today and I thank those who served on the jury. Yesterday in Dublin Castle, we had the opening ceremony for Ireland's Presidency of the Council of Europe. I congratulate everybody who participated. It was an excellent ceremony. We were graced with the incredible creative talent of musicians, actors, singers and dancers. We were also graced with the presence of President Zelenskyy and António Costa. It is a very important moment for Ireland. It is the eighth time we will take the Presidency of the European Union, a union of 450 million people. This is an incredibly important six months for our country and for Europe.”
“Yesterday, the jury in the case of the stabbing of the little girl on Parnell Square came back with a guilty verdict. I acknowledge the jury's work. I welcome the guilty verdict. In 15 seconds on 23 November 2023, the world changed for a little girl, her family and all of the community of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire. It absolutely shook our community. The verdict will not turn back the clock but I really do hope it brings some sense of justice to the little girl's family and the whole community of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire. I acknowledge the incredible bravery and courage of Leanne Flynn, Caio Benicio and others who intervened on the day. In the face of such savagery and depraved actions, they intervened and saved a little girl's life and other lives. They are to be commended.”
“Pride is going to fill our city and country with colour this weekend. It is a moment for us to celebrate our LGBTQI community. I recognise the incredible work done by representative organisations like Outhouse, Belong To and LGBT Ireland. I wish to take a moment for us to stop and think about all of those who struggle, have struggled and continue to struggle, and be mindful of that. More importantly, over the weekend, enjoy Pride safely and in an inclusive way. Here in Dublin, Dublin Pride is leading with the parade. It will take place on O'Connell Street from 12.30 p.m. on Saturday, and I encourage everybody to get out, enjoy it, and celebrate all it is to be in Ireland and of the LGBTQI community.”
“I believe that our report is a comprehensive report and gives strong recommendations that will help guide us to move even further towards a health-led response to drugs and addiction. There are 161 recommendations and unsurprisingly the one recommendation that has caught the headlines, of course, is the decriminalisation of drugs. There is a level of alarmist commentary on it. In a certain respect I really welcome that because it means our report is provoking discussion and it is provoking debate. The report needs to be read in the round. The report needs to be considered in the round. The report needs to be engaged with. I would appreciate if the Leader would arrange a debate in this House on that report so we can have a constructive debate on how we achieve a health-led approach. I wish everyone a very happy Pride weekend.”
“I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Leader in welcoming the ambassador and the staff from the embassy. I wish them and all Slovenians everywhere a very happy Independence Day. The girls from Bray are very welcome too. Yesterday the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use launched its final report. The report is a culmination of nine months of work, with 25 public meetings and many more private meetings, not all of them harmonious and many of them quite contentious. We had 150 witnesses and out of those expert witnesses and that lived experience we have brought forward 161 recommendations. I thank everybody who worked with us and everybody who worked on the committee. We worked very constructively.”
“When they ask for this, they are not asking for it on a whim. Rather, it is something that has been debated at length for more than a decade. The response of Government is positive and correct. Government should move forward in a detailed, controlled and planned way to allow for this concept to be tested and developed. I thank the Minister for his time. I thank his Department for the work it is doing on this and I look forward to us progressing it over the coming months.”
“I think it is 44% that have said they would potentially support a visitor tax. The Minister acknowledged in his response that this will have to be well planned and there will have to be extensive consultation. That is absolutely the case. It must be well planned. There must be extensive consultation. It would be perverse for any of us to suggest that any local authority and the local authority members would willfully vote to introduce a tax that is going to undermine their own local economy. If we are to accept that logic, are we saying they are stupid, incompetent or negligent? I do not think our local authority members elected to Dublin City Council are any of those things. They are people who have put themselves forward, have been elected by their communities and are there to represent them.”
“I also acknowledge that while the council certainly needs to up its game in terms of the street cleaning and it needs to introduce the power washing, it has actually made some changes and it is trying. I commend the waste management staff who are out there. Part of what this would do is to allow for an increased focus on the public domain, the public spaces, the greening of the city, our parks, and on creating youth spaces and accessible spaces. These are all really important interventions for a living city - for the city to be vibrant and to be living. It was acknowledged and was raised, something I did myself, that there will be concerns about this. I refer to the Irish Hotels Federation, the vintners and others. The chambers of commerce has done a survey of its members.”
“It does not just fall on our local authority members. We do have independent audit services. Dublin City Council is subject to an independent audit. There is the local government audit services and the national oversight and audit committee. There are public spending rules. Dublin City Council is not operating in some vacuum. It is important to put that on record as well. Regarding Camden Yard, we could pick many projects. I am not here to defend Dublin City Council's management. What I am hear to debate is a request to Government to bring forward legislation to potentially give the power to local authorities, not just Dublin City Council, to introduce a visitor accommodation tax. We should keep to that debate. There are many issues that we could be debating in terms of local government and not just Dublin City Council.”
“He may be that. However, we are all residents in the city, or at least those of us in Dublin, and it is very easy to be critical. I am often critical of Dublin City Council. The House has heard me criticise the council at times so I think I can be objective too. However, fair is fair. It would be wrong for us to end this debate without accepting, as was mentioned, that €1.6 billion of an annual budget is enormous. However, Dublin City Council is not some rogue organisation operating without any checks and balances and it is not fair to disparage our local authority members or devalue or discredit them in any way. They have a very significant task. I have oftentimes raised with the Minister the need for additional resources for our local authority members so that they can hold the executive to account.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I thank all of the Senators for their engagement on the debate. This House is largely elected by local authority members and it would be remiss of us not to dedicate some of our agenda and time to debating an issue that, as Senator Andrews alluded to, has been debated for ten years. It is not coming out of nowhere. As the Minister outlined, it has been the subject of many independent studies and forms part of proposals from the city task force and the local democracy task force. I welcome the Minister's acknowledgement of the requirement and the request, and his positive response to it. Senator McDowell may be the only Senator here who did not serve on a local authority, so he is at somewhat of a disadvantage.”
“It is now time for the Government to trust the local authority members that their demand is real and that it is needed. The Government should move forward and bring forward enabling legislation to create the power and potential - just the power and potential - for local authorities to potentially devise a local visitor accommodation levy for their area and to manage that effectively. I believe this is about strengthening local democracy and our local government. I thank the Minister for his time and look forward to his response.”
“I believe the Government should support this request from the local authority members. I believe the Government should respond positively to it and should progress legislation that will give powers to the local authority members. Were that to happen, then I believe there really would need to be a consultation. Many other countries have done this. It operates well in other countries but we need to be conscious we are doing something new. As I said earlier, we have a very valuable tourism offering we do not want to in any way jeopardise. We have come at this from a long debate over many years. With the Minister most recently the local democracy task force has examined the revenue raising powers of local authorities. It has been examined by other bodies. The local authority members themselves have been working on it.”
“It is to allow local authorities, if they wish and if the elected representatives on those local authorities consider it and determine it appropriate for their area, to move forward and introduce a levy. Some local authorities may do it and some will not. That will be a matter for the local authority members and that is how it should be. The decision should rest with local authority members. I believe and I think the local authority members would agree that any revenues that are raised must be ring-fenced for the public domain. They must be ring-fenced for additional street cleaning, additional public space maintenance, additional public lighting and additional amenities for the people living in the area but also those visiting the area. That will be a matter for the local authority members to determine.”
“If we are being honest about the debate we also have to acknowledge there are concerns raised by other parties, including businesses and the Irish Hotels Federation in particular. It has highlighted concerns regarding tourism competitiveness and the additional costs for visitors. The administrative burden is one the federation has called out and its members' concerns need to be heard too. They should be given really careful consideration. Tourism is an incredibly valuable part of our economy. It is an incredibly valuable activity for us and we all want to see it continue to grow, to be strong and sustainable and to continue into the future. We have a really high-value tourism offering and we need to protect that also. However, the purpose of the motion is not to introduce a national visitor levy.”
“Local authorities play a critical role in maintaining the public realm, the street cleaning, the public lighting and in supporting their communities. Communities that are living in areas that have very high tourist traffic get the value of that tourist traffic but also the additional wear and tear that goes with it. Local representatives do their best. They work hard with council officials day in and day out, as well as with local community groups and local businesses to ensure their local area is well maintained. At the same time, it is essential to acknowledge the concerns the local authority members have been raising and their demand and ask for powers to introduce, potentially, a visitor accommodation tax.”
“We believe they should be trusted with greater powers and responsibility in terms of their own financial autonomy. We debated at length, when we debated the local democracy task force and other local government issues, how Ireland has a very centralised government system and we are one of the most centralised in Europe when it comes to local government funding. We all know that if we really believe in local democracy, we must believe in giving powers to local authorities and the tools to actually deliver for their communities. This motion is not about central government imposing anything on local government. It is not about prescribing or defining what local government should do. It is about potentially enabling legislation that will enable local authorities to generate revenues.”
“I want to also acknowledge our colleague in the Lower House, Deputy Paul McAuliffe. He produced a research paper with the assistance of the Library and Research Service on this subject matter and that has really helped to inform and progress the debate. Really what is proposed is driven by those locally elected representatives. Deputy McAuliffe was a former councillor, I was a former councillor, as was Senator O'Loughlin and indeed the Minister, Deputy Browne. Many Senators in this House come from our local authorities and that gives us a unique advantage in understanding the value of local authorities but also the responsibility they have. City and county councillors are really the public representatives closest to the people who live in their local authority areas.”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the house for this evening's debate on a Fianna Fáil motion which seeks to give powers to local authorities to have additional revenue raising capacity. The motion is fundamentally about strengthening local democracy and empowering local government by giving it additional revenue-raising powers. At the outset, it is important that I acknowledge that this is an initiative and proposal that is coming from our local authorities. It is coming from Dublin City Council. I want to acknowledge the Fianna Fáil councillors, led by Councillor Daryl Barron but it was a cross-party group who worked on and brought forward proposals over the past number of years in regard to introducing what is being referred to as a visitor accommodation tax.”
“I move that: “That Seanad Éireann: agrees that: - strong, empowered local government is a cornerstone of balanced regional development and effective public service delivery; - local authorities play a critical role in maintaining the public realm, delivering essential services and supporting vibrant communities, yet continue to operate with limited independent revenue-raising powers; - empowering local authorities with appropriate revenue-raising tools will: - support well-maintained, vibrant communities; - enhance Ireland’s appeal as a high-quality tourism destination; - ensure that economic growth is shared fairly between visitors and residents; - contribute to sustainable, balanced development across the country; acknowledges that: - in areas of high tourism and visitor activity, particularly in urban centres, coastal regions and heritage destinations, local residents experience significant additional pressures; - these impacts place disproportionate costs on local communities and local authorities, while visitors benefit from local amenities and services; - tourism is a vital part of Ireland’s economy and must continue to be supported in a sustainable and balanced manner that benefits both visitors and host communities; - there is a need for sustainable tourism that enhances Ireland’s reputation while protecting the quality of life of local communities; recognises that: - many European countries have successfully introduced visitor levies, empowering municipalities to raise funding locally and reinvest it in infrastructure, tourism facilities and public services; - models in countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Latvia and Scotland demonstrate that locally determined, ring-fenced levies can enhance the public realm while maintaining strong tourism performance; - policy discussions at Dublin City Council, and in Ireland more generally, have identified the need for innovative and locally controlled funding mechanisms, including visitor levies; - a carefully designed visitor levy represents a fair and proportionate application of the ‘user pays’ principle, ensuring visitors contribute to the upkeep of the places they enjoy; - local authorities, guided by their elected members, are best placed to determine whether and how such a levy should be applied in their areas; - any such measure must be introduced in a way that protects Ireland’s tourism competitiveness, avoids undue administrative burdens, and reflects local economic conditions and tourism profiles; calls on the Government to: - advance enabling legislation to empower local authorities, at their discretion, to introduce a visitor levy on paid overnight accommodation within their areas; - ensure that such legislation provides maximum local flexibility, allowing elected members to determine: - whether to introduce a levy; - the rate and structure of such a levy; - the geographic scope of its application; - provide that all revenues raised are ring-fenced exclusively for investment in the public realm and local services; - require local authorities to undertake robust consultation with residents, local businesses and tourism stakeholders prior to introduction; - ensure transparency and accountability, including annual public reporting on revenue raised and how it is spent; and - bring forward a broader programme of reform to strengthen the financial autonomy of local government, consistent with a commitment to balanced regional development and strong local democracy.””
“I remind Senators that a Senator may speak only once on each amendment on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. Also on Report Stage, each amendment must be seconded. Amendment No. 1 arises out of Committee proceedings. Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“The public are going to have an opportunity to have their say as part of a public consultation. It is planned that the building will become a cultural, civic and community space. This is welcome news. A State-funded project, the national development plan, has allowed for up to €500 million to be invested not only in protecting and preserving it, but also in ensuring its future. I welcome that news and encourage everybody to have their say when the public consultation opens.”
“Déanaim comhghairdeas to the Leader. I wish him well in his new role. I know he will do great. I congratulate his family, who are very welcome. I am sure it is a proud moment for them. It is very well deserved. I look forward to working with the Leader in his new role. As my party's spokesperson for Dublin and the Dublin city task force, I welcome the decision taken by the Government this morning to transfer the ownership of the GPO from the Department of culture to the Office of Public Works, OPW. This is another step in the process to reopen the GPO. We pass by the GPO, which is a historic building. It is a post office, but it is also the birthplace of our Republic. It is a public building. With this move, the building is going to be open to the public. It is going to be made available for meanwhile use.”
“A Leas-Chathaoirligh, it was remiss of me not to do the same when I spoke on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group. I congratulate the two Senators. I am really delighted for them and we wish them well. I look forward to working with them in their new roles. They will be super.”
“I have raised the issue many times. Dublin City Council needs to step up to the plate; it needs to stop stepping back from the issue and creating more problems. Today we hear of compactors being overloaded and unavailable, and of the doubling of costs for businesses. I presume all Senators are familiar with Stoneybatter. It is one of the oldest villages in the city. These are small artisan two-terraced houses, two-up, two-down - not even two-up, two-down in some cases - and they are expected to use wheelie bins. Dublin City Council needs to tackle street cleaning and waste management more effectively. Our capital deserves better.”
“It costs more than €1.6 billion per year. There are direct links to organised crime. This is not just casual, opportunistic shoplifting any more; it is an organised activity. The people being hit hardest are small retailers in our villages and towns. I was nominated to the House by the Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Trades Association, RGDATA. I have called for a debate in this House. I have met with the Minister for justice. He is taking the issue seriously. He has a retail crime strategy and task force in place. I would appreciate if the Deputy Leader could arrange at the earliest opportunity for the Seanad to debate the issue. My hometown of Dublin is our capital city and it pains me to raise this but it falls far short of what we should be able to expect in terms of cleanliness in the public domain.”
“In Dublin city, this will result in more than 5,000 additional homes on land in Ballyfermot, Balbutcher and St. Teresa's Gardens. It is really welcome investment and builds on the progress made since Fianna Fáil took over in 2020. There have been more than 170,000 new homes built. We see real momentum. In the first quarter of this year alone, more than 8,000 homes commenced. The second issue I will raise is one I have raised multiple times here: retail crime. The Deputy Leader and everybody else in the House will have heard reports in the news yesterday of multiple individuals on multiple charges in one court in Dublin. There were 81 arrests in Dún Laoghaire for shoplifting. I commend the Garda. It has had a targeted approach to this, is using intelligence and is supporting businesses. However, this is a national issue.”
“I welcome the ambassador and congratulate her, her country and her community on their national day. I hope they enjoy the celebrations, which are well-deserved. The media is dominated consistently by negative stories when it comes to housing and it is important for people to recognise the challenge but also recognise the progress being made. On that basis, I welcome the announcement from Government this week of additional funding to unlock more homes through the housing infrastructure investment fund. This €1 billion fund is dedicated solely to unlocking lands suitable for housing, which, for various reasons, be they related to water or roads infrastructure, are not being used. Dublin is part of the much bigger nationwide programme of 82 projects with over 200,000 homes.”
“Most importantly, I congratulate the people who go there daily and are making their dreams come alive. They have written outside "Dream big, start small, act now", and that is what is happening there. It is a great innovation and they all deserve to be congratulated.”
“It is a great collaboration between the social enterprise, Inner City Enterprise, with Dublin City Council providing the property. Roughly €500,000 was provided by the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, in the most recent tranche of funding to launch phase 2 this morning. Critically, businesses in the city have come on board and are supporting it. Very large enterprises in Dublin like Meta, Accenture and Bank of New York are all supporting individuals and small groups of people to explore, develop and succeed with their entrepreneurial activities. The hub on the hill is a place of hope, ambition and opportunity. I congratulate everybody at Inner City Enterprise, including Evanne Kilmurray, CEO, Vincent Crowley, chairperson, and the whole team.”
“The word "ICE" is a really negative word with very negative connotations, but when I said the word "ICE" this morning I was saying it in the north inner city. It is a very positive thing because ICE stands for the Inner City Enterprise. For those who do not know, it is a social enterprise referred to as the hub on the hill. Going up Constitution Hill towards Broadstone, it is on the right hand side. It is the old Dublin City Council Coleraine Street housing depot. It used to be an old housing depot and it became a regeneration project. Critically, it is now a social enterprise hub and a place in the north inner city where individuals with ideas, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in their hearts can go. They can receive training and mentoring and there are workspaces available.”