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 do not think we, as a society, have historically or traditionally understood youth services but I believe the Minister does value and understand them. It is complementary to our education system, our families and broader society. I have a couple of asks. I want to acknowledge the increase in funding which the Minister did secure in the budget. The €90 million is significant. However, I would say, as a voluntary director on a youth service board, the costs of operating youth services have only increased right across the board. For the sector to be sustainable we really need multi-annual funding. Every year I have heartache thinking about whether we will get our allocation and how much of an allocation we will get. We have gone through some very dark times.”
“We are one of the independent youth services operating in the capital. Cabra for Youth grew out of the community. With the support of CDYS and now funding from the Minister’s Department but also the Department of justice, we operate both a UBU and a Department of justice programme. Therefore it is unique. It is allows us to do both targeted and more universal work. I would welcome a visit by the Minister if she ever had time. We would love for her to visit and to share with her our experiences. Over the 18 years, some of the first people we engaged with are now young adults and some of them are parents themselves. It is incredible to see those humans develop and grow and come back and participate. It is really important.”
“I thank the Minister for coming in for this motion. I want to commend the Sinn Féin Senators on bringing the motion forward. Not every person is born equal and not every person is lucky in the lottery of birth. The circumstances someone is born into can be greatly enhanced if they have the opportunity to have access to good schools and a good community. Youth services are an essential part of that. Youth services provide young people with the capacity to develop their confidence and life skills and to learn life skills in a safe space. I want to commend the Minister and her Department on the funding they have secured and on the support they are giving to youth services around the country. Going back 18 years, myself and others founded a youth service in Cabra, Cabra for Youth.”
“I am thinking of the guys and girls - the mentors - in Belvedere and Sheriff and right across to the Dublin Docklands Boxing Club. All these people give up their time to nurture young people in the heart of the inner city to create the amazing champions who will have the whole country holding its breath and cheering Ireland on tonight. Our hearts are with them. We are proud of them for being there and, more than anything, we are proud of those who helped to get them there.”
“It reinforces the evidence that links platform design to mental health harms, including anxiety, depression and body image, and supports stricter youth protection measures, which my party has been calling for. I would appreciate if the Leader organised a debate in the House with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. Before I finish, I give a huge shout-out to our boys in green. For 90 minutes tonight, the whole country will hold its breath. I am conscious that in the north inner city we have our heroes, and they are not just Troy Parrott, Kellie Harrington, Barry Keoghan and Pierce O'Leary, who are heroes and they get awards and medals for good reason. However, the superheroes in the north inner city are the parents, mammies, daddies, grannies, grandads, teachers and coaches.”
“First, it potentially has significant implications for EU policy in terms of strengthening the momentum for EU action on platform design risks. It creates international legal pressure for the first time as well, which may influence EU regulators. However, the implications for the tech sector, which is a huge sector in our economy, are that it shifts the regulatory focus from content moderation to product design and arguably signals a big tobacco moment for the tech sector. It is something we all need to engage with and inform ourselves about. Finally, this is a human issue and incredibly important. The implications for public health are enormous.”
“Overnight we learned of an historic legal judgment in the case taken in the US by parents of a minor against big tech on the causes of harm to minors. Essentially, it is the first time ever that a jury has found that the design of social media, not the content, can cause harm to minors. Platforms such as Meta and YouTube were found negligent and liable for failing to warn users, with evidence showing they knew about the risks of compulsive use, mental health impacts and harmful design features. For the first time, this shifts accountability from users to those with corporate responsibility for the operation of those platforms. This ruling opens the door for thousands more lawsuits but for us, as legislators, I see three immediate significant implications.”
“They are the first to respond if there is a flood or any sort of event, so they deserve an urgent response from Government when they provide recommendations. They are approaching this in an incredibly constructive way. Their recommendations are strong and will be valuable. They will also not just serve the local authorities but our broader democracy as well.”
“I agree with the Minister of State's statement. The work was completed in an incredibly efficient and professional way but also in a very engaging way. The task force report is not just representative of the local authorities, their members and their executives, but also of civil society. That is incredibly valuable and the Minister will value it. I just urge the Minister of State to go back to the Department and Minister and really encourage them to take action swiftly, to respond promptly to the task force's report and not to allow it gather dust because time is precious. It is moving on and we are living in a very changing world. Every time there is a crisis in this country, the local authorities respond.”
“There are other issues around the gratuity payment that need to be addressed and, obviously, the local boundary reviews are coming down the road as well. We will very quickly be back into another electoral cycle. I cannot over-emphasise the need for urgency and a constructive response from the Government. Our democracy matters. We live in a world where democracy is challenged. Freedom, independence and democracy cannot be taken for granted. Local authority members are the champions of local democracy. They deserve not only to be protected but to be resourced, supported and championed. I believe the Minister will do that. I hope the Minister of State can provide an update on how the Minister is going to respond to the local democracy task force report.”
“My tabling of this early Commencement matter is an indication of the keen interest and anticipation that exists among councillors for the response of the Government to it. This is really important. I think of councillors right around the country who, at the instruction of the Minister, are conducting reviews of their county development plans. We all know this. When you conduct a review of a county development plan, it is a very significant undertaking. It is an incredibly important statutory document that will guide the planning process and the planning decisions that will be made in an area over a long period of time. However, our councillors are not individually resourced to engage in that process. They need to be resourced. They need to be supported so that they can deliver the best outcomes for their communities.”
“The local democracy task force was established to ensure that our local democracy was strengthened, that it was transparent, that there was accountability and, most importantly, that our local authority members were equipped to serve their local democracies. My call in my Commencement matter this morning is for an update from the Minister of State on the local democracy task force report, which the Minister received in March. He got a final report. I commend the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, and all the local authority members who engaged in the preparation of that report. It was a very significant and valuable piece of work that they undertook. I appreciate that the Minister has only had the report since March.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, for coming to the House this morning. My Commencement matter in the Seanad is to seek an update from the Minister of State with responsibility for local government on the local democracy task force. I commend the Minister on having established it very promptly after the Government was formed to build on the work that had been done by the previous Government to strengthen the role of local councillors. The Minister of State is very aware of what is involved, as he is a former councillor himself, as are the Acting Chair, Senator Noonan, and I. We have all served proudly on local authorities. The local authorities and local councillors are the closest contact point for most citizens with democracy and with the Government.”
“If people have time to go over, I encourage them to do that. They will be before our committee later. It is important everybody has their say before 10 April. The objectives are to reduce harm, support recovery, limit damage and ensure we all have a healthier world to live in.”
“I am Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Oireachtas drugs committee, which is working away and due to report before the summer with recommendations to Government on drugs policies. Parallel to that, the Department and the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, have launched a new draft drugs strategy. I commend the Minister of State and Department on drafting it, consulting with the committee and launching it on public consultation. Since 26 February, it has been available to any member of the public to have a say. Drugs are in all our communities. After alcohol, cocaine has the highest consumption, but there are also opioids, benzos and synthetics. We all need to engage in this discussion. Representatives of UISCE, Family Addiction Recovery Ireland, Pavee Point and CityWide are holding a press event in Buswells Hotel today.”
“I am sure all the boys and girls from Newtownmountkennedy celebrated St. Patrick's Day this week. I hope they had a great time. Last week I attended two Irish events in London and I commend Bord Bia, the Irish Embassy in the UK and Tesco Ireland on organising a fantastic showcase of Irish food producers. Tesco has its "Love Irish Food" partnership and is supporting small indigenous Irish producers to expand on the island of Ireland, into the UK and across Europe. It was fantastic to see Folláin, Silver Pail, Kerrygold and other brands. The quality of the produce is spectacular and it is interesting to see how the partnership allows very small producers to expand on an international scale. Well done to everybody involved and to the Irish Embassy for its support.”
“We are now one of the wealthiest members of the European Union, with one of the most open economies. We are one of the most globalised economies in Europe, and the young people sitting in the Gallery enjoy freedoms that people in Ireland 60 years ago could not have dreamed of, and that is a great opportunity for them. It is a great privilege for all of us to be members of the European Union and to be European citizens. It will be a moment for us all to be proud when Ireland takes the Presidency of the European Union and it is really important that, in that period of time, we stand tall and proud. We are confident that Ireland is an equal leader among all the European states and is a leader that can help steer the European Union to defend the values of democracy, freedom, independence and the rule of law.”
“Ireland is headquarters to many of the big operators in the digital space and so progression of a European digital agenda is a priority. Energy is in the news all the time. We are hearing it and we are all feeling it in our pockets. Energy security and affordability are hugely important, and from an Irish perspective, there is a need for Ireland to achieve greater affordability, resilience and security regarding energy supplies. The climate challenge continues and the only way Europe can effectively deal with it for future generations is to act as one. That will be a big priority for Ireland's Presidency. In terms of competitiveness, as I said, when Ireland joined the EEC over 50 years ago, we were a very small, inward-looking, economically depressed and socially repressed country, and our world has changed.”
“While I appreciate the presidential role means that the Minister of State present and all of our Ministers will have a job to do to chair ministerial meetings and council meetings and to steer the European Union as one in a direction, I would ask that, from an Irish perspective, the Government would continue, as it always does, to use this as an opportunity to raise the issues that smaller countries in the Union are facing and to act as a strong voice, on an equal footing with the larger nations. I am thinking in particular about the issues around digitalisation, energy, climate and industrial competitiveness. These are real pressures for our communities at home. The digital transformation that has occurred in the last 20 or 30 years globally has been transformative.”
“It is really important, during our Presidency that the values that unite us as a European community are not just observed but are actually reinforced and championed. The values of freedom and democracy, the rule of law and human rights are all ones that many of us take for granted daily, but all around the world there are people who are deprived of their freedom, who do not enjoy democracy, for all its flaws, and who do not live in an environment that is governed by the rule of law. Ireland's Presidency is another opportunity for Ireland to show its strength, capacity and competence in this space. I understand from what the Minister of State said that the actual details of the priorities will be worked out in partnership with the other member states over the coming months and will be announced closer to the time of the Presidency.”
“Fifty-three years ago Ireland joined the then EEC and it is fair to say that, prior to joining, Ireland was a poor, inward-looking country that was losing its people and talent to emigration. Since we joined, we have become an open, outward-looking country and one of the most globalised economies in Europe, with a society that is diverse, accepting and welcoming. These are all strengths. As we look towards the European Presidency, it is important that we recognise that the role is one that gives Ireland an opportunity to demonstrate our confidence, strength and capacity to act as an honest broker, a champion for the rule of law and for diplomacy, to guide the member states over the course of the Presidency, and to make decisions that will affect the lives of European citizens across the Union.”
“I thank the Minister of State for updating the House on the Government's plans for the forthcoming EU Presidency. Obviously, it is a real honour for Ireland to take the Presidency. As the Minister of State said, it will be the eighth time that Ireland will have held the Presidency of the EU Council. I commend all of the staff in the Department, not just here in Dublin but across Europe, who are working to make our Presidency of the Council of the European Union a successful one. It is occurring at a time of unprecedented international instability and the threats Europe faces are enormous. Our capacity as a European community to respond to them will be tested and proven by our unity of purpose.”
“The new planning application will not just deal with the critical care wing for premature babies but also for women, and the sexual trauma unit will be upgraded as well. This will strengthen the Rotunda. It will retain the Rotunda on the Parnell Square site. This is good for mothers, babies and families. I congratulate everyone and urge everyone to support the new application and not to lodge objections.”
“On more local issues this week, I draw the House's attention to the latest developments with regards to the Rotunda Hospital. The Rotunda Hospital is the world's oldest maternity hospital. It is in the heart of my area and where I gave birth to my own three children. The staff in the Rotunda are just tremendous people. The talent and energy they have and the care they give to the women and babies of not just our city, but our country, is immense. They had a terrible setback two weeks ago when An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned Dublin City Council's decision to grant planning permission for a critical care wing. I thank the Minister for Health and the Government more widely for working with the Rotunda to agree a plan to lodge a new planning application.”
“There was real fear, but also a real relief to be back at home. You could hear the uncertainty that those people had lived with for the five or six days. They raised issues about communication and miscommunication. It is important that we support our Department of foreign affairs, embassies and consulates and encourage all of the airlines to communicate. Most importantly and getting to the crux of this issue, we continue to utterly condemn the oppression that has been taking place in Iran. The Iranian people deserve to live in a free, democratic, secular society. That is the least they deserve. We need to urge all countries to use the power of diplomacy. The men of war need to realise that they are not infallible. Human life is precious. We must aim to restore peace as soon as possible.”
“This morning, as we gather here in the Seanad, I am very mindful of the people in the Middle East who are under direct attack and threat. I am really concerned about the civilians - the men, women and children of all ages - who are living in fear for their lives. I am particularly concerned for our own Irish civilians. I acknowledge the messaging from the Minister for foreign affairs and the Department of foreign affairs. I acknowledge the support of our consulate and embassy staff in the region. They are all doing their utmost to ensure that Irish citizens are protected and, where possible, safely returned. The reports on today's "Morning Ireland" resonated with me. You could hear people who had arrived this morning on the first two flights. The Emirates airline ran two flights from Dubai overnight.”
“The GPO presents a real opportunity to again foster and support culture in the heart of the city centre. We recently lost The Complex. Others are struggling for space in the city. I believe that the steering committee responsible for managing the property and those meanwhile uses should engage with local cultural organisations, which have a national reach, to animate the property in the interim before the full redevelopment commences. I understand, and perhaps the Minister of State will confirm, that will take place in 2029.”
“That is welcome progress. I particularly welcome the fact that provision is being made for public consultation on the future use of the GPO. It is identified as a building that can accommodate many different uses and not just the post office and museum but also the commercial and retail space. That complex is over 2,500 sq. m. It is an enormous building complex when you are inside it. The facade is impressive but does not do justice to the space that lies behind it. We need actively and ambitiously to pursue the use of the facility for cultural uses. We already have great cultural institutions on and near to O'Connell Street, with the Abbey Theatre and Gate Theatre. The Ambassador Theatre has reopened. There is also the new library on Parnell Square and the Hugh Lane Gallery.”
“The GPO is intrinsic to Dublin and to our daily life, but also to our history, our culture and our very independence. There is a huge interest in the redevelopment of the GPO and I believe the public should have an opportunity to be consulted on this and have a say in what is going to be the next 100 years of our GPO. I hope the Minister of State can update the House today on that process. What has been done to date? Will there be an opportunity for public consultation?”
“Masses of space remain however and the GPO has been earmarked, something the Government called out in establishing the Dublin city task force, a statutory agency dedicated to making the city safer, more livable and more vibrant for everyone, by naming the GPO as an anchor to that plan. I am hoping the Minister of State can share with the House the progress that has been made by the Government and the Dublin city task force in developing a plan for the GPO. I am particularly keen to understand, and I am sure the Minister of State will appreciate, the huge public interest in the GPO. It is not just a place people go to buy stamps. It is sometimes a place where they go to protest when they have an issue. If a you want to build a romance, is a good place to meet. Everybody knows it and there can be no mistake where you are meeting.”
“The facade was retained but the interior was dramatically altered and the footprint massively extended to the point where, for over 100 years, the GPO has operated not just with the classical facade that we see with the columns on O'Connell Street but right behind it all the way down Henry Street, where there are the shops, offices, retail space, commercial space and the GPO Arcade. The GPO has been largely de-tenanted by An Post, which has relocated most of its staff to its new offices by the Point in the docklands, . The post office is still operating as is the fabulous GPO museum, which brings to life our history.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad today to address my Commencement matter seeking an update on the GPO on O'Connell Street, Dublin. The GPO on O'Connell Street is so much more than just a post office. Designed by the famous Irish architect Francis Johnston, it was first opened in 1818 and has gone through many iterations in its lifetime of more than 200 years. In 1916 it was the centre point for the Rising. The building was largely demolished after 1916. It was not until the twenties that a decision was made by the new State to rebuild.”
“It is also going to commemorate and ensure that the legacy of the street traders, and of Moore Street as a trading street, is preserved and accessible for everyone. It is moving to the stage of a contractor being appointed and then construction will commence. This is a great news story for all of the relatives, all of the traders and everybody who has campaigned not just to save 14-17 Moore Street but to ensure there is an appropriate commemorative centre there, which is what we will have.”
“Last year, 80 students graduated with a level 6 qualification, so well done to everybody involved. It is really great news. The residents' associations that are involved are really helping with the greening of the area and with cultural activities. The NEIC is a great news story. I also want to welcome finally, after decades of campaigning, the Government's announcement of the move to construction of the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street. This will create for the first time a 1916 commemorative centre, which is so important. Those buildings were the last meeting place of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. They are on what was a battlefield site and the monument is going to preserve for future generations the history of the birthplace of our Republic.”
“It is a pilot programme that has been running now for a number of years and most recently, in 2025, it was expanded beyond primary and into post-primary level. The programme supports every young person in the ten designated primary schools, and now in the secondary schools, and ensures that their needs are met so that they can engage in education. There are three stages to it. There is an assessment, obviously with parental consent, of every individual child's needs, be they educational, social or emotional. Then a plan is put in place and there is an assessment. It is a great programme and I congratulate everyone involved. I also want to mention the P-TECH programme, the pathways to technology programme that is running in the secondary schools.”
“I congratulate everybody in the north inner city of Dublin. This week, they welcomed the Taoiseach to St. Agatha’s Hall for the launch of the ninth annual north east inner city, NEIC, initiative progress report. The NEIC task force was established in 2016 and since then it has worked under the leadership of the Taoiseach's office. Dublin City Council has a dedicated NEIC task force office working with residents, schools, sports clubs and all of the organisations and businesses in the area to make it a healthier and brighter place for us all to live in. Great progress continues to be made there. I want to call out, in particular, the expansion of the City Connects programme. This is a really innovative programme that was put in place to support young people in the school environment.”
“She served in this House with distinction. We were very proud that Mary White was a representative of our party. I was always struck by her interest in other people, particularly other women, and in helping everyone to raise their game. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.”
“I welcome the announcement of the most recent communications regarding the commitment for special educational needs and the commitment to our special needs assistants. They provide an invaluable service in our schools. They enable young people to access education and they assist teachers, parents and the whole community. They are truly invaluable. It would be really helpful if, at some point in the near future, we could invite the Minister of State with responsibility for disability into the House and have an update on the Government's commitment to special educational needs. I too offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of the former Senator Mary White. Mary White was a formidable woman, a huge personality, a mother, an entrepreneur, a businesswoman and a dedicated public servant.”
“It is totally unacceptable that the Rotunda Hospital is going to waste its time, funds, resources, talent and care having to fight this case. It is a low point for planning and the weaponisation of planning in our country.”
“In fact, we supported the Rotunda to move the outpatients so that they could actually go ahead with this building work. The Rotunda Hospital was supported to upgrade and create the gynaecological clinic and to establish for the first time a public menopausal clinic. It is bankrupt, shallow, cynical politics on their behalf. However, my ire is really drawn to An Bord Pleanála and to whomsoever in that organisation took its own inspector's report to endorse permission and overturned it. That needs to be made public, because it is unacceptable. It is putting the lives of women and babies at risk. It is totally unacceptable and I speak with a vested interest as my three babies were born there. When I had a miscarriage, I went to the Rotunda Hospital and they cared for me.”
“I really do not accept that at any point, in any level or in any universe - any universe at all - that the protection of architectural built heritage supersedes the protection of human life; a woman's life or a baby's life. That is what was decided. It was decided that architectural heritage needed protecting more than women's lives and more than babies' lives. It is completely unacceptable. The only people I am probably as livid with are the fine female leaders of the Opposition who could not find the Rotunda if you gave them a map. They are now falling over themselves to criticise the Government and were the Government to interfere in the planning process, they are the ones who would accuse it of political interference. The previous Government supported the Rotunda Hospital.”
“I put on the record of the House my deep frustration and anger with the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to overturn the granting of planning permission for the Rotunda Hospital on Parnell Square. The Rotunda Hospital has catered to women, babies and families for more than 280 years. It is hard to know exactly how many babies have been born there, but it is in the many hundreds of thousands. Some estimates put it at a million but, over 280 years, it has taken care of women and their babies and has brought babies into the world with great care. It is totally unacceptable to listen to the male voices that are dominating the discussion on this issue, particularly the voice of the Dublin Civic Trust I listened to today.”
“We are, I believe, one of only three countries left in the European Union that have not yet banned betting on the lotto. I urge the Minister of State to engage with the officials and to work with them to seek and secure a ban on betting on the lotto. It will only protect the lotto, the fund and a source of essential funding for good causes. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could take that action.”
“The Minister of State could not have done better justice to the Commencement, particularly considering his personal history with it. Well done to him. He outlined perfectly how to the lotto works to fund grassroots good causes. I welcome the reply, which outlines very clearly the responsibilities that rest with the GRAI and the Minister for public expenditure. I also welcome the fact that officials from the Department met with the GRAI as recently as December and are examining this issue. I would urge the Minister of State, not just in his capacity as a Minister of State in the Government but as somebody with a personal history and a real appreciation of the value of the national lottery to good causes in our country, to personally engage with the officials on this issue. As I said, Ireland is falling behind other countries in Europe.”
“I hope that the Department has sent him with an update that will outline to the House what actions are being taken to protect the national lottery and to ensure that it continues to be available as a valuable fund to help support good causes right across the country.”
“I was hoping the Minister for public expenditure with responsibility for the lottery and its integrity, which we all recognise as a valuable entity, could update the House on what action his Department is taking to engage with the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, which was established under the gambling regulations legislation introduced in 2024 to stop that practice. Most countries in Europe have banned the practice of betting on the lottery. Ireland is an outlier and we are falling behind our European partners in this regard. We need to catch up because if we do not, it is going to continue to damage the lottery. It is going to continue to erode and take from sales of the lottery, which in turn erodes and takes from the fund that is available to good causes. I again thank the Minister of State for being here.”
“People are betting on what the lotto result will be. A lot of them think they are betting on the lotto and contributing to the fund that contributes to and funds good causes but in actual fact, what they are doing is placing a bet in a bookies or online with a bookie, and that bet is on the outcome of the lotto. What is the result? It is fewer sales for the lotto. That means fewer funds for the lotto to distribute to good causes. It is damaging our national lottery. It is damaging a fund that was directly created to give citizens an opportunity to contribute to good causes in a regulated and structured manner and in a way that is really meaningful and that has been hugely powerful.”
“In the 40 years, more than €6 billion of funding has been dispensed to good causes including everything from sports pitches to theatres, museums and the Special Olympics. It channels funding from ordinary citizens who play the lotto in their local newsagent or Spar or Centra, to the governing bodies and organisations, which in turn support cultural, sporting and charitable good causes in all of our communities around the country. It is incredibly valuable funding and it is an incredibly valuable mechanism for the citizens of Ireland to have available to them to play the lotto, have a chance to win, but know at the same time that they are contributing towards good causes, primarily charitable causes. A pattern and activity has developed whereby betting organisations are taking bets on the lotto.”
“I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for being in the House this afternoon. I understand that the Minister with responsibility, whose presence I had requested, is travelling overseas, so I appreciate that the Minister of State has taken the time to come to respond to this Commencement matter. I had been seeking that the Minister for public expenditure would attend the Seanad today to update us on his engagement with the Gambling Regulatory Authority on the regulations that will be issued for gambling and betting. I am specifically seeking clarification from the Minister on his engagement with the authority on the national lottery. As the Minister of State will be aware, the national lottery comes under the remit of the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure. Next year, the national lottery will be 40 years old.”
“Our inner city deserves the championing and the combined focus of the statutory authorities, businesses and the community to work together under the city task force. The expected budget for the task force is €1 billion. We need urgency and ambition to realise cleaner streets, a safer environment, a more vibrant city and, most importantly, a more liveable city. On that basis, I ask her to arrange a debate with the Taoiseach in the Seanad on the Dublin city task force so that we can, as a Seanad, engage and support its work.”