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 suggest that Senator O'Reilly refer the matter to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth and I will personally refer it too. On that, I conclude the Order of Business.”
“The idea of hot school meals is to ensure that every child has the nourishment to fully participate in the classroom and every child is equal in a classroom, regardless of what or where they come from. When they come into school, they are all equal, they all take their place, and they are all equally supported. It is very disappointing, therefore, to hear Senator O'Reilly's characterisation of what is going on in the schools. I was alarmed to hear that unions are instructing teachers not to support the delivery of hot meals to schoolchildren. This is a very serious matter and it is one the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth would be ideally positioned to examine because it is going to take much more than just an Order of Business debate or a Commencement matter here.”
“They will be delivering parcels and letters from loved ones right up to Christmas. They will bring everybody closer at Christmas, so well done to them. We will write to the Minister to seek an answer on the issue about pensions and, if necessary, let us bring the Minister in for an actual debate on that. This House did a lot of work for the postmasters over the course of the last year, which everyone in the House can be proud about. I know the postmasters were quite pleased with the outcome. However, individual post workers need to be looked after too, and we will do that. Senator Sarah O'Reilly mentioned the €330 million of taxpayers' money that the Government has allocated for hot school meals.”
“That is an issue we need to address, 100%. I completely agree with the Senator. We should have a debate with the Minister on the issue and on what action can be taken. I personally believe it is a matter of resourcing local authorities and having local authorities actually enforce the regulations that are in place. That is not under debate. In the meantime, we all need to call on the public to be vigilant and not to buy puppies from people who take cash only and who only meet them in a car park and do not show the mother of the puppy. It is cruel, unbecoming and something none of us should support. I say well done to Senator Nelson Murray for giving a big shout-out to the postmen and postwomen who are out there and who will be there come hail, rain or snow over the next days and weeks.”
“However, we need to support those communities to amplify and champion and show what they have to offer to the rest of the world. Those are points the Senator can raise with the Minister once we get him in. Senator Andrews raised the issue of puppy farms, and I smiled, not at the issue, but because he was alluding to attributing all of it to my party and the other party. I am disappointed he did that because it is a really serious issue, and I agree with him. Dogs Trust Ireland and other rescues will be overwhelmed this Christmas. It is cruelty; it is just the cruellest thing. I support the Senator's call for people to be vigilant. There are regulations in place, but they are not being properly enforced.”
“When people are ill and unwell and need emergency help, they need to be able to go there confident that they are going to receive the care they need and deserve. I recognise that the Senator asked for the Minister to release her views on the HIQA report. We will write to the Minister and ask her to do so. Senator Rabbitte spoke about the tourism policy. She also made a very good point, not just about the broad national tourism activity but the very need to instil confidence in local communities. She spoke about the indigenous business and craft activities, and she is absolutely right. We have a unique culture and unique traditions and enterprises that can take their place on the world stage, and the World Wide Web makes that possible.”
“She mentioned not just Corbally Road but the Shelbourne Road and the fact that drivers are just not observing the rules of the road and the infrastructure that has been put in place to ensure pedestrian safety. It would be really important that this matter is aired in the House. We will invite the Minister in to have a debate on what can be done specifically to improve the effectiveness of the measures that are already in place. The Senator mentioned how the pedestrian crossings are there, but they are being ignored. She also asked whether car number plate technology can be deployed in that instance. I am sorry to hear that Limerick University Hospital continues to suffer from overcrowding. It is not acceptable that the hospital is having to send announcements inviting people not to attend the emergency department.”
“That was a very positive move by Government to move tourism into the Department of enterprise because it is the foundation of many of our local economies right around the country. We will invite the Minister in for a debate on not just the Hidden Heartlands but, as Senator Rabbitte alluded to, the Wild Atlantic Way as well, which does very well out of tourism. Let us have that debate soon, however, because this House should support the Minister and the Department in that. Senator Dee Ryan mentioned that serious accident. I am sorry to hear that it is one of only a series of accidents. Road safety is an issue the Senator has been championing.”
“I will extend an invitation to him to come in at his earliest convenience and have a debate with the House on the infrastructure plan. I commend Senator Conor Murphy on his enthusiasm for the tourism activities on both sides of the Border. It is a great example of all-island working and us acting as an island to maximise our potential. I share with him in commending Fáilte Ireland on its extension of the Hidden Heartlands to include County Fermanagh. It is a beautiful part of the country. I was not surprised to hear Senator Rabbitte join in the praise. It would be important to have the Minister for enterprise into the House. Tourism is now under the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.”
“It is going to streamline the regulatory and approval process. It is going to reduce timelines, accelerate delivery and increase efficiency, which are all values every Member of this House could subscribe to when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure. When we talk about infrastructure, it is really important to remember that infrastructure means homes, school, roads and train stations. It is the structures upon which our families, communities, enterprises and tourism are built. I believe, therefore, that the infrastructure announcement is a very positive one. It highlights the ambition that the Government and the State have to meet the requirements of our citizens. I believe that the Minister with responsibility, Deputy Chambers, will be delighted to take the opportunity to come into the House.”
“It would be helpful to table a Commencement matter on that specific issue with the Minister for Health to see if she can find within her budget - the health budget is very significant, as the Senator alluded to - provision to ensure every senior citizen and every vulnerable individual who requires the shingles vaccine can have access to it without any additional cost. Senators Joe Conway and Boyhan both spoke about the plan announced by Government to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure. One would think that we are living in two parallel universes, to hear them speak about it. I was disappointed to hear Senator Conway speak in such defeatist terms about a plan, as enunciated by Senator Boyhan and referred to by independent authorities outside this House and the Dáil, that will unblock the logjam that exists.”
“I thank Senators for their contributions. We started with Senator Duffy, who gave a great compliment to the Bonniconlon ICA from County Mayo. The shingles vaccine is a very important issue. As Senator Duffy acknowledged, it has previously been raised by other Senators. It is available in other jurisdictions but in Ireland it is only privately available. I completely agree with him that prevention is always better than cure. It is a vaccine that is proven to work, that can protect our citizens, primarily our senior citizens, and it should be included in the medical card vaccine programme. This is an issue that I and others have raised.”
“The Order of Business is No. 1, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2025 - all Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m., and the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 1 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister in the debate on Second Stage not to exceed eight minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed six minutes, all other Senators not to exceed three minutes, and the Minister to be given not less than five minutes to reply to the debate, with Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately thereafter; and No. 2, Private Members’ business, Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1 p.m.”
“I ask the Leader to bring the Minister of State with responsibility for small business and enterprise to the House, at his earliest convenience, for a debate on how small enterprises and our hospitality sector can be best supported.”
“Any deal that does not recognise their territorial integrity will fall far short of what we should all aspire to, not just for the Ukrainian people but for us, as a European community. In the time remaining, I want to briefly mention our small businesses and hospitality operators. They are the heart of our local communities, creating employment and providing services but they are under a lot of pressure. Their margins are being squeezed, which is threatening their very viability. There are very strong supports in place. I acknowledge Government supports, from increased cost of business, ICOB, grants to power up grants to PRSI relief, all of which help but they need more to be able to survive. They need targeted support, simplified application processes, rental reform and a cut in red tape.”
“We identify with the resistance to tyranny and bullying and with Ukrainians' defence of democracy, peace and their sovereignty. Since the war began, Ireland has welcomed thousands of Ukrainians, many of whom are settled, working and living in our communities and adding to them. We can be proud of that achievement. Since the war began, the State has provided more than €380 million in non-military aid to Ukraine, including humanitarian and other forms of aid. More than anything, we say loud and clear again today that we stand with the Ukrainian people. They deserve a peace that is lasting, sustainable and grounded in the rule of law. For that peace to be achieved, Ukrainians have to be at the negotiating table. There can be no peace without them at the table.”
“Earlier, I had the great personal honour of welcoming, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, President Zelenskyy and the First Lady, Olena Zelenska, on their first official visit to Ireland and Leinster House. I thank all of the staff of the Seanad, the Dáil and the Leinster House complex and everybody involved in organising this visit. I know for certain that it would not have happened without them. They made it all look so easy and seamless. I say a huge "Well done" to everybody involved. President Zelenskyy also met with the Taoiseach and with our own Uachtaráin, Catherine Connolly. The State visit and the meeting with the Taoiseach and the President serve to underline Ireland's commitment to the Ukrainian people. Irish people identify very strongly with the Ukrainian struggle.”
“There is a genuine issue over the fact that Dublin's fire and emergency services are going to be excluded from the new national mobilisation and communications system, NMACS, a dispatch system. This is not an administrative change; it is an operational change that will have real consequences for the lives of those who go out to save others' lives, those working in our fire service, those working in other emergency services and those who rely on those services. I call for a pause on making the proposed change until there is a full review and I also call for Dublin fire services to be included in the new NMACS.”
“I encourage everybody to do this, not just for the next 14 or 15 days but maybe for the rest of their lives. They should be kind and treat people as they would like to be treated themselves. I am referring not necessarily to how they have been treated but to how they would like to be treated. Dublin Fire Brigade was established in 1862. It is over 150 years old. It is renowned worldwide as a unique and top-class fire and emergency service but it is under a really severe threat. This issue has been trundling on probably since 2014. I was on the city council in that year. I commend the leader of Fianna Fáil in Dublin City Council, Councillor Daryl Barron, and my colleagues in the Dublin group of the parliamentary party. We have raised this issue with the Minister, Deputy James Browne.”
“It has strengthened the laws to protect victims and is updating and driving changes to education programmes that address misogyny in schools and colleges. Investment in refuges, safe houses and changes to social housing guidelines are all important, but ending violence against women is not just a policy goal; it has to reflect a value we all subscribe to. We must all work every day to end violence against women. I encourage everybody to think about this in their daily lives and about the casual misogyny, sometimes perceived as benign, that can take place in clubs, organisations, groups and online chats. We should ask ourselves whether behaviour is misogyny, bullying or a violent attack on a woman. If so, we should just call it out and not be part of it or complicit by being silent.”
“This week marked the start of 16 days of activism on the issue of violence against women. Women's Aid is leading a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. Thirty-five percent of women in Ireland have experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse from an intimate partner. One in four women in Ireland has experienced sexual violence as an adult with a partner, and more than 100 women have been murdered in Ireland in the past ten years. Violence against women is one of the most urgent human rights issues in Ireland today and it is affecting far too many girls and women. The Government has taken action and I commend it in that regard. It has updated the strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and has established Cuan, a new agency dedicated to co-ordinating services and driving change.”
“It is an iconic building but, more important, for Dubliners it is a place of sanctuary and peace. It is just off our main street and is a place many people will wander into on a day up in Dublin. Archbishop Farrell showed great foresight. Many of us were probably unaware that there was a big debate on this issue between Westland Row and St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral and I am delighted to say St. Mary's won and we are getting a cathedral on the northside. I congratulate the Pope and Archbishop Farrell but, more importantly, all the parishioners, everybody who supports St. Mary's and uses the church, the choirs and the volunteers for achieving this great outcome.”
“Although this has taken a very long time - in 2015, I urged Dublin City Council to acquire the site and stadium - and we have had many Ministers for sport, including Deputy Jack Chambers and others, out to visit, I am proud to say we have secured the funding. The development is ready to go ahead, planning permission is in place and the community supports the project, which is a great news story for Phibsborough and Dublin. I congratulate everybody at Bohs for getting it this far. It would be appropriate for the Leader to write a letter of appreciation to the Pope to thank him for designating St. Mary's - known as the Pro-Cathedral for the past 200 years - on Marlborough Street as an actual cathedral. St. Mary's on Marlborough Street is part of the fabric of Dublin.”
“Next year, in 2026, in Phibsborough, the coolest of urban neighbourhoods, not just in Dublin but in the world, construction will commence on Dalymount Park. While it is obviously known as the home of Irish football, Bob Marley, Thin Lizzy and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have all treaded the boards and entertained the crowds in Dalymount. Next year, construction will commence on the redevelopment of Dalymount Park. It is not just about soccer or football; it is also about community and culture. In this redevelopment, we will get not only a world-class stadium but also community facilities.”
“This morning, we wake to further news reports of an escalation in Russia's war in Ukraine. Europe is at war. While I appreciate that Fianna Fáil used its most recent Private Members' time in the Seanad to raise a debate on this matter, the war is escalating on a daily basis. People in their homes in Ukraine are being bombarded at night by Russian missiles and drones. Last night, 19 civilians were murdered and 66 wounded. We have a new Minister for foreign affairs, Deputy McEntee. Can we have an early debate with the Minister on the escalating war in Europe? It is intolerable at this point and we must, as a strong European nation, urge other European nations to escalate our actions to address the Russian invasion and attacks on the Ukrainian people. I want to share with the House some good local news.”
“I heartily congratulate them all. More importantly, all the young boys and girls in Dublin Central and all around the country who are kicking balls should take inspiration. They can do it too. It is an enormous achievement. It is something that has the inner city and capital buzzing. The whole country is united with this, is lifted and bursting with pride because of what those lads have achieved. They should enjoy it. We have a long road to March. We will all travel that road with them. I genuinely believe that we believe that they have the courage to deliver for us all. Comhghairdeas and beir bua, lads.”
“I could not be prouder today, coming from Dublin Central, to heartily congratulate our national team. I give a huge shoutout, obviously, to Troy Parrott from the north inner city. The north inner city and Dublin Central gets a lot of bad press. The media love a bad story. He exemplifies and epitomises the best of the greatest of people. There are the greatest of people in the north inner city. His hat-trick was immense. None of us will ever forget it. It goes down in history. Caoimhín Kelleher's composure and vision and Liam Scales's crucial assist remind us all that football and team effort is what counts. I also give a shoutout to our manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson. His leadership and belief in a group of lads spurred them on and enabled them to deliver the results that have us, for the first time since 2002, in a World Cup play-off.”
“People listening to the announcement today can take confidence from the fact that over the four years of the previous Oireachtas, we changed the policy, the funding and legislation and 137,000 new homes were delivered, and now 300,000 homes will be delivered under this plan. I congratulate everybody who has worked on the plan, but most importantly, I encourage everybody who will use the plan, to actually deliver homes and end homelessness.”
“The cost-rental housing model, which we introduced under legislation in the previous Oireachtas, will be expanded and there will be increased cost-rental housing. There will be stronger tenant protections. There will be increased supply of long-term secure affordable rental homes and there will be increased security of tenure. This is all important work the Government is doing for the State and for everyone who needs a home. Overall, the targets are to deliver 300,000 homes by 2030, 72,000 of which will be social homes and 90,000 affordable. That means more than half of the homes that will be built will be social and affordable.”
“For disabled people, there will be special needs housing delivery through the approved housing bodies. There will be funding for adapted housing units and there will be an integration of disability housing needs into local authority housing plans. This is critically important for the disabled community. There will also be support for community-based independent living models. For Travellers, there will be dedicated Traveller accommodation projects. Local authorities will be strengthened to deliver culturally appropriate housing and there will be specific funding streams for Traveller community safety and housing initiatives. For renters, which is really important, there is a significant increase in funding for social housing.”
“It reinstates, reaffirms and reinvests in the State's commitment to eliminate homelessness by 2030. It supports first-time buyers by increasing the provision of social and affordable homes and private homes - all types of homes. It is an ambitious plan. It will deliver on ending homelessness by 2030. It will expand the Housing First programme. It will increase the provision of emergency accommodation, and it will focus on child and family homelessness as a priority. For first-time buyers, there will be 90,000 affordable housing supports. There will be a strengthening of the help-to-buy supports, which have helped more than 50,000 first-time buyers buy their own home. It is going to strengthen and expand the vacant and derelict properties grants and the affordable purchase schemes.”
“This morning, I welcome the publication of the updated housing plan from the Government. The Leas-Chathaoirleach will have to give me a moment. I took the stairs two steps at a time; I will be honest. I want to do justice to the plan. My grandfather was an undertaker, and a big believer that the man who made time made plenty of it. This is an important plan, so we need to give it a minute or two. When the previous Government took on the housing challenge, it made a serious commitment to have the State invest in the provision of homes, so that everyone would have a home. Between 2021 and this year, Housing for All delivered 137,000 new-build homes. Today, we have Delivering Homes, Building Communities. This builds on the work of the previous Government.”
“The previous Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, was instrumental in saving the school and hall. Now, thankfully, two purpose-built autism classes have been incorporated into the hall and the hall will be reopened for community use. This is a great win for Drumcondra. This is really good news. It builds on all the work done by residents and businesses to make Drumcondra an autism-friendly village and, most important, a vibrant, connected, engaged and inclusive community in the heart of our capital city. Congratulations to everybody involved in the campaign. It is a great success story. It is great to be able to stand here today and say we saved our hall.”
“I congratulate and express my deep appreciation to the campaign that successfully saved Corpus Christi hall in Drumcondra. This is great news for Drumcondra. The Corpus Christi hall on Home Farm Road was left to the community in 1962 by a private individual, a woman by the name of Madeline Dwyer, and from then it was used by the local school, Corpus Christi school, and the local community for all types of community events, such as knitting, dancing and singing. All sorts of groups availed of that hall. Unfortunately, four years ago we had to commence a campaign to save that hall. I thank the board of management at Corpus Christi, the parents association, the local community, the representatives who came together and worked collectively and the Department of education.”
“I genuinely appreciate the Minister of State attending today. I am sorry to send him back with this message, but I need him to go back with the loud and clear message to the Minister and the Department that it is not good enough. The reply is absolutely not good enough.”
“I just do not think it is good enough for a project of this significance and potential value, particularly as this is a model of best-in-class, world-class healthcare that is not being provided elsewhere in the country. The HSE or the Department of Health did not initiate or deliver it, but have evaluated and accepted it as world class in its standard and have no issues with the quality of care. In fact, they commend it as a model, yet they are moving at a glacial pace. All they are being asked to do is provide the funding. A project team has been put in place by Teach An Saol by people who are giving voluntarily of their own time, talents and skills. All the State is being asked to provide in this instance is the funding. I really do not think that should take as long as it is taking.”
“I appreciate that this does not relate to the Minister of State's Department or area of responsibility. I accept that the Minister is out of the country but I am nonetheless very disappointed that not one of the Ministers of State from the Department of Health could make himself or herself available to respond on this very important Commencement matter. I would like that to be relayed to the Minister's office. The update on the strategic healthcare investment framework indicated that phase 1 is progressing through that, is under consideration by the HSE capital planning expert group and, "If approved, a capital submission to secure capital funding from 2026 and onwards can be considered." That sounds to me like, "How long is a piece of string?" I will genuinely walk out of here today none the wiser. I do not think that is good enough.”
“It matters more than it matters for any of us, for whom minutes and hours fly by. The power of what is being, and can be, delivered at Teach an Saol is enormous. I hope the Minister of State can update the Seanad on where the HSE and Department of Health stand on delivering the purpose-built residential and rehabilitative centre for Teach an Saol in Ballymun.”
“From their day service, they developed a wonderful proposal for a Teach an Saol rehabilitation, residential and community centre. The concept has moved from a concept to a fully fledged business case and development plan. Land has been secured. I give credit to Deputy Paul McAuliffe, the TD for Dublin North-West, including Ballymun, for securing that land with Dublin City Council. The council came on board and the HSE, to be fair to it, has also done so. Ministers have visited, which I acknowledge. I also acknowledge that €1.3 million has already been allocated for the project. I accept and believe it is excellent that there is €27 million in capital funding for disability services in 2025 alone. However, this is urgent. Every minute, hour or day that passes matters for a person with a severe acquired brain injury.”
“It is no exaggeration to say, although it pains me to do so, that he was left for dead. The only reason Pádraig is alive today is because of the love and dedication of his parents and family and the support, expertise, medical care and rehabilitation they have secured for and provided to him. What they have achieved represents the most inspirational story. In Santry, which is not in my constituency but that of Deputy Paul McAuliffe, they established Teach an Saol. Every day, people with severe acquired brain injury are supported there to live their lives with dignity and autonomy. Generally when we talk about disabilities, we talk about enabling people to live with dignity and autonomy and to be connected to the rest of the world. That is exactly what Teach an Saol does, not just for Pádraig but also for many individuals.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here. I am disappointed that the Minister for Health is not present to respond to my Commencement matter, which requests an update on funding from the Department of Health for Teach an Saol in Ballymun. I do not know if the Minister of State is familiar with the facility. It was born out of what could have been a terrible human tragedy. It is the result of what is arguably one of the most inspirational stories and life experiences I have had the privilege to become aware of and support for a number of years. Reinhard Schäler and Patricia O'Byrne are neighbours of mine. Their son Pádraig was 22 years of age when he went to the United States on a J1 visa, as I did and as many young Irish people do. He went to Cape Cod and was knocked off his bicycle in a hit-and-run incident involving a truck.”
“She made our city a much warmer, kinder and more generous place. The world is poorer for her departure and my only wish is that she rests in eternal peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.”
“I also say "comhghairdeas" to Uachtarán-elect, Catherine Connolly, and wish her well in her tenure in the Áras. She will become a neighbour in Dublin Central in the Phoenix Park. She takes up a fine residence and I wish her and her family well. I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of Sr. Stan. I first met Sr. Stan back in 1986 or 1987 when she set up what was then known as Focus Point on Eustace Street. Later, in 1998, she set up The Sanctuary in Stanhope Street in my constituency and in 2001 she established the Immigrant Council of Ireland. She was a woman who had incredible human charity and spirit. She championed social justice, women and immigrants. She was an incredibly fine person and while she may have hailed from the kingdom, she was very much a Dub to us.”
“One such initiative involves the development in Glasnevin, in my own constituency, of over 8,000 new homes at Ballyboggin. The council also has plans to turn vacant, city-centre properties on North Frederick Street and Abbey Street into affordable cost-rental homes for key workers. I commend the Minister of State and departmental officials on bringing forward this legislation and I hope we can pass it swiftly this evening.”
“There might be 120,000 people in Australia claiming Irish heritage but there are more than 30 million in the US making the same claim. I am someone who had to leave this country when we were economically depressed and on our knees, but our country has come a long way since then. I commend everybody who is working in the construction sector, doing all they can to renovate, regenerate and build new homes for all of our citizens. It is critically important, and for my party it is a top priority. This funding will enable local authorities and AHBs to directly deliver critically needed social and affordable homes to ensure that people can have access to a home. I also commend Dublin City Council for passing three new policy initiatives this week, and it will, in turn, avail of this funding.”
“I thank the Minister of State for bringing this legislation to the House. I also thank the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for taking the sensible approach of waiving pre-legislative scrutiny to allow this Bill to progress quickly so that funding for housing can be increased to over €13 billion, which is critically important. This Government has made housing a top priority, as did the previous Government. While we can all quote statistics, one statistic that is really important is that, since Fianna Fáil took over in 2020, in partnership and coalition with Fine Gael, more than 140,000 new homes have been built and tens of thousands of vacant and derelict properties have been brought back into use.”
“Where research and effort are put into health outcomes, it yields results for women and their families. I commend everybody who is involved in that work, thank everybody who has supported their work and fundraising efforts and ask everybody to continue to do that after the month has elapsed.”
“Before the month is out, I want to acknowledge and thank everybody who has been involved with the National Breast Cancer Research Institute in funding raising for breast cancer research in the month of October. Many of us have supported their efforts right around the country. It is incredibly important work that they do. Cancer research is incredibly important. It supports greater survivability, early detection, greater research, reduction in the side effects of the treatments and overall contributes to better health outcomes. I encourage everybody to continue to support them, not only in October but throughout the year, because breast cancer is still the most common cancer among women worldwide. One in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Survival rates have increased because research has improved.”
“We have waited a long time and we really want to see this realised not just for Moore Street and the relatives of the 1916 Rising. This is a national monument of national and international importance. The actions that those heroes took in 1916 sparked a trajectory for our Republic that we still enjoy today. Our independence, democracy and freedom came from that spot and it is really important that it is appropriately commemorated.”
“I welcome the news that a design team has been appointed and that major conservation design concepts have been developed. I really welcome the fact that this work is taking place in parallel with the application for ministerial consent. In his further reply, I would appreciate if the Minister of State could clarify if it is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who is required to give the consent for the works to the national monument. It is really welcome to hear it that we can anticipate that works will commence in 2026. We have been a long time waiting. I believe that the painstaking work has been incredibly valuable and will lead to a richer and more powerful exhibition when the work is actually completed. I again thank the Minister of State for the update. He needs to keep the pressure on.”