Michael Collins
Cork South-West · Independent Ireland · Ireland
“This matter has been raised twice already this morning, but it is hugely important. I will make a personal appeal to the Taoiseach regarding Skyclarys and the further delay that has now arisen. Yesterday, Emma O'Shea came to Leinster House from west Cork with her mother, father and brother.”
“Another huge problem which normally arises in August is that relating to school buses. Parents have no way to get their children to school because of the nearest school rule. The current and previous programmes for Government contain promises that this will be done away with, but nothing has happened. The rule needs to be abolished.”
“Every parent knows that September has become one of the most expensive months of the year. While free schoolbooks are welcome, many families now face growing costs for other items. Parents are being asked to purchase laptops that cost €400 or more, make increased payments for school transport and pay charges to cover examination fees.”
“Either 25 children are left without a school place this September, or two senior infants classes are merged into one class of 34 children. Does the Minister of State agree that schools should not be punished for helping to solve an enrolment crisis? Will he immediately sanction the additional teaching posts required for St.”
“Education should not be measured by means of the distance someone lives from school, and school transport should not be measured on that basis either. I want to raise a matter that Councillor Bill Clear brought to my attention. It is a very serious issue regarding St. Corban’s National School in Naas in County Kildare.”
“I was chairperson of a board of management and know the difficulties that schools face just because they are one or two children short. That can be made up as the year goes on but it is a crisis that Councillor Clear finds unacceptable.”
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“This is not just about bricks and mortar; it is about restoring hope and fairness to those who have done everything right and have been treated badly by the system. It is hard to get the Minister here at times. In fairness, he is probably here as much as he can be. I refer to the log cabins he promised to the people of Ireland. He said he would have bring a Bill before the Dáil regarding log cabins. Deputy Ward will be annoyed at me for bringing this up, but it is a serious issue for people in rural Ireland.”
“She complied with all regulations, secured her mortgage, obtained a HomeBond guarantee and got an engineer's report. Within weeks of moving into her forever home, she discovered the roof was too heavy and the walls were buckling. For 18 years, she has been in and out of court fighting to hold onto her home. Today she has negotiated with a vulture fund to keep a roof over her head. In order to make her home structurally sound, she faces costs of between €150,000 to €200,000. She simply cannot afford that. This is the reality for thousands of families. I urge every Member of the House and every Minister in government to stand behind these people, deliver 100% redress and give them the dignity, safety and justice they deserve.”
“I am speaking on behalf of the families whose lives have been shattered by defective concrete blocks. Homes across the country are crumbling, walls are splitting, ceilings are collapsing and mould is creeping into children's bedrooms. These are not statistics; they are real people living in fear and paying mortgages on houses that may not stand in six or seven years. The current redress scheme is failing them. Costs are spiralling and homeowners are being asked to shoulder burdens they cannot bear. We need a scheme that delivers 100% redress without loopholes, delays or forcing families into debt for something that was never their fault. I also want to share the story of one of my constituents. She bought a home in 2006 and did everything right.”
“They think the other side is stupid and foolish and cannot read through it. It is outrageous. We have continued to allow AI, Facebook and everyone to do what they want. We are afraid to take them on. There should be severe fines for adults who are abusing technology. By God, they are abusing it. I know plenty of them that are at it. They are nonsensical. The Government has to stand up to these bully type people and win the war against this carry on.”
“We already have age limits for alcohol, gambling and vaping. Why should social media, with its proven risks to mental health, be any different? I call on the Government to initiate a full national consultation with parents, schools and youth mental health experts to review international best practice and legislate so the burden of proof falls on platforms and not parents. Ireland should be a leader in online child safety. Australia has shown us a roadmap. The question now is whether we are prepared to act. The problem in this country is that we worry about our children, and we have every right to do so, but the adults have as big a problem with phones as children do. I have seen the scandalous carry on with AI by some people. They are addicted to AI and use it to send out sinister letters and nonsensical rubbish.”
“I want to address an issue that is becoming increasingly urgent, namely the safety of our children online. On radio today, Galway West Independent Ireland Councillor Noel Thomas called on the Government to examine the Australian model. This is a conversation we can no longer avoid. Australia has produced the online safety assurance Bill 2025, which sets clear and enforceable standards, bans social media access for those under 16 unless platforms can verify age, requires robust age verification tools and gives regulators real powers to audit and sanction non-compliant companies. This is not about being anti-technology. It is about protecting children from harmful content, bullying and addictive algorithms. Parents in Ireland are fighting a losing battle against platforms designed to keep young people hooked.”
“We all know the saying that a puppy is for life, not just for Christmas. I pay tribute to people who look after dogs. In Church Cross in west Cork, the Collins family look after retired greyhounds. The incredible care they give to their dogs needs to be commended and I commend them. I have been there with them and I would nearly be encouraged to stay and sleep in one of the dog beds because it is such a beautiful layout. They give the dogs great attention and care. The dogs are well fed and have warm kennels. However, there is a huge issue of dogs killing sheep in rural Ireland, including in my constituency, and that needs to be addressed as well.”
“Leading providers, such as My Canine Companion and Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, have closed their waiting lists until early 2026, reflecting huge demand. Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland recently reopened applications but the process from assessment to placement can take one to two years. These dogs transform lives, offering safety and independence, but planning ahead and engaging early is essential. Dog behaviourists remind us that Christmas is the worst time to get a puppy. The chaos of the season makes training and bonding difficult, and responsible breeders typically avoid selling at this time. This Christmas, let us put welfare first by avoiding impulse buys and steering clear of puppy farms. If someone is ready for a dog, they should choose a reputable source or give a rescue dog the gift of a loving home.”
“The ISPCA has highlighted that puppy farmers exploit the Christmas rush, producing litters in poor conditions without proper care, vaccination or microchipping. They urge families to delay purchase until after the holidays and to consider adoption from registered rescues instead. The DSPCA, speaking on RTÉ, warned about heavily discounted puppies being sold for as little as €100. Many of these dogs lack vital vaccinations and are at risk of serious illness, such as parvovirus. Its advice is clear, and it is that if people do buy, they should have the puppy examined by a vet within 24 hours and check all health records. Aside from being our best friends, dogs are an integral part of many families, especially for those with autistic children or blind persons, yet families in Ireland hoping for an autism assistance dog face long waits.”
“I am a strong advocate for preserving Ireland's rural heritage. In the Dáil, I have spoken about the cultural importance of local greyhound racing and traditions that bring communities together. I have also called for the continued State support of €19 million annually for greyhound tracks to ensure these venues can survive and thrive. I believe in sustaining rural life, protecting jobs and celebrating the traditions that make our countryside unique. As we approach Christmas, it is important to remember that bringing a puppy into your home is a lifelong commitment and not a seasonal impulse. Leading organisations across Ireland have issued strong warnings about buying dogs from breeders during the festive period.”
“If the Minister of State and any other TDs are around, a great tractor run, fundraising for this effort, is taking place on 28 December. They are most welcome to west Cork for the Kilbrittain tractor run.”
“This was started by the Kilbrittain group with tractor runs and fundraising, which Jim and Anne O'Mahony have been spearheading with their committee for a number of years. Giving grounds to the State and the people of west Cork is an extraordinary gift which has to be acknowledged here and by the public. Now I know it has been signed over to CoAction to take on the mantle of building this centre of excellence for the people of west Cork, because young people with autism and other disabilities need the respect that they deserve. The CEO of CoAction is under pressure to deliver but the services are all over the place. Maybe one centre of excellence like the one that will be built in Dunmanway might be a help.”
“The removal of one-off payments and the absence of a permanent cost-of-living disability payment are pushing thousands deeper into poverty. As the coalition says, disability poverty does not happen by accident. It is the result of policy decisions. The coalition is calling for emergency winter fuel funding. The Minister of State cannot stand idly by and not accept that that is a crisis. We need urgent action including, as I say, an emergency winter payment and a long-term commitment to a cost-of-disability payment. No one should have to ration heat or skip meals because of systematic neglect. You have to talk about the positive things that happen in society too. I was in the Celtic Ross Hotel on Sunday night where the most extraordinary family, John and Mary McCarthy, donated grounds to west Cork for an autism and disability centre.”
“Today, this Government must declare this backlog a national emergency, allocate immediate emergency funding, launch a tangible plan to hire specialist assessors and therapists within weeks, and monitor and report progress publicly every month until every child receives their legal entitlement. I highlight a stark warning from Ireland's disability coalition, which is also outside Leinster House today. Someone from my community, Sarah Attridge, travelled nearly five hours to get to the gates here today, protesting that budget 2026 has left disabled people up to €1,400 worse off. This is not just a number but a heating versus eating crisis. People with disabilities face impossible choices between warmth and food this winter. Despite acknowledging the extra cost of living with a disability, the Government has failed to act.”
“On one of the worst nights of the year, 15-year-old Cara Darmody is sleeping outside the gates of Leinster House. She is putting everyone in here to shame. She is calling on this Government to address the backlog of assessments of need for children with special requirements as the national emergency it truly is. Cara rightly reminds us that under the Disability Act 2005, every child is entitled to a completed needs assessment within six months of the application, yet that legal deadline is being missed in more than 90% of cases, leaving more than 18,000 children languishing on waiting lists, some for years, without clarity about what supports they need.”
“We are across the world telling Europe not to support this because it will ruin agriculture in this country, yet the Government parties cannot convince its own MEPs. Where are Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil going? Wake up. They are either with the people on this or they are against them. At the present time, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are split right down the middle. We are not. Independent Ireland has an MEP who is fighting tooth and nail to make sure this Mercosur deal does not ruin rural Ireland. I am pleading with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to have a debate in this House and make sure that does not happen. That is what they have been refusing this State and this country for the last number of weeks.”
“By that measure, this Bill fails. For all of these reasons, Independent Ireland will oppose this legislation. We will not allow sovereignty, fairness and rural Ireland to be sacrificed for the sake of an investment court. Deputy Ward, who has unfortunately just left the Chamber - I do not like talking about people when they are not here - talked in support of the Bill in the very same way as Fine Gael is speaking out of two sides of its mouth in relation to Mercosur, just as Fianna Fáil is. There is no point in the Minister of State looking at me in confusion. I am the confused person. Regina Doherty came out last week in favour of so many aspects of the Mercosur deal. Barry Andrews came out saying he was going to vote for it.”
“That means future trade agreements that could impose new liabilities on taxpayers or restrict our regulatory freedom could be approved quietly without proper parliamentary scrutiny. That is not democracy. That is governance by stealth. Investor court mechanisms have been used worldwide to challenge health protections, environmental safeguards and public interest regulations. We cannot legislate to weaken our own autonomy. Ireland must retain full freedom to regulate for its people, its community and its environment. Independent Ireland stands for commonsense democracy. This Bill represents the opposite - complexity, distant tribunals and diminished accountability. We believe trade should work for Ireland, not against it. We support fair, open trade but only when it protects Irish jobs, Irish standards and Irish communities.”
“This is fundamentally unfair and completely at odds with the principles of a republic built on equality and accountability. We also must talk about democratic consent. Time and again, major EU commitments have been pushed through without consulting the Irish people, be they on migration or neutrality. Independent Ireland has called for open debate and public endorsement. Here we are again, though, deepening Ireland's obligation under the EU-negotiated investment regimes without a single word to the electorate. If the State wants to bind itself to powerful investor courts, the people deserve a voice. One of the most alarming aspects of this Bill is the power it gives to the Minister to extend this enforcement system to future treaties by simple order.”
“This Bill is part of the same architecture, the same world view that prioritises international trade deals over the interests of rural Ireland and the people of Ireland. Our farmers are the backbone of this country, yet investor court systems have been used abroad to challenge environmental rules, food safety measures and agricultural supports. If we pass this Bill, we open the door to those same challenges here. Rural Ireland cannot be left exposed to corporate lawsuits that put profit before people. Let us be clear, in that this legislation creates a two-tier justice system. Powerful, foreign corporations will enjoy special tribunals to sue the Irish State while ordinary citizens and small businesses must rely on our domestic courts.”
“Today, we are asked to pass a Bill that does not serve the Irish people. It serves international investor courts. Independent Ireland believes our sovereignty is not something to be traded away through technical legislative fixes. This is not just an amendment to the Arbitration Act. It is a step towards giving foreign tribunals cursory judicial influence over Irish policy because Brussels or multinational investors would prefer it. That is unacceptable. We have seen this pattern before. Deals like Mercosur were sold as opportunities but in reality, they pose direct threats to Irish farmers and rural communities. As I said earlier in this Chamber, Mercosur will flood our markets with contaminated beef produced under standards far below ours, undermining Irish farmers who are already struggling with falling incomes and rising costs.”
“I want to bring up the Galway West and Dublin Central by-elections and the fact that nobody is talking about them and the writs have not been issued. The Mercosur deal is hugely important. We have a crisis in this country where we face, on 20 December, the Commissioner trying to push this ahead so that she can sell vehicles from Germany. There is a Fine Gael MEP and a Fianna Fáil MEP who state they support this shocking, terrible deal which will bring rotten meat into this country.”
“They know there will be a lot more breakages and I am going to be back in the Dáil in 12 months talking about it. The Minister of State said, "The Minister has no function ...". Good God almighty, the Government is giving €13 billion of taxpayers' money to Uisce Éireann. Surely to God somebody has responsibility for it because it has given up being responsible. At one time, you could sit around the table but it was only a short amount of time. Now we cannot even sit around the table. All I am asking the Minister of State is whether she can give me a date as to when it will meet or a date as to when works will start in Adrigole in west Cork.”
“There has been a temporary solution. There is talk about a temporary water pipe up on the ditch, as happened in other communities. It worked out. I have no issue with that but I would rather something more permanent. The community has come back to me recently with a more permanent solution. Councillor Danny Collins is working on that as well to make sure we maybe lay the pipe opposite to where the pipe is laid already. The bottom line is that works need to commence, we need a date for the works but that is not happening. The Minister of State can only read out the reply she got. I respect her for that. The bottom line is I cannot go back to the community with that reply because it is going to go nowhere. That will not ease the worry of the crèche owner, the school owner or the Airbnbs.”
“I will break the reply down to the basics. The Minister of State said, "A case for mains rehabilitation works for the Adrigole area is under consideration by Uisce Éireann. As the process is only in the initial stages, it is too early to confirm a timeframe at this stage." It has admitted there have been 18 bursts since last May. How can be "in the initial stages"? People have been without water 18 times since May. I hate making comparisons, because we must represent the people of Dublin, but that would not happen in Dublin. There would not be 18 disruptions without something being done immediately and without an answer being given. I would plead with the Minister of State if she has not got that answer. I need that answer immediately. For three or four weeks, I have been asking then those works are going to start.”
“It just alters the answer and throws in "Adrigole" because it has thrown in hundreds of other communities up to now. That will not work. It is like an AI-generated answer but it will not work. I sincerely hope the Minister of State has an answer for me and that she gives me a good, clear answer in her four minutes, so I can go back to west Cork and say that things are going to be sorted and we are all working together on this issue.”
“All the Minister is getting is a generic answer. All everybody is getting, including the community group I set up to deal with this issue, is a generic answer. There is a huge room full of people protesting because they want their common right; a clear water supply so they know they can turn their taps or shower on in the morning or get an animal a bit of water. It is very basic. That is being denied to the people of Adrigole right now. I ask the Minister whether we can have a meeting with Uisce Éireann and what the plan for Adrigole is. I pray to God the Minister of State here has an answer and that it is not the generic one we got because it was the most crazy answer. It was all about the dry summer and the floods and then Adrigole, was dropped in.”
“That is outrageous because public representatives should be bringing up whatever issues they have and then it is up to the council. Obviously, the council cannot resolve the issue now; it is Uisce Éireann. The council should pass the issue on to Uisce Éireann and let it come back on it. The bottom line is that in all of my weeks bringing this issue up, and previously as well, I cannot get an answer. The Minister of State from Cork South-West cannot get an answer nor can the Fine Gael Senator. I spoke to them and they told me so. We want Uisce Éireann to sit down and meet the local group, including ourselves, to tell us what it intends to do and what will happen. It might take two month or six months but, please God, it will happen. God almighty, it is a living terror to think all I am getting is a generic answer.”
“The bottom line is that I genuinely cannot get an answer. What I hope I can get this evening is an answer because I have really pulled out all of the stops on this. I understand the stress people are going through because I went through it myself 20 years ago. At that time, it was the council. The councils were more or less in charge and that is the way it should have stayed because we had some accountability and councils were able to give answers. Councillor Danny Collins, who is my brother and an Independent Ireland councillor down there, has been dealing with this issue on a week-to-week basis. Apparently the council is now saying we can no longer bring Uisce Éireann up in a motion because it no longer has anything more to do with Uisce Éireann.”
“Some made sense and some did not but they need to be discussed. We need to sit down with Uisce Éireann and we need a pathway forward. I, and the public representatives who were there - and I have met them since in the corridor here - are worn out looking for Uisce Éireann to give a straight answer. Will the Minister meet the local community group, maybe three individuals, with the Oireachtas Members to talk about what Uisce Éireann's intentions are in laying down a new water pipe for the people of Adrigole so they can get a proper water supply and do not have to look over their shoulders and worry whether they will be closing their business or their school tomorrow morning? The water was out for a spell and somebody said to me recently that a newborn baby had to be taken to stay at someone else's house overnight. It is the basics.”
“The people of west Cork are genuinely at the end of their tethers. Since July, they have had 14 water breakages. It has led to the local crèche and school having to close because if they do not have water they cannot remain open, use toilets or whatever else. I was at a public meeting the other night which was attended by other public representatives. The local Airbnbs had to give money back to people because they could not shower in the morning. People who had coffee shops basically had to close their doors. These are small things that mean a lot to businesses. It was the same with animals who were stressed without water, which was a huge issue throughout the summer. I went through it myself 20 years ago in Schull. A number of solutions were put forward during the public meeting.”
“They said he saw a specialist but couldn't say who and my brother insists he didn't. We, the family, are frustrated and angry. He has 24/7 observation inside for three days, yet they deem him fit for discharge. Where do we go from here? Our mental health services have questions to answer here and in other cases too. The message in this text is simple. On Monday this man tried to kill himself and on Thursday he is being discharged from hospital and has to find his own way home. If he feels low again, he is to call the Samaritans or his GP. Where in the name of God does his family go to try to save his life? I fully respect that I am landing this on the Tánaiste's lap without warning but I would appreciate his help on this issue. It is a very serious matter.”
“I got a text from a constituent whose brother tried to commit suicide on Monday. He did not just try in one way. He slit his wrists and took an overdose. This man was not leaving anything to chance. He wanted to die. I have consent from his family to read out the text that was sent late last night to me: We spoke yesterday about my brother in Mercy [hospital]. He's being discharged tomorrow to CUH for wrist surgery, but still hasn't had a proper mental health assessment. They claim he was seen, but it was only the nurse and the discharge letter says "low mood". No mention of his suicide attempt, no care plan discussed with the family. She just told him to call the Samaritans or his GP and get a taxi or arrange his own lift home. He's still suicidal and the family are desperate. The family rang the ED last night.”
“I look at the case of Aghadoe, where residents have had 14 bursts in their mains water supply since July. This has resulted in closures in the local crèche, the local school and, obviously, tourism businesses. Not once has the Government shared and come back and said to us that it will try to resolve the issue with us.”
“Are the planning guidelines going to change for people who want to get one-off planning? I was with someone the other day in this position and mother of God, we spent an hour and a half with the architect. The conditions put on the person were frightening. They wanted to build a lovely little timber, three-bedroom house. It is not going to happen. They were told they could not do certain things and they had to draw up various reports. Before I left, I had figured out that he had already spent €30,000 and had not even a shovel put in the ground yet. We have a real crisis in this country. I know the Minister is trying to improve things. First of all, we need to make these Government bodies accountable to people in some way and accountable to public representatives.”
“I suppose any movement is to be welcomed if we are going to make changes that are desperately needed regarding the housing market. We need to support any measure that can do that as long as it is a common-sense issue. The problem I have is where the changes are going to be made. Sometimes, even before you go ahead anywhere, you have to go back. If you look at the actions of Uisce Éireann, we have waste treatment plants all over the country bursting at the seams and into waters and rivers everywhere. How do we intend to improve there? Those towns, whether it is Dunmanway, Shannonvale, Clonakilty, Ballydehob, Rosscarbery or Gully, to pick a few in west Cork, are pouring raw sewage into the tide and local public parks. There are no extra houses going to be built there, so where is this plan going to work?”
“I am getting phone calls from all over the place on this. A while ago Deputy Danny Healy-Rae told me he is getting the same barrage of phone calls. This needs to be moved on immediately.”
“Stop, please. When the tenant meets the man on the road he is hooting at him and putting the thumbs up, because the knows the RTB and everyone else is there to protect the tenant but there is no one to protect the landlord. Someone needs to talk on behalf of the house owners. I want avoid using the word "landlord" as much as I can. Imagine, a year to year and a half, and he will not have to bat an eyelid. It will not worry him, because he is quite safe and he will get protected. It is time to kick these people out. One or two months without paying, the hell out the door they should be put and end of story. The RTB is asleep at the wheel. We need to move on and straighten it out. Some people want to get out of the market at the moment and they said that they cannot sell a vacant tenancy. They are in an awful state.”
“He has a guy in his house who does not give a damn. He told the man that he would not pay because he knew that he would get a year or a year and a half's grace and he could laugh at the house owner.”
“I agree with the speaker across the floor who wanted to put a rocket under Uisce Éireann but I would say that it would take a hell of lot more. Unfortunately, it has been protected long enough by Government. It is a law unto itself right now. There is a massive housing crisis now, not alone in the want of housing but also for the people who have the houses. I hate calling them landlords because they are house owners. The way they are being treated and the way they have spoken to me with worry in the last few weeks about legislation that is coming through here, they have had it. They are running and getting the hell out of the market because we have treated them so badly. We have left them wide open and we need to turn it around. They have no protections. The other day, I spoke to a man in Skibbereen.”
“Now, when families need help most, it turns its back. This is not leadership; it is betrayal. The Government had the evidence and the warnings and it still chose to make life harder for ordinary families. It is time it reversed this decision and put people first, not corporate profits. If this Government truly cared about families this Christmas, it could reinstate the energy credits. It is not rocket science; it requires Cabinet approval, a quick amendment to the existing legislation and a supplementary allocation of funds, just as was done before the last election. The ESB network and suppliers can deliver credits automatically, once instructed. The only barrier is political will. Families are facing record arrears and soaring bills. The Government has the tools, the authority and the money. What it lacks is the commitment.”
“Let us remember that we are in the lead-up to Christmas, a time that should be about family, not fear. Parents are wondering how they will keep the lights on and put food on the table. As we have heard already, pensioners are choosing between heating and eating. This Government's decision makes that struggle even harder, yet despite clear and urgent advice, the Government chose to scrap energy credits. What was its excuse? It wants to move away from so-called ad hoc supports and focus on long-term investments. Tell that to the family freezing in its home this winter. Long-term plans do not pay the bills today. Here is the hypocrisy: just before the last election, energy credits were handed out. Back then, the Government knew the value of helping households because it suited it politically.”
“The recent documents obtained following a freedom of information request exposed a shocking truth about the Government's priorities. Officials from the Department of climate and energy strongly advised that energy credits should be continued in budget 2026. They warned that without these credits, households would face an extra €321 per year on their bills. That is not a minor increase; it is a devastating blow for families that are already struggling. These same officials highlighted that electricity and gas prices remain sky high compared to pre-2022 levels. Gas is up 90% and electricity is up 61%. Arrears have surged to record levels with over 300,000 households now behind on their bills. That is the reality in homes across the country.”
“A full statutory inquiry has to take place in relation to the Whiddy Island disaster off Bantry Bay that killed 50 people.”
“Our ask of the Government is that in the factoring of 24-hour shifts for helicopter crews, a transparent system should be put in place with crews at the table to guarantee fatigue is never ignored and it should commit to supporting resources in order that volunteers are not left fundraising for basic safety infrastructure. Our coastal communities and crews deserve better. Our rescue services deserve the funding and oversight that keep people alive. As I have the floor, I raised more than a year ago - and have not heard anything since- the disaster that happened off Bantry Bay in 1979. Many emergency services were called out during the Whiddy Island disaster. I have been calling and Michael Kingston has been calling for a full inquiry into that for 12 months.”
“It needs €1 million for Ireland’s first floating boathouse and a new high-tech rescue boat. Why? Faster response times and better equipment save lives. This is not a luxury; it is a necessity for safety in Bantry Bay and beyond. Independent Ireland believes in value for money but value for money does not mean cutting corners or fatigue. We insist on proper funding for training and equipment in SAR, whether that is helicopters, volunteers or lifeboats. We demand accountability from the Irish Aviation Authority and the Department of Transport for systems that trade safety for convenience.”
“When a call comes in from Bantry Bay or off the Cork coast, nobody asks what the spreadsheet is. Many of the calls I get are in relation to protecting people in the fishing industry. They come from pleasure boats as well but they come from the fishing industry in particular as people are out there in shocking weather and depend on the Coast Guard for their safety. SAR is not just a helicopter in west Cork. The Bantry Inshore Search and Rescue Association has also been saving lives since 1987. It is a clear resource of the Irish Coast Guard yet it receives no regular State funding. Its annual operating costs are about €26,000, raised through donations collected in buckets in local shops and pubs and through charity swims and crowdfunding. Every euro it spends comes from the community it serves. The association now faces a major challenge.”
“This dispute is not with the crews; it is with the system that makes figures look better on paper than they are in the cockpit. Our coastal and island communities rely on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week SAR service. When a call comes in from Cork or Limerick, nobody asks what the spreadsheet says. It asks how fast Rescue 115 can be overhead. Our manifesto is clear; fund SAR properly. Respect crews' working time and demand accountability. We support an urgent review of how hours are recorded and we want to know why the IAA signed off on this system. Accountability matters. Finally, our ask of the Government is simple. It must end the factoring of 24-hour shifts, record every hour crews are on call and put in place a transparent system with crews at the table, in order that fatigue is never traded off against cost or convenience.”
“I welcome Sinn Féin’s focus on the men and women who fly our Coast Guard helicopters. Crews are on call for 24 hours straight, and deserve every ounce of political backing we can give. I certainly know that myself because the Irish Coast Guard in Schull and Goleen where I live myself are people who are second to none. They gave their time freely and need the protections we will support here. For Independent Ireland, front-line workers come first, whether they wear the uniform of An Garda Síochána, a Coast Guard jacket or a flight suit. If a front-line worker is on a 24-hour shift, every hour must be recognised and respected. It offends common sense to pretend that a crew that must launch in minutes is somehow at rest for a part of their shift. That is not rest, that is responsibility. It must count as working time for safety and fairness.”
“It offers partial fixes to deep injustice but it does not deliver justice. It does not deliver fairness and it certainly does not deliver 100% redress.”