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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“When I had my contribution written up, I did not expect the Minister of State to be before me, but he knows as well as I do the condition of the roads in west Cork and the bypasses that have been promised in west Cork, with nothing happening in Innishannon, nothing happening on the southern or northern relief road and nothing happening on the Bantry road. The Minister of State might say it is happening on the Bantry Road. They are drawing up a report as if to say, "Kick the can down the road, throw a few hundred thousand euro into a report and they will all be happy." My brother, Councillor John Collins, attended the meeting and asked them when a bucket will put on the road. They do not know. It will probably be five or ten years, but it is a kick-the-can-down-the-road exercise to say they are doing something.”
“Last week, and again this morning, as I said, I raised the issue of returning Irish emigrants who face unnecessary and unfair barriers when trying to exchange foreign driving licences for Irish ones. I am calling for immediate change, the removal of the ten-year limit and the facilitation of direct exchange with those who previously held an Irish licence and now hold a valid foreign licence long term. I am being told that this can be done with the stroke of a pen. The Tánaiste has stated he will look into it. I am asking the Minister of State to look into it again, not kick the can over to the Road Safety Authority, RSA, or the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, and have a look at the Dutch model. It is time we got on the side of people and the side of Ireland, rather than the side of red tape and bureaucracy.”
“This is another tax on their back. Transport companies are facing serious issues with a new online portal for driver work permits. One company in west Cork could not even log in because its details had been uploaded incorrectly. They have described the system as completely flawed and not fit for purpose. It even asks drivers from other countries to upload their own information - drivers who often have no idea how to navigate this process. Surely it should be enough for the company to input the details. I strongly urge the Minister of State to streamline the system and make it practical for the industry. Earlier on Leaders' Questions, I spoke about to people with licence issues.”
“Hauliers face repeated toll hikes, with the M50 and Dublin Port Tunnel driving up costs. Some operators pay up to €20,000 per month in tolls, forcing many out of business. The Irish Road Haulage Association has warned this threatens Ireland's supply chain, which relies on road haulage for 98% of goods. The current toll system wastes €27 million in fuel and emits 45,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. The haulage industry is calling for toll exemptions and barrier-free tolling to cut costs and protect the economy. I would like to know where all the money for all these tolls is going. Has it gone back into the roads? Certainly, we do not see them in west Cork, as well the Minister of State knows well. I will name a few of the roads in a minute. He travels on them the same as I do. Hauliers and the motorists are being hit the most all the time.”
“Last week I sent this correspondence to the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, and he forwarded it to the NDLS. That is kicking the can down the road. We cannot kick the can down the road on this issue. It is hugely important that we deal with that issue immediately. As far as I am concerned, the senior Minister could amend this requirement tomorrow with the stroke of a pen. Can that happen?”
“I thank the Tánaiste very much for his reply. I ask the Government to get rid of the ten-year limit on Irish licences for returning emigrants. These are people who passed a test in Ireland, held an Irish licence and currently have a valid driving licence. To now deny them a licence is arbitrary, unjust and indefensible. This is a slap in the face to Irish citizens returning home. This is not how we should be treating our people. It has zero impact on road safety. This straightforward action would immediately support the Irish diaspora and returning Irish citizens. The ten-year-old limit is not required under either Irish law or EU law. It is in the programme for Government to resolve that, so the Government has discussed this around the table.”
“Instead, Ireland can and should follow the example of many European countries such as Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Austria and Portugal, which have a unilateral licence exchange process, which includes the USA, operating in tandem with these reciprocal agreements. The RSA should leverage practices and precedents from our EU partners in a risk-based manner to revise our current restrictive system.”
“In parallel, as a solution to the broader problem, will the Tánaiste request the RSA and the NDLS to develop a proposal for a pragmatic and risk-based process for exchange of foreign driving licences, building on best practices and precedent from other EU countries? The current RSA approach of seeking reciprocal driving licence agreements with individual US states is getting us nowhere. I am not surprised as I have not been able to find a single example where an EU country has a reciprocal driving licence exchange agreement with even one US state, most likely because US state licensing regimes are incompatible with EU standards. I expect the Minister and RSA are well familiar with that fact. I know we are unlikely to meet the commitments made in the programme for Government.”
“Many in the Dáil may be familiar with former GAA president Larry McCarthy, who returned to Ireland in 2021 and had to hire a driver so he could do his job, despite having originally held an Irish licence and then a US licence for 37 years. As an immediate action, will the Tánaiste direct the Minister for Transport to require the Road Safety Authority, RSA, and the National Driver Licence Service, NDLS, to revise their policy and recognise previous Irish driver licences without the ten-year limit? This is a straightforward action that would have zero impact on road safety. It would immediately support the Irish diaspora and returning Irish citizens.”
“We are telling these Irish citizens, many of whom have been driving for over 40 years and originally held Irish licences, that they now need to get L-plates to drive in their own country. Our younger citizens have been driven abroad in a time of full employment by the high costs of housing. Now we are trying to attract back the skilled doctors, nurses, construction workers and engineers the country badly needs but when they come back, they cannot drive to their jobs. The IDA has been working tirelessly in this difficult global environment to attract and retain companies from the USA to invest in our economy and create high-paying jobs, but the senior executives of those companies are being told they have to put L-plates on their company BMWs. This country should be better than that.”
“Last week in the Dáil, I spoke of how two of my constituents were refused an exchange of their Belgian driving licences and will have to get provisional licences and retake the test. As they live in rural west Cork, they are essentially going into Covid lockdown for five months, unable even to get to the shops for a bottle of milk. This is the case the length and breadth of this island for many people. It is demeaning, distressing, unfair, extremely expensive and an unnecessary burden. Irish citizens left Ireland in the difficult times to find work in the USA. Many are now looking to return to Ireland to raise their families or retire, bringing with them their skills and wealth.”
“His parents have been clear that they want a statutory public inquiry with full powers to compel evidence and broad scope to uncover systemic failures over decades, accountability in respect of those who made harmful decisions, and above all, real change with ring-fenced funding, stronger governance and a national spinal treatment service so no child will suffer like Harvey did. The Government has now agreed to an inquiry, but this cannot be a box-ticking exercise; it must be family led, transparent and fearless in exposing the truth. When it concludes, its recommendations must be implemented, not ignored. I ask those on the Government benches to commit to implementing in full every recommendation of the inquiry and guaranteeing ring-fenced funding and a timeline for reform. Anything less represents another broken promise.”
“Our health system has failed some of the most vulnerable children in the State. In 2017, a clear promise was made that no child would wait more than four months for spinal surgery. That promise was broken, with devastating consequences. Right now, 139 children are actively waiting for spinal surgery this year. Four hundred and forty-six surgeries were completed, yet 462 new patients joined the list. We now know that the pledge of four months was based on assurances given to the then Minister by HSE leadership and senior officials at CHI, who told him the target was achievable. Those assurances were wrong and parents paid the price. The tragic death of Harvey Morrison Sherratt and the allegation that he was removed from the waiting list because he was deemed palliative have shattered public confidence.”
“I urge the House to reject this agreement and to send a strong message to Brussels: Ireland will not sacrifice its standards, its farmers or its future”
“This is a defining moment. Do we stand with our farmers, our rural communities and our environmental obligations or do we sign away those values for a deal that benefits others at our expense? In rural Ireland, agriculture is not just an industry; it is a way of life. Up here in Dublin, some may not fully grasp that reality. We know the hard work it takes to run a farm. We know the dedication it takes to keep that farm alive. We know what it means when fathers and mothers dream of passing that land onto their children. Farming is not a job; it is in the blood, but our farmers are exhausted. They are buried under paperwork, strangled by bureaucracy and squeezed by regulations on nitrates. Now, if this Mercosur deal goes ahead, it will be the wipe-out of Irish farming.”
“This is why voices like Ciaran Mullooly, our Midlands-North-West MEP, have been campaigning tirelessly in Brussels to block this agreement. He has warned that this is not just an economic issue; it is a question of food safety, climate responsibility and fairness. Ciaran has built alliances with farming groups and secured commitments from France to oppose the deal. Ireland must do the same. The Government promised to oppose Mercosur. Tonight, we need to reaffirm that commitment. I am worried when I do not see agriculture Ministers across from us here showing the interest they should. We need our Government to stand up and make sure this will not stand. This Government needs to back Irish farmers, the people who put food on the table. Ireland must make its position crystal clear. This deal is unacceptable. Silence is not an option.”
“Irish farmers have built a reputation for quality, traceability and sustainability. That reputation is not just a market slogan; it is a foundation of rural livelihoods. Yet, this deal risks flooding the market with beef at €3.50 per kilo compared with €9 or €10 for quality Irish beef. How can our farmers compete with that? It is not just beef. Dairy exports, which some claim will benefit, will face the same reality. Mercosur dairy products are up to 40% cheaper than ours. The promised opportunities are, frankly, wishful thinking. We are told there will be safeguards but let us look at the facts. The proposed €1 billion safety net for farmers has been dropped. The environmental and human rights clauses sound good on paper but enforcement has been weak in other trade deals. These are not real protections; they are political cover.”
“I welcome the farming organisations who are represented in the Gallery today. It is the third time they have been here in the Dáil during the past week fighting for the survival of their members. I thank Sinn Féin for this motion on the Mercosur trade agreement, an issue that goes to the heart of Ireland's rural economy, our food standards and our environmental commitments. This deal as it stands poses a serious threat to Irish farming. It would open the door to 99,000 tonnes of South American beef entering the EU market every year, produced under conditions that fall far short of the standard we demand here. Growth hormones that are banned in Europe are still widely used in Brazil. There is no EU inspection system on the ground and past experience shows that meat cleared by Brazilian authorities has failed EU safety tests.”
“These figures clearly show that Ireland is under significant migration pressure, considering the extent of homelessness, the cost-of-living crisis, the waiting lists for basic operations and healthcare, the lack of crèches, the overcrowding in schools and the lack of transport for children attending school, and the lack of accommodation for students. The list goes on. Given this reality, will the Minister confirm whether Ireland intends to apply for an exemption or a deduction under the pact, and if not, why not? This is a critical question for transparency and for ensuring Ireland's interests are properly represented.”
“According to the Central Statistics Office, immigration hit historic highs in the year to April 2024 with 149,200 immigrants, which was the highest number in 17 years. In the year to April 2025, there were 125,300 immigrants, marking the fourth consecutive year above 100,000. In 2024, there was a record 18,560 asylum applications, ranking Ireland third in the EU per capita . The main countries of origin were Nigeria, Jordan, Pakistan, Somalia and Afghanistan. Since March 2022, more than 113,900 Ukrainians have received PPS numbers under temporary protection. About 80,000 still reside in Ireland.”
“I want to address Ireland's position under the EU migration and asylum pact. I have a clear question: can Ireland apply for an exemption? Under the pact, every EU member state must contribute to a solidarity mechanism to assist countries under migratory pressure. This means relocating asylum seekers, paying €20,000 per person not relocated, or providing operational support. There is no blanket opt-out but countries facing significant immigration challenges can apply for partial or full deductions. Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia and Poland are expected to seek such exemptions for 2026. Ireland is not currently on that list although the European Commissioners has flagged us as at risk of migratory pressure. Let us look at the facts.”
“It is no wonder people feel disillusioned when decisions of this nature are made without proper debate or disclosure. I wanted to talk about the writ in relation to Galway West and Dublin Central but, unfortunately, I do not have time. It is hugely important we debate that issue here and that the Government calls immediate by-elections in both of those constituencies.”
“To offset this, it would need to generate more than €120,000 additional gross revenue next year, a near impossible target in the current climate. This comes at a time when the minimum wage is set to rise by almost 5% and auto-enrolment for pensions is being introduced, adding further pressure to payroll costs. These combined measures place enormous strain on small hotels and rural businesses that are already struggling to remain viable. These establishments are not only commercial entities; they are pillars of their communities that support local events, charities and even political activities. Such hidden changes erode trust and fuel frustration among the electorate. At a time when transparency and fairness should be paramount, these stealth increases will leave a bitter taste among rural businesses across the country.”
“Meanwhile, housing remains in crisis despite €5 billion in capital commitments. The minimum wage increase to €14.15 barely scratches the surface of inflationary pressures. There were no energy credits for families and pensioners, who are still choosing between heating and eating. Disturbingly, buried in the recent budget is a significant, large unannounced measure, whereby the VAT rate on room hire, excluding hotel and guesthouse bedrooms, will increase from 13.5% to 23% on 1 January. This change, being introduced without clear communication, will impose a substantial financial burden on hospitality business. For example, one Cork hotel estimates it will cost approximately €25,000 annually if absorbed internally.”
“On behalf of Independent Ireland I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Paschal Donohoe on his appointment to the World Bank. This is an extraordinary achievement. I wish him and his family the very best, and the same to the Minister, Deputy McEntee; the Ministers of State, Deputies Naughton and Higgins; and the incoming Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. I congratulate them on their elevation to new offices. While we acknowledge the service of Deputy Donohoe, we cannot ignore the legacy of the most recent budget for 2026. It was presented as sensible and protective of growth, yet for many families it fell short, with modest increases of €10 in weekly social welfare payments, €8 or €16 for child payments and €5 in the fuel allowance. There was no meaningful cost-of-living package and no changes to personal income taxes.”
“I do not agree with the change to the Order of Business today. An agreement was made last Thursday, as always. Leaders' Questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation deal with important issues, such as housing and so many matters of deep concern, and they need to be discussed today. Of course, there is also moving the writ for Galway West and now for Dublin Central. We cannot continue here week in, week out without this being discussed. I would appreciate that we have statements on it today.”
“I am told the Government could sign a unilateral agreement that would allow this gentleman to drive. His wife is in the same situation. They cannot drive in Ireland after paying huge money to buy a house, coming back here and investing in our economy. We have slammed the door in their faces. I was astounded. I gave this man a half an hour in my office the other day that I could ill afford to give but I did because I was astounded. As a politician, I am embarrassed to tell him there is no way, unless the Minister of State can do something. I would appreciate it if he could give me an answer today. He may not be able to do so today but he could certainly do so in the next day or two. It is a huge issue and it is something that is of great importance to people right across the world and not just in Connecticut and Belgium.”
“There was no issue there. He has been driving in Ireland for the last 12 months. He thought he would just have to renew his licence because there is an agreement between Belgium and Ireland. What happened? He found out that, because of his licence transfer in Connecticut 16 years ago, he cannot get a licence in Ireland. It is an astonishing situation. This man is no cost to the State. He is providing absolutely brilliant advice. He is a great man to work in his community. He now faces an inability to drive - I am sorry because this might not be the responsibility of the Minister of State personally - because the Department across the way from here is asleep at the wheel. People from New York or Chicago cannot come back to work in this country because we have no reciprocal agreements in place.”
“We want a total rethink of how we balance climate responsibility with economic reality. It is not green to push people into poverty while offering no real public transport alternative. In some cases, transport is being delivered but small villages like Corran and Drinagh have no transport at all by day. That must be tackled. There is another issue the Minister of State must tackle. It is a very serious issue I emailed him about yesterday. It is happening more often than once. I am talking about the absence of reciprocal agreements for people who hold licences from other countries. A gentleman came to me this weekend. This is happening regularly. He had driven in Ireland and had a licence. He moved to Connecticut and worked there for many years. He then moved to Belgium and transferred his licence from Connecticut to Belgium.”
“Every family, small business and commuter in rural Ireland is being squeezed not by choice, but by the weight of taxes and charges this Government keeps piling on. Independent Ireland has said from the start that the cost-of-living crisis did not fall from the sky but is being driven by Government decisions on taxation, overspending and waste. We support this motion because it recognises what people feel every day, which is that motoring has become unaffordable and unfair. These so-called green taxes have become another way to drain the pockets of working people, especially in rural Ireland. Independent Ireland has called for a freeze on regressive green taxes that hit low- and middle-income families hardest. We agree with the call to reverse the latest carbon tax hikes but we would go further.”
“It is not thinking about the local businesses that employ four or five people and that going to be hit very hard. My time is up. I will give way to my colleague.”
“In January, he will have to pay €15 per week per employee into the pension enrolment scheme. That is a total of €60 per week or €3,128 for the year. He says that he cannot afford it. When he asked his employees to pay it, they refused because they see it as a pay cut for them. He is aware that the bigger companies are offering to pay the €15 on behalf of their employees and that people are moving to the bigger companies as a result. His is not the only small business in this predicament. Where is the assistance for small businesses? This is going to have a massive effect on this man and his business. This is the problem with all the legislation that is introduced: it is another attack on the small employer. The Government is not thinking about them; it is thinking about Apple and other such companies.”
“The cost will have to be passed on. One hotelier told me that it will cost him €25,000 a year. This is a sneaky tax that the Government introduced in the budget. I plead with the Minister to look at it and maybe consider how we might perhaps reverse the decision in this regard. In order for the hotelier in question to cover this cost, he has to make €120,000 extra a year. This is an astonishing and sneaky tax. I would like to know if the Government backbenchers knew this new cost was being brought in. Small hoteliers are absolutely disgusted with this snide move. Were backbench Government TDs aware of this? I want to talk about the pension enrolment scheme, which will come into effect in January. One of my constituents is a subcontractor for Irish Water. He currently employs four men.”
“Good God almighty, that was the only little bit they had. I especially refer to married women being discriminated against in respect of pensions. Reviewing people's pensions is as hard a punishment as any government could ever give anyone. It is happening quite a lot. The number is rising every day. This Bill talks about payments but it says nothing about the prices that are crippling families. Independent Ireland would cut the VAT rate to 9% on food services and hospitality. That is how you bring down prices in real life, not just on paper. Let us not forget the very sneaky way the Finance Act was used to bring in a higher rate for the hire of function rooms for meetings, weddings, parties or Christmas events. This is going to cost the hotelier to whom I spoke the other day a fortune. That person runs a good but humble hotel.”
“Independent Ireland has called for tax reliefs for middle earners so that hard work actually pays. We want to ensure no one earning less than €50,000 pays the top rate of tax. You cannot build a fair society if you keep harming the workers who keep the lights on in this country. Many of our older citizens still want to contribute, pass on their skills and stay active in work. Independent Ireland says we should stop taxing pensioners who continue to work. We would abolish USC and PRSI for pension-age workers. This Bill ignores that. Let us reward contributions rather than punishing them. While we talk about people's pensions, the new Irish society is looking into people's old-age pensions. That is something I really condemn. People come to me every weekend to tell me their pensions are being reviewed. Some of them lose their pensions.”
“New mums and dads need support rather than red tape when a baby arrives. The higher working family payment threshold reflects our call to reward work and not to penalise it. However, a €10 increase will not fill an oil tank. While we welcome the raise, this €10 a week will be eaten up by inflation before people even see it. The costs of heating oil, fuel and food have soared. This Bill does not go anywhere near far enough to tackle that reality. Independent Ireland believes these small uplifts are only a plaster on a deep wound. Families need real reform and not token gestures. The Bill gives a lift to those on welfare, as is right, but the working man or woman in the middle earning between €40,000 and €50,000 gets nothing. These are the people who cannot get a medical card or free school bus transport.”
“This Bill brings some long overdue relief to families, carers and pensioners but not much. Independent Ireland welcomes any move that puts an extra few euro in the pockets of those who are struggling to make ends meet. The €10 increase in weekly welfare payments, the higher working family payment threshold and the €20 rise in the domiciliary care allowance are steps in the right direction. Measures like the extension of the newborn baby grant show a bit of common sense in the Government, which is something Independent Ireland has been crying out for. We have said from the start that supporting families is key to holding communities together. Anything that helps parents keep the lights on and food on the table is always welcome. The uplift in parental benefits recognises that.”
“I raised this issue on behalf of the people of Clonakilty and Dunmanway almost four months ago in the Dáil with the Minister for justice and I have had no proper answer back. Basically, the issue is that CCTV in both these towns was switched off in early July. As the Taoiseach knows, CCTV is vital in tackling crime. The Department of justice says it is not an issue for it and Cork County Council is saying it is not an issue for it, leaving it nobody's child. We are here again four months later. Councillor Daniel Sexton of Independent Ireland, who is in the Gallery, and I have been pushing for answers on this issue. Can the Taoiseach intervene and find out why CCTV in Clonakilty town and Dunmanway town was switched off and when it will be switched back on again?”
“We would like statements in the House regarding the moving of the writ for the Galway West by-election. It is a hugely important issue for the constituency. I also ask for statements in relation to Uisce Éireann. There are serious problems in respect of public representatives getting straight answers from Uisce Éireann about serious issues, whether in their constituencies or nationally.”
“This is not just a policy failure; this is a safeguarding crisis. Let me say something that some seem to be afraid to say: I do not believe it is wrong to take care of our own people first. What is so controversial about that? We have over 16,000 people homeless in this country. Where is the help for them? When we are passengers on an airplane, we are told that in the case of an emergency we must put on our own oxygen masks first before helping others. That is not selfish; that is common sense.”
“He is still waiting for a visa despite having a ten-week-old baby. In Clonakilty another man is trying to reunite with his Brazilian partner who was forced to leave the country due to the delays in securing a de facto visa. These are people who contribute to our communities and who are trying to do things the right way, yet they are met with bureaucratic indifference and endless obstacles. Meanwhile we have IPAS centres housing individuals with deportation orders. Serious questions remain unanswered about how non-residents, including vulnerable children in Tusla care, ended up being assaulted by a resident of the Citywest campus. The Minister's reply to my parliamentary questions confirmed that around 500 people who are subject to deportation orders are currently residing in IPAS centre accommodation.”
“I state unequivocally that we do not ever condone violence. The events in Drogheda over the weekend were deeply disturbing and there is absolutely no place in this country for such behaviour, no matter who owns the building. Let us be honest, however, that condemning violence is only part of the conversation. We must also confront the systematic failure in our immigration system. These failures are causing real harm to decent and law abiding people. Let us consider the South African man I am helping. He travelled from Mizen Head to Dublin today without an appointment and desperate to secure a visa for his wife. He has been waiting since March. He is a respected member of my community and his story is not unique. It is emblematic of a system that is failing. In Bandon there is a man who is married to an Irish citizen.”
“This is also happening in Beach, Bantry, where the water supply has broken down 65 times over two years. The people of Adrigole are rightly frustrated. They know that if this was happening in Dublin, it would be replaced within hours. Why are they being treated like second-class citizens? Can the Minister tell me when this broken asbestos pipe will be replaced in Adrigole?”
“Since last July, the Adrigole-Beara community has had up to 14 water outages, never mind what was happening before this, leaving residents young and old in farms, schools and créches without water for a day or two in some cases. This has led to the closure of the local school and créche. Families with small babies have moved out of the community when the water supply has broken, leaving people very stressed. One section of pipe needs immediate replacement from the source along the Healy Pass. The local community has set up the Adrigole Water Action Group, which has pleaded with me to get the powers that be to change the pipe, even with a temporary pipe. If repair crews have been kept out for 14 days since July this year, what cost is that to the State instead of replacing the section of piping immediately?”
“Vera Twomey's fight was for her daughter but her impact reaches far beyond one family. As I said, I am conscious of the difficulty we had at the time to get that message across to the Government that there are medicines, in this case, cannabis, that could help somebody. If there is a drug out there that will help somebody's health, we should be there willing to help that, but decriminalisation is an area where we are going down a dangerous route on other drugs.”
“She walked literally from Cork to Leinster House twice to demand change. Her campaign was not only for Ava, but for every family facing similar struggles. Eventually, Ava was granted a special licence to access medicinal cannabis in Ireland, a breakthrough that came only after immense public pressure and personal sacrifice. Tragically, Ava passed away in 2023, but her legacy lives on. The inquest into her death led to the recommendation of Ava's protocol, a proposed national framework to guide the safe and compassionate use of unlicensed medicines, including medicinal cannabis. This protocol is a vital step towards ensuring that no other family has to fight so hard for care that should be accessible. Today, I call on every Member to support Ava's protocol and help make it national policy.”
“Her daughter, Ava Barry, suffered from Dravet Syndrome, a rare and devastating form of epilepsy that caused her to ensure up to 20 seizures a day. Traditional medications failed to ease Ava's suffering and Vera was left with no choice but to seek alternative treatment. That treatment, medicinal cannabis, was not legally accessible in Ireland at that time so Vera did what no parent should ever have to do; she uprooted her family and moved abroad to the Netherlands, where Ava could receive the care she needed. This was not a decision made lightly. It was a desperate act of love driven by the need to save her child's life and it worked. Ava's seizures dropped dramatically and her quality of life improved in ways that conventional medicine had never achieved. Vera did not stop there.”
“The motion invites us to consider a shift in how society addresses drug use, not through the lens of criminal justice but through public health. Decriminalisation does not mean legalisation; rather, it reframes drug use as a health issue, potentially reducing stigma and encouraging access to support services. While there are diverse views on its effectiveness, this debate offers an opportunity to explore evidence-based approaches that prioritise harm reduction and rehabilitation and community well-being. Deputy O'Donoghue mentioned medicinal cannabis a while ago. I note the journey that one individual had to go to get medicinal cannabis to save her child's life. Today, I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary journey of Vera Twomey, a mother whose courage and determination have left a lasting mark on Ireland's healthcare landscape.”
“Capitation rates must be increased further, a code of practice should be introduced for voluntary funds and we must ensure transparency and fairness in how schools communicate with families. Affordability in education does not stop at uniforms. I have long advocated for better support for apprenticeships and trades. We need to stop talking about trades and start investing in them. Our young people deserve real pathways to skilled work, not just promises. We in Independent Ireland believe in expanding modular training programmes, increasing SOLAS and ETB capacity regionally and offering incentives for completion, including local placement guarantees. This is especially urgent when we consider the cost-of-living crisis and the heartbreaking number of children and parents experiencing homelessness.”
“The Bill puts fairness first and helps to make school more equal for every child. We also must discuss voluntary contributions, which are, in fact, anything but voluntary for many families. Despite increased capitation funding, schools are still relying on these contributions to cover basic costs such as classroom materials, IT upgrades and extracurricular activities. Some parents are being asked for anything from €140 up to €550 per child, with 80% saying those requests do not feel optional. Schools, too, are under pressure, with the funding they receive often not stretching far enough. However, we cannot allow that gap to be filled by guilt-tripping parents. No child should be excluded, embarrassed or disadvantaged because his or family cannot afford a voluntary payment.”