Mike Kennelly
Labour Panel · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I express my deep concern at the devastating wildfire that affected Killarney National Park yesterday evening. It is one of the most treasured national landscapes in the country.”
“However, as that excitement builds ahead of the biggest day in the GAA's calendar, there is again a growing concern among Kerry and Mayo supporters and others about how they will get to Croke Park.”
“I welcome the Minister of State. My ask is for the Minister for Transport to liaise with Irish Rail and Bus Éireann to ensure that adequate transport is provided for all football supporters from Kerry and Mayo for the upcoming All-Ireland final. I congratulate Kerry and Mayo on reaching this year's All-Ireland football final.”
“This is not just a Kerry issue or a Mayo issue; it is a national issue. We heard yesterday on the Order of Business that even Louth and Wicklow supporters had difficulties getting to Croke Park last Saturday. The All-Ireland final is one of the largest sporting events in the country, bringing tens of thousands of supporters together.”
“The use of barbecues, open flames or any activity that creates a fire risk in such conditions is simply unacceptable. What may seem like a harmless act can, in a matter of minutes, destroy habitats that have taken generations to develop and places lives in danger.”
“Yesterday was just a reminder of the of the serious consequences that can arise when risks are taken with fire. The land and trees are so dry at the moment that a spark could destroy every amenity we have.”
The complete record
Every one of 513 lines we hold for Mike Kennelly, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 11.
“This is the moment to give working families confidence that the cost of education will move in one direction only, and that is downwards, and that their children's futures will not be limited by financial pressures.”
“They are working, paying their taxes and trying to give their children the opportunity to attend third level education. It is a bill they must plan for and save for. A continued reduction in this fee would give them stability and predictability. It would send a clear message to these families and to students that they are not forgotten and that access to a higher education should not depend on whether a family is just above or below the threshold. I therefore call on the Minister to come to this House and reaffirm the Government's commitment to further reducing these student fees in the coming budget, and indeed budgets, and to outline a roadmap towards the permanent abolition of them.”
“I call for reassurance for the families across the country who are planning now for the year ahead. For many of them, the reductions introduced in budget 2026 made a real and tangible difference but these families need certainty again. They need to know that the progress made to date will be extended and that budget 2027 will continue to lower the cost of accessing higher education. I will highlight a group that is often overlooked in all debates; Ireland's working families. Some 30% of these households do not qualify for Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants. They do not receive maintenance supports and are paying full price for student accommodation, often at levels that are simply unsustainable. They are doing everything asked of them.”
“I wish to raise a very important matter and request an update from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy James Lawless, regarding the future of student contribution fees and the Government's stated commitment to reducing and ultimately abolishing these fees over the lifetime of this Government. In our committee meeting last week, I proposed that following on from the permanent measures taken to reduce the student fees in budget 2026 we continue to reduce the fees in budget 2027, as promised in the programme for Government. Over the past few days I have not been happy with the Minister's statements and comments about this. In my book, it was just scaremongering for students, the public and families.”
“That is the closing window for the CAP. I do not have much to take back to the farmers who are looking for streamlining. Could the farming community have a door to open in relation to fast-tracking their applications and could we make sure that the forms are easier to fill out in order to get the necessary funding? These are small farmers milking 30, 40 or 50 cows. We do not want to see them disappear. Due to high energy costs at the moment, we need to do a lot more in that regard and give them all the help we can give.”
“I thank the Minister. That was a very detailed response on the success of TAMS. My objective for the farming communities that are finding it hard is to streamline the process and make it more user friendly for farmers living on their own who are not up to speed with all the data the Minister has outlined. I welcome the success of the scheme. The Minister mentioned funding for the tranches in 2027. The closing window for that TAMS is 2027-----”
“I ask the Minister to address these concerns and consider adjustments that would allow the TAMS to better support farmers who want to invest, contribute to climate action and secure the future of their farms.”
“Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly recently highlighted the need for a more coherent and farmer-friendly approach to on-farm renewables, warning that overly complex or inconsistent processes risk undermining Ireland's ability to meet its energy and climate commitments. His comments reflect exactly what farmers are telling us. They want to invest and contribute but the system is not workable. Farmers are asking the Minister to consider reinstating TAMS solar without rank and selection, particularly at a time of high energy insecurity. Solar PV can reduce reliance on fuel and heating oil, strengthen rural gird resilience and allow families and farms to generate clean energy. As many farmers have put it, they want the power to be in the hands of people and communities.”
“They argue on-farm solar would generate power exactly where it is needed, easing pressure on the grid rather than adding to it. Many farmers have already paid the €1,000 for NC7 approval, which is a non-refundable cost. If their TAMS application fails, they simply lose that money. They see this as unfair and a real deterrent to renewable investment. One farmer told me he could milk 40 cows from the solar array on his parlour roof, producing 12 kW at 4.30 on a summer evening last year without any battery back-up. He was producing a greener product yet the emissions reduction is counted in the energy sector rather than on his farm. Farmers feel this does not reflect their contribution.”
“Only around 10% of solar PV applications are being approved, which farmers find impossible to reconcile with rising energy costs and national climate ambitions. A major issue is the decision to exclude domestic farm dwellings sharing the same meter point reference number, MPRN. This rules out many drystock, sheep and tillage farms, which typically operate from a single meter for both home and yard. Farmers feels this is penalising them. They also point out only 2.6% of agricultural land is being sought for solar farms yet there is huge potential in farm buildings and homes. At the same time, rural grid infrastructure is outdated and often lacks capacity. In places like Dingle, west Kerry, farmers report only 38 kVA coming into the town before being dispersed.”
“I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for his work. The Department of agriculture is probably the heaviest Department, given recent activities going on and the role the Minister is playing in it. I acknowledge the benefits the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, has delivered for farmers, supporting investment, improving efficiency and helping the sector move towards greater sustainably. Farmers value the schemes but many have contacted me with serious concerns about how the current tranches are operating. I want to outline those briefly. Farmers are facing electricity and gas increases of 4% to 9%. Many had hoped TAMS-supported solar PV would help offset those costs. Instead, they are encountering a rank and selection system excluding large numbers of genuine applicants.”
“Farmers are also raising concerns about the exclusion of domestic farm dwellings on the same MPRN that is included on the application, the financial risk of paying non-refundable grid assessment fees and the wider issue of outdated rural grid infrastructure. These are practical barriers that are preventing farmers from investing in renewable energy and compliance measures. This is affecting dairy, dry stock, tillage and mixed farms across the country. I call on the Minister for agriculture to come to the Seanad to make a statement and to have a debate on this issue, on how the system can be streamlined, how delays can be reduced and how we can ensure that farmers who want to invest in sustainability can do so effectively, making the scheme genuinely accessible to the people it is intended to support.”
“I raise the issues surrounding the operation of the targeted agriculture modernisation scheme, TAMS, which is a farm investment grant scheme run by the Department of agriculture, and how we can make the system more accessible and workable for farmers. There is growing frustration across the sector with the current ranking and selection process. That is the main barrier. Many farmers applying for slurry storage, solar PV and other essential investments are being ruled out, even where they are trying to meet new environmental and regulatory requirements. In some cases, only 10% of solar applications are being approved. Delays in processing are adding further uncertainty for the farming community.”
“I have raised this before, even with the Tánaiste. The good news is that he is to visit Kerry, including the centre. I am looking for something that can be delivered for the families. A mother I was on to this morning is actually getting no sleep. She is getting no respite. If she does not get it, she might not be available to deliver the care her son needs. I look forward to working with the Minister of State and I really look forward to the initiatives she underlined today, which will see €25 million and 25,000 additional day respite sessions during the course of this year. The centre down in Kerry involves an easy ask. There is an open door. If we can just work with it, we can really make life a lot easier for the families.”
“I have highlighted this area. There is a clear opportunity at St. Mary of Angels. It is in Beaufort, in mid-Kerry, the most idyllic place in the country. A strategic plan is currently on the plate. Parents strongly support the creation of a centre of excellence for respite care at this location, one that can deliver specialist, age-appropriate and medically supported respite for adults with complex needs. Such a model would not interfere with existing residents or national decongregation policy and could provide a sustainable future-focused solution. What Kerry families are asking for is very straightforward: an increase in the number of respite beds across the county, purpose-built services capable of meeting complex care needs, and a centralised specialist model that provides meaningful opportunities for adults with disabilities.”
“It must also be said that the extraordinary advocacy and involvement of people like Jean O'Sullivan, whom I have just mentioned, and her husband, Councillor Teddy O'Sullivan Casey in Kerry, has for far too long fallen on deaf ears. Such families have repeatedly raised the alarm. They have offered solutions and spoken from lived experience. Looking ahead, the need is only increasing. A cohort of young adults are leaving St. Francis Special School in Beaufort, County Kerry. Michael, whom I have mentioned, is one of those. The young adults' families are facing a future with no appropriate respite options. Without intervention, most families will reach breaking point, and the State will face a growing demand for full-time residential placements and placements that could be avoided by having timely, well-designed respite supports.”
“These numbers simply do not reflect the need. Parents caring for adults with severe and profound disabilities provide 24-hour care, seven days a week, often where there are significant medical and behavioural complexities. Many of these families report exhaustion, limited sleep and no capacity to work outside the home. Siblings' needs frequently become secondary, and what most consider normal family life is often impossible. Respite is not a luxury; it is an essential support that allows families to continue caring for their loved ones at home. For the individuals themselves, respite provides opportunities to socialise, develop independence, participate in age-appropriate activities and avail of opportunities they are entitled to.”
“Her son is one of those in St. Francis School, which he attends. It is on the campus of St. Mary of the Angels. He is on his way home this evening, having spent three weeks in Crumlin hospital. I wanted to keep these people in everyone's thoughts this evening. The reason I am speaking is to highlight the ongoing and deeply concerning gaps in disability services in Kerry, particularly regarding respite provision for adults with complex needs. Families across Kerry have made it clear that the current level of support is nowhere near what is required. There are only eight HSE-provided adult respite beds across north and south Kerry, supplemented by six beds from the Kerry Parents and Friends Association. For children, the situation is even more stark, with just eight respite beds available for the entire county.”
“I thank the Minister of State and welcome her. I, too, attended the disability matters committee this morning, and the health committee, and I too was taken aback by the pain that all the individuals and advocate groups are going through. However, I recommend and testify to the work that Deputy Higgins is doing as Minister of State in her new role. I am going to speak specifically, in three minutes flat if I can, about respite for the people of Kerry. The two ladies who spoke at the committee meeting this morning, Josephine Keane from Causeway and Jacqueline Riordan, are advocates for parents in really dire situations owing to the lack of respite. One lady in particular, Jean O'Sullivan, whom I mentioned at the meeting, is really the spiritual leader behind all the parents in these sticky situations over respite.”
“I am calling for a specific review and a special hearing for Kerry County Council and its CEO to go to the Department, with his cap, looking for the extra €2.8 million to come up to €5 million so they can complete in one given year. They cannot do over that because of staffing and so on. However, they can do €5 million. That is what we need to get anywhere with that list and take away the heartache these people are going through.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. As we both stated, everyone welcomes the €2.2 million for Kerry, but we have told the Department that €5 million is needed to put any strain on this to take an extra 30 or 40 roads off this LIS scheme per annum. We did not get that. The frustration I show today is because when other counties give back their allocations I do not know where that money goes. Did it go back into other roads or funding mechanisms within Kerry? I am not sure. I am not aware. The people I speak for today are the people living on these private roads, which are not accessible any more. The last six months have really deteriorated the scheme.”
“We cannot continue to ask people to wait decades for something as fundamental as access to their own homes and we cannot accept a situation where emergency services are put at risk or elderly people are effectively cut off from the supports they depend on. I call on the Minister of State not just to review the scheme, but to act decisively, to increase funding for Kerry in 2026, to redirect unused allocations from other counties and to ensure this growing frustration is finally addressed.”
“If funding is not being used elsewhere, it must be redirected to where the need is greatest – that is clearly in Kerry. Every euro left idle in one county is a year added to the waiting list for the families I mentioned. Kerry also has one of the highest number of private roads in the country requiring improvement. That reality must be recognised at a national level, which I think it is not. The scheme needs to be examined through that lens and Kerry must be prioritised accordingly. This is not just about infrastructure. It is about fairness, safety and the basic dignity of all our people.”
“These roads are not luxuries; they are basic access routes. Some ambulances are struggling to travel them. Emergency services are being delayed. Elderly people are left cut off because transport providers will not bring them to day care services due to the condition of their roads. People are being isolated in their own homes, not by distance, but by neglect. This is one of the most serious and overlooked road issues we face in Kerry today. What makes it all the more difficult to accept is that, in other counties, funding is not being fully drawn down. In some cases, allocations are being returned to the Department. At the same time in Kerry, we have shovel-ready roads, willing applicants and a council ready to deliver. This cannot continue.”
“There are over 550 applicants still on the LIS waiting list in Kerry. At the current pace, 20 to 30 roads are completed each year, so many are facing a weight of up to 20 years. That is not a delay; it is a lifetime. I recently spoke to an elderly couple. I spoke to the mom of the house. She is 78 and her husband is 83. They have been on the list since the scheme opened. The sad reality of their situation is they may not live to see their road improved. After years of waiting patiently, imagine knowing the road outside your home, the road you depend on every day, may not be fixed in your lifetime. They are No. 320 on the list. They will not see that road in their lifetime. That is the sad news I have to bring on this occasion. This is my third time speaking on this. They are not alone.”
“The recent bad weather across the country has taken its toll on all our road networks. The roads on the local improvement scheme, LIS, are now mud tracks. It is with a deep sense of frustration and sadness that I once again highlight the crisis facing many families across rural Kerry under the LIS. Kerry County Council has shown time and again it has the capacity and commitment to deliver under the scheme. It is ready and able to utilise up to €5 million per annum, yet the allocation provided remains at approximately €2.2. million - less than half of what is needed and of what can be effectively spent. Behind those figures lies a stark human reality. When the scheme opened, over 800 roads applied and 706 qualified. On average, a population of about 10,000 people live on those roads.”
“Let us avoid any further headaches in relation to the costs spiralling for everybody in this country. If we do not have emergency back-up of our fuel energy supply, it will get out of proportion altogether. I am asking for the Department just to check up on this and see where it is at, and to secure it. Let us get it over the line. It is a three-year construction job, not three months. The Germans have brought in 12 LNG terminals to secure their energy future. We cannot bring in one. It is very disappointing. I am calling for this to be prioritised with the Department and for it to be taken up the line to secure this for the future.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. We are in the depths of despair in relation to our energy and fuel costs right now. We have a planning project that is shovel-ready. It is at no cost to the Exchequer and will bring about a reduction in the price of fuel and energy costs to the people of this country. It has been going on. Basically what we are looking for here is a regular update on where it is. It has been going on for far too long in my area. It needs to be prioritised today. We need regular feedback on its progress to secure our energy needs for this country in a time of crisis. There is no justification for stalling this project. Everyone knows the cost of everything right now. We are in the midst of world war three, possibly.”
“I am asking how long we must delay critical infrastructure while families and businesses continue to bear the cost of inaction. How long can we justify remaining dependent on a single supply route when the risks are so clearly understood? The time for analysis and delay is over. I call on An Coimisiún Pleanála to issue its decision on Shannon LNG without further delay and to bring clarity to a process that has gone on for far too long. This is critical national infrastructure. It is urgently needed and ready to proceed, and it must now be allowed to move forward.”
“The two are not in conflict and they are not complementary. One provides emergency backup and the other provides day-to-day competition, price reduction and security of supply. Right now, however, we have neither. We are years away from the strategic gas emergency reserve and the one project that is shovel-ready to proceed, the one that is capable of delivering immediate benefits, remains stuck in limbo. The State has known the risks, tested the consequences and acknowledged a vulnerability but it has not acted. This is no longer a question of policy or law. Those issues have been resolved. It is now a question of the decision. How long must this process continue? I represent the people in this regard. I am conscious of the economic consequences for north Kerry.”
“What makes Shannon LNG so important right now is not just that it enhances security of supply but also that it can be delivered quickly and without cost to the taxpayer, which is what we all want. As a commercial terminal, it introduces competition into the Irish gas market. It is competition - not a monopoly, which is feared. It will lower prices, and that is one of the key points. While the Government proposes the strategic gas emergency reserve, we must be honest about what that is. It is a State-led, non-commercial facility intended for use in emergencies only. It will require significant public subsidy. It is years away from delivery and it will not reduce energy prices for consumers. The strategic gas emergency reserve has a role and it can follow but it is not a substitute for the Shannon LNG project.”
“This is not a speculative or early-stage proposal; it is the most advanced LNG project in Ireland. It has been in the planning system since 2021. It was refused but that refusal was based solely on Government policy - the so-called fracked gas policy, which has since been removed. That project went through the courts and succeeded. All judicial reviews are now complete. The legal position is very clear, the policy landscape has changed and every obstacle that was previously cited has now been addressed, but still no decision has been made. The project has spent many years in the planning system, years that we simply do not have right now in the context of an energy emergency.”
“We still have no meaningful storage and we remain as vulnerable today as we were before these risks were ever formally identified. There is talk about a Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal but that is years away. That is just too long. Since the war in Iran started on 28 February, just over six weeks ago, we have seen the cost of fuel and energy costs spiral out of everyone's reach. This is the most serious energy crisis we have faced since the 1970s. Energy costs remain too high for households and businesses alike and our energy security is completely fragile. At a time when decisive action is needed, what we see instead is complete delay. I will come to one specific delay. There is one project in this country that is capable of addressing both security and cost: the Shannon LNG terminal.”
“I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to the floor this morning. We are living through an energy emergency not in theory but in reality, and the State knows it. Two years ago, the Government ran Exercise Cathal, a national simulation to test how Ireland would respond to major disruption in our gas supply. That exercise was not academic; there was a clear acknowledgment that the risk is real, that the consequences would be catastrophic for Ireland and that the Government knows lives and livelihoods will be lost. Ireland is dangerously exposed. The State has understood these risks for years. It knows the economic and societal impact of a future supply failure yet despite that knowledge, we continue to rely on a single point of gas supply.”
“During the pandemic, when fees were temporarily removed, the system operated effectively and students were able to focus fully on their studies. In light of this, I call on the Minister for education to debate this proposal and consider waiving the State exam fees for 2026. Doing so would provide genuine relief for working families. It would also remove an unnecessary worry for students and allow them to concentrate and achieve their full potential in the upcoming State exams. Supporting our young people and families in this way would be a fair and constructive measure, and it would send a clear message that we value accessibility and opportunity in education in a time of financial worry for working families in this country.”
“I am calling on the Government to waive the student exam fees for the 2026 junior cycle and leaving certificate exams in light of the cost of living. Working families must be protected. For 2026, students are being asked to pay €109 for the junior cycle and €116 for the leaving certificate. While these amounts may seem small, they place a real burden on the working family right now, particularly at a time when the cost-of-living challenges are so significant and the family has more than one child sitting State exams. Indeed, one family I know of has three students sitting upcoming State exams. We know from recent experience that these fees can be waived without affecting the smooth running or high standards of the exams.”
“The Minister of State mentioned the €67 million. We got a bypass in Listowel. That has been going on for 20 years. The drums have been beaten on that as well. However, this section has been totally disrespected.”
“Either the Department, TII or Kerry County Council has not got their sums right or no one is talking to each other. It has been prioritised at No. 3. TII is saying it has got the money off the Department and that that is its job done. TII went to Kerry County Council and, lo and behold, No. 3 on the priority list has not been included. I do not know if there has been a breakdown here. I ask that the Minister of State take it back to the Minister to investigate why this stretch of road has for some reason not been included in the maintenance budget for the funding that was drawn down. It is totally out of order, and it is totally disrespectful to the people. I was fighting for this stretch of road for seven years as a county councillor. Either someone does not want it or there is another issue.”
“I thank the Minister of State for taking the Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The reply refers to "TIl, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned" and states, "TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme" - absolutely. The Minister of State said the N69 was included in the funding that came down. One of the projects that was done was a school pedestrian crossing in Tarbert that had been mooted about six years ago. It was completed in 2025, and it was in this year's TII allocation. Therefore, to say that the N69 has future funding models is wrong. That is misleading. The N69 got no funding, from west Limerick into north Kerry. To say that the funding has been allocated is misleading; it is for maintenance. It is a €300,000 project on a 1.1 km stretch of road, and it has not been highlighted.”
“I call on the Minister for Transport to act decisively, to make a statement today and to ensure the N69 receives the immediate attention, investment and priority it needs for the benefit of the people of north Kerry and everyone who uses this route. The current situation is embarrassing. I want this to be the last day that I raise this matter in the Seanad.”
“When the national funding of €33 million was announced, the five Deputies who represent Kerry jumped up and down in celebration for what they had brought to the county. Not one of them came to north Kerry to say that no money had been allocated to the N69. They totally misrepresented the area. I have shouted for this allocation. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister and his Department to make a full statement to explain why the N69 was not included in the funding round, to clarify the assessment process conducted by TII, and to outline the immediate action that will be taken to address this neglected and dangerous road. A request for €300,000 from a €33 million budget is not unreasonable. The current situation cannot continue.”
“The people deserve a clear and honest answer to the following question: why has a critical road, which is near the top of the priority list, been ignored in the funding process? Last Thursday, TII and Kerry County Council had a meeting to discuss the matter. Perhaps they called it an emergency meeting. The communication barrier between the Department of Transport, TII and Kerry County Council is a total embarrassment to the people I represent. The condition of the N69 is deteriorating. If TII is not going to fund this road then should responsibility for it be removed from TII? I am unapologetically angry because I have raised this issue four times in this House yet the problem persists. The frustration felt in Listowel and across County Kerry is high. People await answers, actions and investment and they have waited far too long.”
“There have been seven years of letters, questions, representations and deputations to Kerry County Council, but nothing has been done. The people I represent are being let down by a system that continues to ignore a road that is critical to the safety, connectivity and economic life of the county. In the most recent TII funding round, Kerry County Council received no allocation for the N69 even though it had confirmed that the road was ranked third on its priority list. Let me make it very clear that the funding we are asking for, which we were told ten days ago is €300,000, is just 1% of the €33 million allocated to Kerry County Council for national routes. Despite the modesty of this request, the road was still overlooked.”
“I welcome the Minister of State. My Commencement matter calls on the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the provision of additional funding for proposed road improvement works on the national N69 route from Bolton's Cross to the Tim Kennelly roundabout in Listowel, County Kerry. I am demand again that urgent attention be given to the N69 into Listowel. This is not a minor issue. It is a key artery into Listowel and north Kerry. Thousands of people rely on this road every day for work, school, business, tourism and essential travel. Despite years of repeated calls, the road remains in an appalling and deteriorating state. It is an embarrassment to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and Kerry County Council. We have called for funding for this road for over seven years.”
“We need to protect the people who get up in the morning who do a hard day's work and we need to punish the people who go out deliberately to steal their work tools that provide a livelihood. They deserve to work in the knowledge that the justice system recognises the seriousness of these offences and responds accordingly. Having spoken to tradespeople across Kerry and, indeed, Munster, it is evident that the current situation cannot continue. Senator Murphy mentioned a guy with 26 previous convictions. Surely, that is a benchmark. This Bill is a necessary and proportionate measure to protect livelihoods, support apprentices and uphold the principle that work should be respected and safeguarded. I commend the Bill to the House.”
“They show no regard for the financial hardship, disruption or the psychological distress they inflict. Such behaviour is reprehensible and warrants a firm and unequivocal response from the State. That is not solely a matter of property crime. As Senator P. J. Murphy pointed out, many of these offences occur at people's homes and properties where families live, representing a serious invasion of privacy. The consequences extend far beyond financial loss. Victims experience anxiety, insecurity and a profound sense of violation, and especially too do their families who live in the same properties. For small businesses and sole traders, the impact can be catastrophic. We in the Fine Gael Party have consistently prioritised law and order and the protection of those who contribute to our economy.”
“This Bill introduces a minimum custodial sentence of 36 months for adults convicted of theft, burglary, aggravated burglary, robbery or handling stolen property where the offences involve work equipment and prevent the victim from carrying out their employment. It also limits the extent to which such a sentence may be suspended. The purpose is clear. It is to ensure those who deliberately target tradespeople face consequences proportionate to the harm they cause. I state plainly and clearly tonight that the individuals who commit these offences are not opportunists or petty thieves. They are people who knowingly deprive hard-working men and women in this country of their ability to earn a living and this has to stop. Their actions are calculated, intrusive and deeply harmful.”
“They cannot work, they cannot earn, and they cannot progress. Recent research shows that more than 70% of tradespeople have had their tools stolen with half reporting losses exceeding €3,000. That is a significant amount of money. These tools are now mostly electric, which makes them more expensive. Over one third have had to borrow money to replace equipment and more than one in ten have been unable to work as a result. These figures have been demonstrated already, but they show the scale of the problem and the inadequacies of current deterrents. Let us really punish the offenders when they are caught.”
“I am pleased to support the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) (Amendment) (Work Equipment) Bill 2026. One thing I will say tonight is that it is significant legislation. By no means, from this debate tonight, do we want to dilute it. This legislation addresses a persistent and damaging problem, namely, the theft of tools essential to the work of tradespeople and apprentices across this country. Tradespeople and apprentices in particular face considerable financial strain. Apprentices are frequently paid minimum wage while also covering course fees, accommodation and transport. Many take on additional employment simply to remain in training. Despite these pressures they must invest significant sums in their tool kits. When those tools are stolen the impact is immediate.”
“On behalf of this House, I extend my warmest congratulations to Jessie, her family and the community that has supported her from the very beginning - in her humble words the other day, "go raibh míle maith agat, slán", from the humblest person you could meet.”