Naoise Ó Muirí
Dublin Bay North · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I will segue a little into Deputy Tóibín's contribution in relation to an Ghaeilge. I was reared in Cois Fharraige, Connemara, in the Gaeltacht. The change in attitude towards the Irish language in Cois Fharraige and the Gaeltacht is nothing less than transformational. When I went to school, an Ghaeilge was not cool.”
“Tiocfaidh mé ar ais go SÍOL ar feadh nóiméid. I welcome SÍOL. As the Minister has said, síol is the Irish word for seed. It is very positive. It can make a huge difference, if funded properly, to those communities the Minister mentioned in terms of disadvantage. I understand it provides capital and project funding?”
“This register should provide confidence and reassurance, not create uncertainty where the relevant convictions may have disappeared from view after a relatively short period. I have some concerns regarding the extent to which publication rests on the discretion of the trial judge.”
“Without clear guidance, there is a risk of inconsistency between cases and between courts, undermining confidence in the very law we seek to implement.”
“While this legislation focuses on protecting potential future victims, we must also address some of the factors upstream that contribute to abusive behaviour in the first place. Violent pornography is definitely part of that. We cannot avoid it. We have to square up with it to deal with it for current and future generations.”
“A concerning anomaly is that an offender who has received a custodial sentence may apply for removal three years after their release, potentially becoming eligible for removal earlier than someone who has received a non-custodial sentence.”
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“That would be positive. I have heard from farmers that the farm home can account for nearly 70% of electricity used, particularly those who are farming dry stock. Removing their homes from the process effectively means the TAMS system does not fulfil their needs. Another way to do it might be to get the SEAI to earmark some of its own budget or have a clear heading for solar PV for farmers or a little more than the €1,900. In reality it is probably more for a farm building. I ask that we encourage ongoing uptake of TAMS and try to make sure domestic is covered in it, so it is efficient for farmers to get their entire job of work done at once rather than having to go through two processes.”
“It is positive that there is such demand for TAMS 3 and all the measures in it. It shows farmers are doing their bit in terms of energy and the future. Uptake of renewable energy programmes and mechanisms is hugely positive. Putting them through the SEAI for domestic is an opportunity lost. Maybe the solution is for the Minister to get his hands on some of that budget from the SEAI and move it to TAMS. Farmers are busy men and women. They have a lot to do. One application to cover all of this is still probably the most efficient way to do it. I go back to the fact that there is huge demand. It is positive that farmers are engaging and taking up the scheme. I ask it to be considered that a bit of that budget be moved across to fulfil that.”
“My question is about the removal of domestic dwellings from the TAMS solar grant process. What is the rationale for the exclusion of domestic dwellings from that solar scheme and will the Minister make a statement on the matter?”
“It is good to hear the Minister and the Department are taking the issue seriously and I look forward to hearing the recommendations of the stakeholder group. The set-up is a bit unwieldy though. The Department is responsible for annual inspections of breeding establishments but local authorities, such as Dublin City Council, are effectively responsible for enforcement. This creates a bit of a disconnect and a risk of issues falling between the Department and the local authorities. Local authorities may not perform their responsibilities to the same standard across the country. Has the Department considered merging responsibility for inspection and enforcement centrally, either under the Department itself or another agency that would take overall responsibility for inspection and enforcement as required?”
“We cannot leave it to look after itself, to self-regulate and to undertake its own enforcement. We have to get ahead of the issue.”
“I thank the Minister for the update. Ireland is a nation of dog lovers and dogs hold a cherished place in our homes, well ahead of cats. However, it is clear we are playing catch-up on legislation on dog breeding. Dog breeding in Ireland is a growing industry. It is important to say that responsible small breeders do maintain very high standards, but as the sector is growing so too are animal welfare concerns. The Oireachtas agriculture committee heard last month that the number of dogs being put to sleep grew by 10% from 2023 to 2024. Even more alarmingly, this figure increased by 93% compared to 2022. This is a huge growth in the number of animals being put to sleep. The scale of abusive treatment is very concerning and we need to recognise it. This is a lucrative industry.”
“They are probably the least of the risks but they are there as well because those vessels are so dated. As Chair of the climate committee, I have seen first hand how vital certainty and stability are for energy. The roll-out of the new EU-wide resilience measures that the Minister mentioned and the co-operation with our partners are really important. I would appreciate if we could keep that on the clár for the EU Presidency.”
“I really welcome the co-operation with the UK on this matter. Let us be honest: it has technological capabilities and experience in this area that we can really learn from. That partnership is therefore really welcome. I am Chair of the climate, environment and energy committee, and we had a briefing recently from officials from the French embassy and they really highlighted the issues around the Russian shadow fleet and its proximity in terms of its operations close to our waters or, in fact, sometimes in our waters and the threats they carry. I would welcome, in the context of the Presidency, Ireland really pushing that issue with France to try to prioritise resolving those issues. There are environmental risks associated with the shadow fleet.”
“Will the Minister elaborate further what is being done to safeguard those particular assets from man-made threats to them?”
“I welcome the national maritime security strategy. It is a very positive step forward. With the EU Presidency just around the corner, this defence issue has rarely been more topical. We face potential threats now that we would not have thought of ten, 15 or 20 years ago. The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, for example, puts into perspective how vulnerable we would be if that were to happen to us. The two interconnector gas connections going from Scotland to Ireland will carry 86% of our gas for this winter. The new Celtic interconnector on the seabed between Cork and France when it comes live will have 700 MW of power, powering potentially 450,000 homes. These are all vulnerable. Until we transition to renewable energy sources, they will be vulnerable.”
“My question largely focuses on objective 2 of the national maritime security strategy and how we can improve the security and resilience of Ireland's critical maritime infrastructure. Will the Minister outline the importance of the national maritime security strategy, particularly as it relates to protecting critical infrastructure?”
“It is vital that we find a way to do that. Batteries are heavy and have to be hauled long distances. Hydrogen was spoken about as a possibility but we do not seem to be there yet. We need to recognise the new reality that even if America and Iran each an agreement to reopen that strait, it will take time for the oil market to return to normal. Oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf has been wrecked by all warring parties. Even if it all stops tomorrow, it will take years for that to be rebuilt. Supply will not recover overnight and the burden on households and businesses will persist. We cannot afford to wait for the market to deal with this. The case for accelerating our transition to renewable energy has never been stronger.”
“A big practical gap remains on those sites, in that heavy plant machinery and temporary power still use a lot of diesel, with electric and alternative fuel options not yet viable for smaller organisations without Government support. On-site generators run for more or less the full working day, contributing significantly to emissions. Support for EVs, battery storage systems and HVO-fuelled equipment as alternatives to diesel on site represent a positive short-term step that the Government could take to tackle rising fuel costs and meet our climate objectives. We also had the haulage industry at the committee. The Ceann Comhairle would have a good knowledge of the haulage industry. What was really clear was that, with the exception of more efficient diesel engines, there was no clear way for long-haul haulage to decarbonise.”
“While it is welcome that the construction sector is included in the Government's package, it reaffirms how vulnerable construction is to global oil price shocks. That sector must be central to the decarbonisation debate. Construction and the built environment account for over one third of our carbon emissions. Our commitment to new housing is very important and presents a significant challenge in reducing emissions across the sector, as modern building methods are very carbon intensive. Last October, our committee heard from stakeholders in construction about how we could break down barriers to meeting emissions targets in construction. The urgent need to provide incentives to decarbonise construction sites was clear.”
“I wanted to assure Deputy Collins that I represent the hard-working women and men of Dublin Bay North but he ran out before I could do so. I welcome the opportunity to speak about the supply constraints we are experiencing as a result of the fuel crisis. Brent crude is now at $114 a barrel, down slightly from $126 a barrel earlier this week but it remains very high. The World Bank expects energy prices to go up 24% this year, the highest level of increase since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, even if the most acute disruptions caused by the war ease in May, and there is no guarantee that will happen. The energy crisis has laid bare our dependency on fossil fuels. The answer is clear - we must get away from fossil and accelerate the take-up of renewable.”
“I wish to raise two issues regarding the housing assistance payment, HAP, in the context of constituents in Dublin Bay North. The first is HAP discrimination. Is the Tánaiste aware of cases of landlords refusing to take tenants who are on HAP? While this practice is illegal, it is still happening routinely across Dublin Bay North. The other issue is the thresholds that apply. Constituents are being refused HAP support on the basis of their average net income over 12 months. If you lose your job or face a financial crisis, your income falls off a cliff but you are still assessed on the average of the previous 12 months. It is unfair and does not reflect the reality of the situation for those people. What can we do to better help people who experience sudden and devastating changes to their lives to access those HAP supports?”
“In relation to community facilities, local authorities, including Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council, collect development levies from private development and use those development levy funds to deliver the parks, playgrounds and various community facilities. The LDA does not have that funding stream. It is vital that this is acknowledged by the Government and that the gap is plugged in some way for the LDA. Residential developments are fantastic, but the community facilities have to be provided as well while these projects are being built. I encourage the Minister of State to consider this issue from a Government perspective. I thank him.”
“As the Minister of State said himself, even the affordable purchase element of the Shanganagh scheme is about 15% of the overall project. We hear about the challenges with cost rental and concerns around mounting maintenance costs. Uncertain costs like that will, of course, upset mandarins in all the various Departments. The benefit of affordable purchase is that whatever discount or subsidy is given, the Government locks it in upfront. It goes to the homeowner, and is crystallised there and then and there is no long-term risk. The Government picks up part of the tab. I do think affordable purchase first should be the direction in which the LDA is headed. Without a doubt, there will be issues with cost rental in the future. They are being raised in the media, with various schemes having challenges with maintenance.”
“I ask that we would look to broaden or maybe re-emphasise the strategy of the LDA towards affordable purchase first as a key part of any of its developments and also look at how it will deliver, and be empowered to fund and deliver, vital community facilities, including community centres, pitches, outdoor parks and all the other facilities that make communities in Dublin so great.”
“In my experience, and taking Clongriffin Central as an example, the LDA is not necessarily funded or empowered to deliver community facilities. We have that issue out in Clongriffin Central. An area left underdeveloped and unfinished for 15 years after the crash needs community facilities. The LDA is in there, buzzing along and actively delivering phase after phase of residential units, very welcome homes, but community facilities have to be put in as well. They are vital.”
“Affordable purchase, which is where citizens and families get to own their own homes, is a relatively recent thing for the LDA, as I understand it. The point I want to make is that I would like to see the LDA going with affordable purchase first. There should be a lot more emphasis on affordable purchase, giving people a chance to buy the units the LDA is building. I appreciate they would likely be subsidised based on the cost of these in the context of modern-day construction, but it is absolutely vital that we empower the LDA as much as we can to build quality homes that citizens can then buy in whatever way. Affordable purchase first should perhaps be the strategy for the LDA. I will come back to cost rental because issues with that were mentioned.”
“The Land Development Agency, LDA, is building up a great head of steam now in starting to produce homes at scale all around the country, but particularly in the urban areas where they are badly needed. There are two projects in my area, Clongriffin Central and, just this week, Richmond Village. Some projects the Minister of State will be familiar with in his own area or generally in his neighbourhood are Shanganagh and Dundrum. These are big projects. The planners are saying that apartments are what are required now in terms of the use of land, the intensification of land use, transport-oriented planning, etc., and that is welcome. When I look at the LDA, however, and taking Richmond Village as an example, the tenure mix is not yet hammered out on that development of nearly 800 units. The LDA says it will do it over the next while.”
“These were smaller yellow and red buses that used to run in and out of the city centre. It was a hugely popular service on the north side. The NTA took a decision to give it to a new operator and rename it the 73 in the autumn of last year. There are ongoing issues with that service. We are awaiting detailed information on the performance of the route from the NTA since early March. We have clarified what we are looking for but we are still waiting for that information. This service is a vital one for that part of the north side. I want to keep it on the agenda until the service works for local citizens. I ask that the Minister of State give the NTA a nudge to publish that information and get it back to us.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I welcome the confirmation that the NTA is taking the issue seriously and progressing plans to modernise the existing system. I welcome the fact it looks at it weekly and has a structure in place in this regard. One thing that does concern me is that at the moment we are very reliant on the operators to share data and to push it into the system. I hope that in the new setup that will happen automatically, rather than there being a reliance on various operators to release data into the system. As much of that process as possible should be automated so that the end user is getting the data without even having to think about it and without having any dependency on an operator, whoever it is. The 73 bus service, which I mentioned earlier, was originally the 123 Imp service.”
“We cannot settle for this standard of service that people have been forced to tolerate in the last few years. This is even more relevant in the current climate and in the current energy crisis, with the pressure on fuels. It is an opportunity, at one level, to get people out of cars and onto public transport. If we are serious about our climate targets and about building a country where an carr a fhágáil sa bhaile is a genuine choice rather than a gamble, then public transport must be reliable enough from the first minute in the morning to the last minute at night.”
“This cannot come soon enough, and I really welcome it. As Mr. Hann has acknowledged, the title “real-time passenger information” is effectively misleading, as the system now is just a countdown from when the bus leaves the depot, with no ability to respond to what happens en route to the bus stop. The next generation AVL system must provide passengers with the reassurance they need and deserve while waiting for a public transport service. The long list of issues I hear concerning the 73, 130 and 15 bus routes in my constituency are underpinned by the simple fact that commuters cannot trust that their bus will even show up. When a service is delayed or full, that is frustrating, but when it does not show up at all, with no explanation and no update, that really undermines public confidence in the system and in public transport as a whole.”
“How can we expect commuters to shift to public transport when they are plagued by issues every day? I have spoken about this in the Chamber before, but this situation has become so commonplace in Baile Átha Cliath that a website called buscancellationsdublin.eu has started pulling together the data on cancelled buses. In any other sector or walk of life, this would not be acceptable. Northsiders are just trying to get on with their daily lives, yet they are being let down time and again by Dublin Bus and the National Transport Authority, NTA. The delays cause real distress. People are missing work and medical appointments and struggling to get to childcare commitments. I understand from the CEO of Dublin Bus, Billy Hann, that a new next generation automatic vehicle location, NGAVL, system will be piloted in September.”
“Delivering an efficient and accessible public transport system is essential to the daily lives of working people across Dublin city and to meeting our climate objectives. The case for public transport speaks for itself. Every single full bus takes 80 cars off the roads, reducing emissions by over 90% and freeing up 300 m of roadway. Week after week, however, I hear from northsiders that they have simply given up taking the bus, not because they do not want to use it but because they cannot afford to trust it. They cannot rely on it daily. Citizens are experiencing frequent no-shows, last-minute cancellations and long gaps between buses. We still hear on an ongoing basis of ghost buses, services that appear as due on the TFI Live app and on the displays but never arrive.”
“It was good to welcome the Taoiseach to Fairview yesterday for the Land Development Agency, LDA, sod turning at Richmond Village, which involves 779 homes within a close shout of the city centre. The tenancy mix has not yet been determined. Does the Taoiseach agree that affordable homes for purchase is probably the best way to give citizens a stake in their communities? Does he agree that while the LDA has this mandate, in theory it probably could be strengthened further, although it will involve resourcing? Will he encourage the LDA to work towards a maximum amount of affordable-purchase housing at the Richmond Village site?”
“Homes are damaged, businesses are destroyed, victims of flooding have to put their lives back together piece by piece with some support from the State - sometimes without some support - and insurance then, of course, disappears. It is unachievable. I also agree with other speakers regarding the climate implications of the Bill. It is really important that we meet our climate obligations and we do not sidestep those. We have to square up to decarbonisation. Finally, I ask that the Aire ensure climate adaptation projects are classified as critical infrastructure so that projects and communities finally get the defences they have been waiting for for so long.”
“Looking at the numbers, of 54 large flood defence projects deemed critical in 2018, 31 remain at preliminary design stage. How is that acceptable? Forget about climate, how is it acceptable that of 54 large projects, 31 are still in design? Ignoring the climate crisis, that is just not acceptable. When you put the climate crisis on top of it, it is even worse. We are not alone in facing those challenges. Countries across the world are recognising that we have to get a fundamental reset between planning regulation and timely delivery of really important flood defence infrastructure. Bad weather has potential to wreak havoc on communities, as we have seen, and the longer we drag our feet, the more people will suffer. Flooding is now a recurring reality for many communities in nearly all parts of this country.”
“I join colleagues in underlining just how important it is that we get this Bill right. The Critical Infrastructure Bill is really important legislation for this Dáil. We in Ireland are living with the legacy of many years of underinvestment in capital infrastructure, as my colleague has said. We see it very clearly in the lack of essential flood defences in particular in so many constituencies across Ireland. My colleague, Councillor Clodagh Ní Mhuirí, has highlighted the need for climate adaptation projects at local authority level to be classified as critical infrastructure projects so that they just get done. Storm Chandra inflicted huge damage on communities. We were fortunate at the time that this storm occurred at low tide. We will not always be that lucky when it comes to flooding.”
“The proposed new Garda headquarters for DMR north at Northern Cross is a project has been in the works for several years now. In my first speech in this Chamber, I raised this issue as a priority for the growing communities on the north side, in Belmayne, Balgriffin and Clongriffin. Despite the money being allocated in the sectoral investment plan in December, which I welcomed, it seems we are no closer to getting all our ducks lined up. We have been told again and again this year that the Office of Public Works, OPW, is in the process of identifying a site for this new station. The Tánaiste knows the area. It is growing rapidly and the need for a strong and visible Garda presence is clear. Can we get negotiations between the OPW and Dublin City Council on site acquisition over the line? It is important for our community.”
“We had very severe flooding in the basements of apartments in Clongriffin during Storm Chandra some weeks ago. There is a bit of a question over whether the emergency response payment scheme actually works for apartment dwellers. In following up with the Department, we got a response saying that the Department does not track addresses against claims under the ERP. It is very difficult to understand how we could determine whether a scheme is working or not, particularly when handing out State support, when we are not recording an address against it. I find it very difficult to believe. I ask the Tánaiste to raise this with the departmental officials ahead of future events so that we have that information and can determine whether the schemes work for apartment dwellers.”
“That means clearing the decks for progress in offshore wind, like others have mentioned here, and as Deputy Heneghan said, clearing the decks for progress in long-duration battery storage in particular so that renewable energy can be held on this island and made available for when it is needed the most. I urge an tAire to make energy decarbonisation a non-negotiable priority for this Government.”
“What programme of activity would Sinn Féin cut to pay for these reductions? As the Opposition finance spokesman well knows, the estimated cost of reversing carbon tax increases in the past two years is well north of €300 million. That money directly funds energy upgrade works, schemes for those in or at risk of energy poverty, the fuel allowance, the working family payment and several other vital schemes. It is populist politics but poor policy-making. It is easy to make assertions like that from over there but government requires difficult decisions at times. Ultimately, decarbonising our energy system is the best way to secure energy independence and reduce costs for families.”
“Unfortunately, Deputy Tóibín is gone. Twice he asserted that the Government had burned through 200 million tonnes of carbon in the past two weeks. I would love to see him stand that allegation up. It seems like an enormous figure. First, I welcome confirmation from the Tánaiste that the Government is planning to take action on the issue, that a plan is being worked on at the moment, that decisions are to be taken at the next Cabinet meeting and that whatever will be done will be targeted. I want to ask Sinn Féin how long its proposed temporary reductions would last. Is it one year or three years? Where is the sunset clause?”
“It is built up over time and forms a central part of that child's school experience and broader life formation. While it is essential resources are allocated to where they are needed most, this must be planned in a structured and considered way. I welcome the commitments from the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to engage directly with the school community on this. They are the people dealing directly with these realities every day. They must be central to any future decisions. We must ensure we get this right for children and families across the country.”
“It has been a tough enough number of weeks for many families and school communities. I, like other Members of this House, have heard from parents across north Dublin who had serious and understandable concerns that their children would lose essential care and support ar scoil. While I welcome that this matter has been resolved for now, we must do better. There are clear lessons for the Government. It is not acceptable that parents of vulnerable children are left searching for answers online, on social media and listening to the radio about the future of their children's education. Communication from the Department and the NCSE was very poor at times throughout this process. We must try to make sure that does not happen again. That essential trust between an SNA and a child is invaluable for that child.”
“I agree with that. The committee also looked at energy affordability in December. Interestingly enough, the ESRI was of the view that there was not a particular issue with price gouging because if there was, you would expect to see a lot of new market entrants into the Irish energy market if there was a lot of profit to be made. It did not seem to see that. It was an interesting observation from the ESRI at the time. Once again, I encourage a very sharp focus on the costs of the energy transition for small businesses in particular. The more we can do around bringing down those costs in the long term and keeping them down - for energy-intensive businesses in particular - the better. It is in everybody's interests to transition across for that kind of carbon-free future.”
“They need to be aware that for businesses in particular, it is a challenge to get across that bridge. The Minister of State already mentioned the energy affordability task force. Is there a particular focus within that task force on SMEs, energy costs for business and priority measures? I accept the broader point about society at large, but I ask specifically about measures for SMEs that could be covered off.”
“As part of the engagement at the climate committee - Deputy Pa Daly will attest to this - we had representatives of the business sector in talking about the barriers they face in transitioning and achieving climate targets. One of the points they raised was how little consideration is given to cost proofing of climate plans and transition measures to get across to a low-carbon environment, particularly for SMEs. They mentioned low visibility of costs for all the different plans and the affordability of the energy transition. They said they have difficulty when looking ten years down the line to see where their companies are going in terms of getting to a kind of low-carbon future. It is really important that the Government and the Department are very aware of that.”
“My question today is about the significant energy cost pressures that many have felt in recent months and the impact that has in particular on SMEs across the country. What measures is the Department taking to acknowledge the increased energy costs on businesses? Will the Minister of State make a statement in that regard?”
“I raise the issue of delays in Tailte Éireann's registration processes. In 2023, Tailte Éireann received 240,803, with 4,630 applications in arrears. By 2025, the volume had increased to 296,039 applications, but 57,612 of those were in arrears. We talk about the housing crisis. This is just another factor. The administration is gumming up here. Anything we can do to speed up these processes and move these registrations on would help because there is somebody out there waiting for an application to be finished so that they can occupy their home. I am just raising that with the Tánaiste.”
“I appreciate that. I welcome the fact that the plan should be signed off on very soon. What are the expectations of the Minister in terms of the Department notifying schools? As she said, they will likely be automatically included in the programme. What are the views of the Minister on how schools will be notified so that they can start planning for 2026-27? That educational year will come upon us very soon and schools will be closed will summer. Management will work on these priorities through the summer. What does the Minister see happening once the plan is published and agreed?”
“I hope it will include the level of detail those schools will need. I appreciate the ongoing support from the Department for the programme. I look forward to a further commitment of resources in the years ahead to support it.”
“It is good to hear that the strategy is coming. The beauty of DEIS plus is that it can take educational resources and really target them at students who need them the most. I have regular contact with schools in my area, including Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School in Darndale, St. Francis Senior National School in Priorswood and St. Joseph's Coolock, which are located in areas of serious deprivation and disadvantage. DEIS plus will, I hope, help them greatly and cannot come soon enough. Those schools need to know they will be in the programme. Principals need to start planning for 2026-27. What will they get when the rubber hits the road? When will they get it? What else do they need to do to plan? What else do the principals and management teams in those schools need to do? I welcome that the plan will be published very soon.”
“My question relates to a topic I have raised on previous occasions, namely, DEIS plus and getting it on the blocks for those schools and communities that need it the most. I would appreciate an update.”
“Duplicate school applications are an area where this could help because parents are naturally applying for multiple schools and schools think every application is a bona fide application. While it is, not every child will show up for every application in every school. That is where a system like this would be helpful. I look forward to hearing about the feedback later this year and the pilot being rolled out. I might follow up directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, separately in relation to that particular case because the constituent is frustrated. They are doing their best for their child in terms of the incoming school year. I will follow up with him in that regard.”
“They were individual applications, some posted and others in various different shapes and sizes. One can imagine the frustration of those parents who have to do that. A system like this would help because the NCSE would be able to see what is coming and what the needs are. It would be able to assist greatly in that process. Does the Minister see an opportunity for this to be implemented in the future, particularly for special schools?”