Natasha Newsome Drennan
Carlow-Kilkenny · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Rates of TB in the North are far higher than in the South and many outbreaks in the South have been traced back to Northern herds. Farming families are put under immense pressure financially and mentally when they lose a herd to TB. That is heartbreaking.”
“I welcome the chance to speak about the fiscal impact of the long-overdue reunification of Ireland. I also welcome the Tánaiste's speech. It is a pity that more people in the House did not speak up in the same way. For too long a false narrative has been published by those who oppose reunification.”
“We need to ask why the economy in the North lags behind that of the South and, more importantly, how we can fix that. There is no doubt that reunification will bring challenges, but it will also bring immense opportunities. It is time that we started focusing on those.”
“This legislation exists because of the advocacy and commitment of Jason Poole, whose sister was killed by her ex-partner, a man with a documented history of domestic violence. The research clearly shows that individuals with prior records of abuse are significantly more likely to offend, often with escalating severity.”
“I strongly welcome the introduction of the domestic violence register and fully support this Bill. It is encouraging to see cross-party support for its introduction, which is a clear sign that this issue crosses all political divides and demands action. The reality is that domestic violence is seldom a one-off incident.”
“Over the past 25 years, Amber has grown and become a safe haven for many women and children. For far too long, Carlow has been one of the few counties in the State without a women's refuge. Given the rise in calls relating to domestic abuse and cases of domestic abuse, that is nothing short of a disgrace.”
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“I strongly welcome this motion. The Government’s last-minute decision to vote against the Mercosur deal was a cynical and opportunistic move. To take a decision only once it was certain the vote would pass shows an utter lack of political spine when it comes to standing up to the European Commission. This failure of leadership is at complete odds with the people the Government claims to represent. On Saturday, almost 30,000 people from every corner of Ireland rallied in Athlone to say “No” to Mercosur. Many of those people have supported parties like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for generations. For what? It was for the purpose of more crumbs from the EU table just to survive and keep struggling. I do not want those in our farming community to just survive and get by; I want them to have a viable future.”
“This is a mechanism designed to protect vulnerable nations like Ireland. This is not just a policy adjustment; it puts over 2,000 jobs in our coastal communities at immediate risk. The knock-on effect will cripple towns and villages already stretched to their limit by depopulation and economic neglect. What is becoming clear is that Ireland's primary producers are under attack. We see it in the Mercosur deal - a threat to flood our markets with substandard beef, undermining our farmers and the standards of food on our shelves. We see it here in the calculated move to deny Ireland its fair share and its rightful protections. The spirit of mutual co-operation and respect upon which the EU was founded is being broken. It is time for this Government to move beyond polite requests and to take a firm stance.”
“As the Minister of State is well aware, our maritime territory is one of the largest in the EU. It is a vast resource ten times the size of our landmass. Given this scale, Ireland should be a leader in European fisheries. Our beef and dairy farmers have set the golden standard on the world stage. There is no reason our fishing industry should not be the same. Yet since the 1983 Common Fisheries Policy, our coastal communities have been relegated to second class status within the EU. We have seen preferential treatment granted to other member states. We have watched as third country vessels operate brazenly in our water, often overfishing with little to no consequences. Now, we face the latest betrayal, the threat of deeper quota cuts, combined by the blocking of the Hague preferences by our so-called EU partners.”
“Let us be crystal clear: this decision will damage lives. This is not just poor policy; this is heartless. I urge the Minister to reverse this decision.”
“The Minister can try to push the narrative that blister packs are unnecessary and that people can manage just fine without them, but the ordinary people, like the people across Carlow-Kilkenny whom I represent, can see through this spin. Most of us have had a loved one at some stage who has relied on this simple, effective system. We have seen the independence it has given our loved ones. How the Government can justify tax breaks for the likes of McDonald's and Starbucks while imposing this charge on older people managing multiple medications - people living with dementia, disabilities or brain injuries - is beyond me. This move will reduce people's independence. It will heap pressure on family carers. It risks poorer medication adherence, leading to avoidable harm and higher long-term costs for our health service.”
“We need to be frank: this is a cold and ruthless move by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. To announce this charge just before Christmas, at the most expensive time of the year for many families, is nothing short of cruel. While the Government has stalled it for a few months, leaving a weight of uncertainty over many families, this policy decision goes far beyond a simple financial blow to some of the most vulnerable in our society; this is an attack on their independence. For over 20 years I worked as a carer for adults with additional needs. I saw first-hand what these blister packs meant. They were not a luxury; they were a lifeline. They gave people the freedom to manage their own medication safely without constant supervision. They preserved dignity and enabled independence.”
“It has been designed to ensure high profits for profit investors and not for the benefit of customers or the public good. While they cash in, this comes so very often at the expense of our rural communities, like my own in Carlow-Kilkenny. For almost 20 years, people there have waited for the updated planning guidelines for wind turbines. Successive Governments have kicked that can down the road. This delay has given developers free rein, while communities are left alone to navigate these massive landscape-altering developments that impact them for generations. It is time for the neglect to end. We need a national grid that does not waste renewable energy, policies that put people before profit and guidelines that protect our communities. Go raibh maith agat.”
“Under its watch, our national grid has been dangerously neglected. We have not invested adequately in the capacity to harness the increase in renewable energy. Wind turbines are going up at such a rate that the grid cannot cope. Why? It is because the sole focus seems to be on hitting 2030 targets, with little to no regard for the real cost. The result of this failure is a scandal in plain sight. Since 2017, over €2.5 billion has been paid in curtailment payments. This is money handed to profit-driven projects to stop them producing energy. Who foots the bill? It is the public. The cost is added euro by euro onto every household's energy bill. What we are seeing is that the roll-out of solar and wind farms has begun to move beyond the green strategy.”
“Numbers speak of a harsh reality facing so many Irish households. Ireland has the third most expensive electricity prices in the entire EU. This has been no gentle increase. It has been a shock to the system. In just five years, the average price has rocketed from €37/MWh to a staggering €114/MWh. This statistic is not abstract; it is the grim reality for tens of thousands of households struggling to pay their bills and for the 300,000 households currently in arrears. What was the Government's response? It was to scrap energy credits despite official advice. This was a cruel and harsh decision. Time and again, this Government turns its back, but to ignore official expert advice in doing so is utter neglect. This Government has not only failed to bring prices down but has actively created the conditions that keep them high.”
“This week Brazilian beef on sale in the EU and the North of Ireland has been recalled due to the presence of banned cancer-linked hormones. The Mercosur trade deal will not only impact the health of farmers and their livelihoods; it will also impact the health of the general public. It is about what the Government is willing to let the public consume. The thoughts that children in Ireland could be eating beef containing these banned cancer-linked hormones should be setting off alarm bells. It is the Taoiseach not worried? I can tell him that as a mother I am worried. I am worried about the risk it poses to my family. This should be black and white. Our health and the health of our families should not be put at risk for the benefit of a trade deal. What levels of testing have been carried out on Mercosur beef coming into Ireland?”
“We are taxing the public to build infrastructure that works part-time while charging them full-time prices to cover the waste. This is not a green strategy. It is a gold-plated waste of public money. Just like with housing, this developer-led agenda is not for the benefit of consumers nor for the public good. It is designed to ensure high profits for private investors.”
“Then we have the other elephant in the room, namely, the utter scandal of curtailment payments. People are stunned when they hear about this. It is another clear example of the public being forced to foot the bill for years of under-investment in vital infrastructure like the national grid. We are building wind turbines at such a rate that the grid cannot cope with the supply. Here we are again with the Government putting the cart before the horse. These profit-driven projects are then told to switch off or reduce their generation and they are paid to do it. Last October, that bill hit €115 million, a cost the public had to pay as part of their monthly bills. It is not unique to wind. Solar curtailments in Ireland have increased sevenfold since 2022.”
“Talk about putting hurdles up for people who just want to have their say. I recently raised with the Department the urgent need to publish updated regulations. I have asked for a timeline but time and time again, all I get back from that office is waffle. These communities are not anti-wind. They simply want adequate guidelines to ensure that the wind turbines are not constructed on top of people's homes. I struggle to see how that is too much to ask for. It is worth remembering that the Minister of State's colleagues sat on these Opposition benches and raised these very same concerns. They called for the same actions and many of the Government's backbenchers still do, both here and at local meetings. It certainly does not appear to be a concern for the Cabinet.”
“These communities have been left to deal with these developments by themselves, all too often at the mercy of a developer whose interest is in profit first and foremost. Sinn Féin's position on this has been clear for years. We believe energy is a public good. It should strengthen our national wealth, not just line the pockets of overseas investors who have little to no regard for our local communities. We are committed to putting communities at the very core of developing wind energy in Ireland, and to ensuring that this area is properly regulated, not left to those seeking profit at any cost. One recent proposed development in south Kilkenny would not even hold a public consultation in the local community. The meeting was held outside of the area by appointment only.”
“It is important to be absolutely clear that a wind farm is no small undertaking. These are vast developments that have an enormous impact on communities and the local environment from the moment construction begins throughout their entire lifetime up to the day they are decommissioned. It is beyond me that for projects of this scale we have no up-to-date regulations or guidelines. Frankly speaking, it is an insult to communities across Ireland that have been left high and dry by the Minister of State and her colleagues. I am talking about communities like Oldleighlin, Castlewarren, Durrow, Kilmanagh, Tullaroan, Ballycallan, Ballyhale, Inistioge, Thomastown, Ballyfasy and many more.”
“This is down to generational expertise and passion that has been passed on. We should learn from that and not just limit that potential of this funding. It should go beyond the thoroughbred sector. At the Tullow agri-show, I met a fantastic group working with one of our native breeds; the Kerry bog pony. They does brilliant work but are left operating on a shoestring. We should strive to be world leaders in all aspects of equine, from the thoroughbred breeds and showjumpers all the way to our own native breeds.”
“We need to see the agencies responsible for enforcement resourced properly so they can be effective. We cannot let the minority drag the vast majority of responsible trainers and owners down. We need strong enforcement and real accountability. As I said, I spent over 30 years of my life in this sector. I still keep a couple of horses on our farm in south Kilkenny. I see the incredible impact this sector has across rural communities and the ripple effect of so much employment, not just the local vet. This ripple goes on to local shops, cafés and so on. We should be proud of those working in this sector and the exceptionally high standard of horses we have bred over the years. When I worked in England, Irish staff were very much the gold standard and highly sought after. This did not happen by chance.”
“We need to see part of these funds allocated to the enforcement of welfare laws for all equine and dog breeds. We need real reforms to strengthen equine identification, traceability and welfare, considering not a single person has been prosecuted for failing to register equines in the past three years, despite widespread repeated offences. Horses are being neglected across Ireland right now. This is happening in rural Ireland and in our cities too. The Minister has said in the past that his Department takes equine welfare most seriously. He may believe that but with no prosecutions for horse neglect in the first half of this year, just four in 2024 and three in 2023, it certainly does not look like the Department is taking enforcement seriously.”
“Every year, this item comes before the Dáil and, too often, it presents as a black and white issue. As someone who grew up surrounded by greyhounds, was then involved in the thoroughbred sector for over 30 years and worked on stud farms across Ireland and England, I can tell you it is anything but. Animal welfare is an issue that is rightly raised. For the vast majority of us, these animals are treated as an extension of our own family. The children the Minister of State spoke about were like me as a child, and the pride you would have walking back in with your winner. Most of those greyhounds lived in our house half the time. They spent the last days of their lives on the end of our beds. They were like an extension of our family.”
“This Bill is about providing that sense of safety proactively. By allowing a restraining order at the point of conviction we give survivors the security to rebuild their lives. There is no justifiable reason to deny it to victims of sexual violence. We must do more than process victims through a broken system. I urge the Minister to support this Bill and ensure our justice system delivers true justice.”
“Many victims state that this is why they avoid seeking counselling at all. Let me be clear: this Irish justice system is failing women. After the traumatic court process, the sentences handed down are shamefully lenient. We consistently see violent, horrific crimes met with light sentence for the flimsiest of reasons. I recently watched a summary of sexual assault cases over a single week compiled by Aoife Dunne. It was chilling in its sheer volume. I send my solidarity to Aoife after enduring a horrific backlash for simply shining a light on the sheer volume of these horrible crimes. This underscores the need for this Bill. Victims live in constant anxiety about their attacker's release. While other legal avenues may exist, they are not the right fit. Victims must not be forced back into court to fight again for basic safety.”
“I welcome everyone in the Visitors Gallery and say to them that their voice matters. I strongly welcome this motion and opportunity to speak on this critical issue. I thank my colleagues Deputy Matt Carthy and Senator Maria McCormack for all the work they have done on this Bill. The Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill 2025 is a small but profoundly important step. Across Carlow and Kilkenny, organisations providing a lifeline to victims are being stretched to their limits. As calls for help rise, the system is failing those it is meant to protect. The journey to seek justice is itself a form of retraumatisation. Victims face years of long waits for a court date. They are then confronted with the appalling practice of their private counselling notes being disclosed and even shared with their perpetrator.”
“I want to raise with the Minister the urgent case of Roxanne. She is suffering with a range of complex medical issues, including the onset of scoliosis. Over 2024 and 2025, Roxanne has undergone three operations at a cost of nearly €200,000, all of which has been paid for by family-run fundraisers. I ask that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health urgently review Roxanne's case and assist this beautiful little girl in accessing the life-changing surgery she desperately deserves. We have sent on the details of the case to the Minister. Her family cannot be expected to keep fundraising for this to cover the cost.”
“Our farmers, consumers and planet demand decisive action. The time dedicated to discussing the ramping up of defence readiness was something else. We should be under no illusion. More weapons and bombs will not bring peace and security. If they did, the United States and Israel, with their vast arsenals, would be the most peaceful and safe nations in the world. If the EU truly wants global security and lasting peace, it must invest in the well-being of our people.”
“The research has clearly shown that our beef is produced with a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to beef produced in the Mercosur states. It is a deal that puts customers at risk by allowing beef, chicken and pork produced using banned substances like GMOs and growth hormones onto our shelves. These are products that we in the EU have rightly classified as a health risk. Given the profound implications, it is beyond me how such a major agreement was not discussed at the Council. The Minister of State and his colleagues agreed to our motion last night. We cannot afford passive opposition. We need to see the Government proactively reaching out, building a coalition with like-minded states across Europe and putting the brakes on the Mercosur deal before it is too late. The time for rhetoric is over.”
“The scale of the slaughter may have reduced but it has certainly not stopped. Until it stops and until Israel abandons its policies of apartheid, the EU must not continue with business as usual. Moral condemnation is empty without concrete consequences. The Council addressed the green transition. It clearly references the extreme threat posed by climate change and how that underpins the EU's commitments to the Paris agreement. Therefore, I was astounded to find absolutely no mention of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, an agreement that, as we all acknowledged in this Chamber last night, would devastate Irish and European agriculture and cause untold damage to the environment. This is a deal that has been causing widespread deforestation with the sole purpose of clearing the land to produce more beef for the likes of the UK market.”
“I have looked over the reporting on the recent European Council meeting. While the situation in Gaza was touched upon, it is striking how lightly it was addressed. The Council reiterated its opposition to settlement expansion and Israel's military operations, but where is the action? Why does the European Union continue with business as usual, trading with a state that operates a system of apartheid? Let us be clear; Israel is not a normal state. It is an apartheid state. Since 10 October, it has violated the ceasefire 393 times, killing almost 300 people and wounding over 600. Let us just consider the past 24 hours, which have seen more air strikes across Gaza and on Palestinian refugee camps, killing 13 people. In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot a child and a journalist.”
“Let us be clear: Mercosur is a bad deal for Irish farmers and a bad deal for public health and must be rejected. Supporting the Mercosur trade agreement would be a betrayal of Irish farming and rural communities. It would involve selling out those who have often stood with the Minister, just so German businessmen can make millions of euro more selling cars and chemicals to South America. That will be the Minister's legacy if a firm stand is not taken now. He has a clear choice. I urge him to stand with ordinary people and stop Ireland being sold out for cheap imports and to protect Irish agriculture by backing this motion.”
“For the wider public, the changes will be subdued. Beef that is 100% Irish will start disappearing from menus. Instead, people across Ireland will be served beef that is not traceable and not grass-fed, but reared indoors on banned growth hormones and genetically modified feed. It will devastate the rainforests. Hundreds of thousands of acres are being cleared in South America right now, specifically to produce more of this cheap beef for the EU market. This undermines everything we stand for. Food produced in Ireland and the EU is held to the highest standards. Mercosur countries could not be further from our high standards. Their practices would be considered a public health risk if they were used in the EU. This deal imports their lowest standards and puts the public at risk.”
“It is a direct attack on Irish agriculture, our family farmers and rural communities. Farms like mine in south Kilkenny and that of the Minister in Kildare have been passed down from one generation to the next. Like the Minister's children, my children are growing up on a suckler farm, like so many sons and daughters across Ireland who have grown up farming and working the land. It is much more than a job; it is a way of life. It is a passion that has ensured our farmers reach higher and higher standards. I want a future where our sons and daughters on farms across Ireland can make a decent living while producing the highest quality of food. I give them our word that we will damn well fight for that future. We should be under no illusion. The Mercosur agreement will create a race to the bottom.”
“I express my deep condolences to the family of a Waterford man who tragically lost his life in a farming incident this week. It is a stark reminder that farming remains one of the most dangerous occupations in Ireland. I welcome the people in the Public Gallery who represent different farming organisations. I commend my colleague, Deputy Martin Kenny, and the wider Sinn Féin team on their work on this motion. Most important, I commend them on listening to the deep concerns of the farming community and bringing their voices, concerns and worries about the future of rural communities to the Dáil. Let us be clear: Sinn Féin will ensure their voices are always heard in this Chamber and not left outside the gates of Leinster House. The Mercosur trade agreement is not some abstract trade policy.”
“Public transport is simply not an option. There is no Luas or DART in Kilkenny. Upwards of €10 billion is to be spent on a metro for Dublin, while Carlow and Kilkenny are just left with measly crumbs. As always, it is one story for Dublin with another story for rural Ireland. Every year, this Government gives a green light to suck every last cent from those just trying to work and live in rural Ireland. It is just not good enough. They have no choice. We live in the countryside. To get my kids to school, I need a car. To go to the shop, I need a car. There is no bus that comes by us and we, like many others, have to have a car.”
“It is cut after cut for them with no let-up. These are people doing their bit for society, and they never get a break. I recently spoke to a young apprentice - one of those ordinary people doing everything right. He has learned a trade and is going to work and contributing, but the cost of running his car - his only way to get to work - is pushing him into debt. Our apprentices earn around €300 per week. Between insurance, the cost of diesel and petrol and now these planned toll hikes, it is suffocating. It is death by 1,000 cuts. This week, I heard of a couple who moved to Thomastown because they were priced out of Dublin. They commute up and down to Dublin to work each week. They are enduring worsening traffic congestion and now they are facing increasing costs to simply get to work. There are thousands like them across rural Ireland.”
“I strongly welcome this motion. Let me be perfectly clear; the vast majority of families and workers in counties Carlow and Kilkenny cannot get through their day without a car. This is not a lifestyle choice. It is the direct result of policy failure by consecutive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments. The Government has failed to provide public transport that is either viable or effective and it has failed to put in place adequate transport infrastructure. Every week, I speak to workers who commute to Dublin. They all raise similar concerns that taking public transport is just not viable if they want to get to work on time. Instead, they drive for hours each day, adding to worsening congestion, and for this they face a triple lock of financial pressures, namely, sky-high fuel prices, spiralling insurance costs and now fresh toll hikes.”
“As the Minister is probably aware, an outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in County Carlow. This flock of about 500 birds will have to be euthanised. We need to see adequate compensation packages for farmers affected and biosecurity measures must be stepped up. As a preventative, I am calling for a housing order to be implemented as we know wild birds play a huge role in spreading avian influenza. We saw this recently in Fota Wildlife Park. I call on the Government to introduce an adequate compensation package for businesses like Fota that have had to keep their gates closed and for poultry farmers for loss of earnings. Will the Government put a housing order in place now?”
“It is the people of Ireland, not data centres, who need to see their energy bills drop. The public cannot be expected to foot the bill for the data centres. It is simply not right and it is deeply unfair.”
“There are now nearly 100 data centres across the State. The Government's own experts have warned it about the risk this poses to building the homes we desperately need. We are now seeing that families across Ireland cannot move into new homes because they cannot get connected. I find it astounding that in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, data centres are set to see their energy bills drop by 18%, while families and workers across Ireland are facing the most expensive winter they have ever seen for energy bills. I accept that many data centres are providing vital data storage, but a line must be drawn. Data centres storing unnecessary data about what type of advertisements to hit us with do not contribute positively to our society. It is the people of Ireland, not data centres, who contribute positively to our society.”
“I support the intent of this Bill but it cannot be pushed through without the necessary safeguards. People in counties Kilkenny and Carlow are paying a heavy price for the consecutive failures of the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and his colleagues to invest in our energy infrastructure. It is an issue my constituents continually contact me about. There is a question I would love to see answered. Is your top priority for energy residential housing or is it data centres? Which of these is at the top of the Minister's priorities? We all know it cannot be both. When I see the waves the Government has made to support the building of more and more data centres, putting immense pressure on our national grid, it makes me wonder. I find it staggering that a single data centre can use as much energy as the whole of Kilkenny city.”
“As the mother of four boys, I am acutely aware of the effect that social media is having on children like them. It is so important for children's mental health for people to encourage their children to talk. Even though we are all busy, I always take time to talk to the children and ask them if they are okay. That should be encouraged more. It does not take a lot out of somebody's life to chat to their children.”
“Beyond the projects, there is one constant, and that is the role of the kitchen, the hub where men gather to have a chat and a cup of tea, and talk about life, the struggles they may be facing and the advice they can share. It is a space that goes far beyond its core purpose. The Castlecomer men's shed and so many other men’s sheds across Carlow and Kilkenny take on project after project where the support goes beyond supporting one another and ripples out into the wider community. These men's sheds have become a crucial base for getting information on health and well-being directly to men. It is encouraging to see this movement grow with the recent official opening in Ballyraggett. I hope that shed and all the men’s sheds continue to grow from strength to strength.”
“For him, a delay like this is not just an inconvenience. It can be lethal. Yet, once again, where the Government is found wanting, it is the local community that steps up. The most powerful example I have seen is the incredible work of the men's sheds across Carlow and Kilkenny. These sheds provide a unique and vital level of support. In the Ferrybank men's shed, I witnessed a warm and welcoming environment for older men with disabilities while I was working with the Brothers of Charity. The Tullow men’s shed has a diverse mix of nationalities sharing a wealth of life experience. In Thomastown, the men's shed runs a fantastic shop that breathes new life into old furniture, giving the men a profound sense of joy and achievement in their labour. It is where I have picked up many bits and pieces over the years for my own family home.”
“When we read the stark figures on men's health in Ireland, they should be ringing alarm bells across the Government. The statistics we have are not just numbers; they are a national crisis. Every one of those numbers represents a family member, friend or loved one. Let us be clear about the reality facing men in Ireland. Men account for four in every five suicide deaths in Ireland. Men are 34% more likely to die from cancer than women. Behind these figures are tens of thousands of men suffering in silence. The harsh truth is that Government inaction is accelerating the crisis. Yesterday, I telephoned my GP for an appointment. I was told it would take 20 days just to see a nurse, with the wait list for the GP even longer. Let us imagine a young man struggling with anxiety or depression who finally gathers the courage to ask for help.”
“We would provide the sustainable, multi-annual funding required to stabilise and grow the sector. At a time when farmers are grappling with what is around the corner, including a reduced CAP budget, the Mercosur trade deal and the uncertainty of derogation, this budget was a chance to secure our food security and protect rural jobs and communities. This budget was a chance to secure our food security and to protect rural jobs and communities.”
“He claims to be developing a new scheme but the cold reality is that he has not provided a single extra euro for the struggling farmers. It is the same funding as last year repackaged and re-announced. It falls pathetically short of the €92 million package the sector itself has said it needs to survive and thrive. With grain prices on the floor and input costs soaring, that lack of ambition will be the final blow that will force more hard-working farming families to simply call it a day. Sinn Féin recognises the immense value of tillage farming. It is a sector with a much lower carbon footprint that is a driver of biodiversity and is central to our climate action goals. Investing in tillage is not just supporting farmers. It is investing in a sustainable, secure future for Irish agriculture. We stand fully with tillage farmers.”
“We have fallen well short of the Government’s own 2025 targets, with only 344,000 ha this year, thus making the 2030 goal of 400,000 ha highly unlikely. This is not an accident. It is a direct result of a Government policy that has actively favoured one sector over another, pushing tillage farmers to the brink. We are losing one tillage farm every week. Tillage is a vital sector not only for our food security but also for our economy. It is estimated to be valued at €1.9 billion and to account for 11,000 jobs. We are only 36% self-sufficient in animal feed. We import the majority of our flour and are forcing our world-renowned drinks industry to source more grain from abroad each year. In face of this crisis, the Minister’s announcement of €50 million is nothing more than spin.”
“The reply stated, "I fully recognise the pressures facing the tillage sector, not least the very challenging market outlook and downward price pressure this season, and I have recently engaged directly with the farming organisations to hear their concerns." Wait for this. The Minister continued, "This Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops". If he does not get his head out of the sand, there will not be any tillage farmers left to grow those crops. For decades, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments have failed to provide the funding and supports our tillage farmers needed to thrive. Budget 2026 is just the latest chapter in this long story of neglect. The numbers speak for themselves. The area of land under tillage has collapsed by over 40% in the past 40 years.”
“Just recently, the IFA and the Irish Grain Growers, among others, were invited in to the agriculture committee to tell us what we already knew, namely, that the tillage industry is on its knees. We heard of the struggles facing the tillage sector. I listened to the Minister’s own colleagues call out for support for farmers struggling in every sense of the word. Members from all sides of the House were united and spoke clearly about the need for this Government to support these farmers and recognise the vital contribution they make. Once again, however, those words have rung hollow. Just last night, questions were put to the Minister’s Department about the tillage sector regarding what new measures would be introduced for 2026 to support tillage farmers.”
“It does not even keep up with inflation. There is a cost-of-living crisis that we are all aware of but what is not being addressed enough is the harsh reality of the cost-of-living crisis for those living with a disability. I want to share with the Dáil the words of one such person who lives with this reality every day. They have to attend a food bank weekly and apart from it being demoralising it is a necessity to survive. The word "saving" does not apply to them as simply, there is nothing left. They know the cold, long winter nights are around the corner and it scares them to think about it. It is our duty to ensure those living with a disability are not left behind, are not shut off from society and get to play their part in an inclusive Ireland.”
“They want to contribute what they can to society. They want to experience the social inclusion that comes with it. However, the risk of losing these vital supports holds them back. As a result, people with disabilities and their households are at a dangerous risk of poverty. This is simply wrong. These are not the values of equality our Republic is built on. The State should be tearing down these barriers to social inclusion, not building them higher. It is clear to me, as someone who worked in the disability sector for 18 years, that too many in the Dáil simply do not understand these daily struggles because if they did and we had more elected Members with this lived experience, we would have seen a very different budget last week. A miserable €10 weekly increase in the disability allowance is an insult.”
“I commend my colleagues on their work on this motion. Most importantly, I pay tribute to the various disability advocacy groups for their invaluable assistance. I worked as a carer for people with disabilities for 18 years in south Kilkenny. The most consistent thing I encountered over those years was that people with a disability want to live as independently as possible. The harsh reality is that the actions of the Minister and his colleagues over several budgets have made this increasingly difficult. The Government has pushed them towards a greater dependency on family, friends and neighbours. They face the loss of their disability allowance and other essential supports like medical cards, with even the slightest increase in their income. Many people living with a disability want to work.”