Neale Richmond
Dublin Rathdown · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I am grateful to Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this once again. I welcome the comments by his party leader this week when she declared that this is a great State and a great place to live in. It makes a welcome change from most other days of the week.”
“Another thing that must be looked at when discussing a united Ireland is that a lot of work has to be done to show example from political representatives on the base level of sectarianism that at least two other colleagues on these benches and I put up with every day.”
“They could not decide among themselves in the "Yes" campaign whether they would have a new form of sterling or a currency pegged to sterling or adopt the euro. That is not an issue for us. We join the European Union and we join the euro. It is simple as.”
“I will make a few concluding remarks to follow on from some of the points made by the Taoiseach in his opening iteration because in his 20 minutes he did not cover them all.”
“Over the coming months, we will act impartially serving as an honest broker among our fellow member states to progress many files in areas that were raised here today. Our work will respond to the overall interests and needs of the union, its member states and citizens across Europe.”
“More pertinently to the Deputy's questions, very real charges have been placed in The Irish Times and by other investigative journalists stating that the amounts of alumina being produced from Aughinish are going indirectly to the Russian war machine. If that is the case, it is completely unacceptable.”
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“They must develop the comprehensive proposals that might impact on it in order to provide peace of mind so that when this Bill is enacted, which I very much hope will be the case, in 12 months' time that not only will it be fit for purpose - it clearly is already in its format here - but it will provide the overall surety and guarantee so that it is something that everyone can stand over, be it a teacher, parent, legislator or whoever else. Once again, I commend Deputy Kenny for his work on this Bill, and for introducing it here. I beg the House to pass this timed amendment to come back to it in 12 months.”
“I do not for an instant disagree with one comment that was made here in the Chamber by any Deputy. I agree with them. I appreciate the very real human and emotive need to get this done quickly. The fact that we are essentially 21 years behind the Canadians is something that does stick in my craw. The fact that something significant has been moved so recently in the far more similar jurisdiction of Great Britain just this year will provide an added level of motivation for officials to work across everything to make sure that this timed amendment provides a sufficient opportunity to explore the relevant matters.”
“While I welcome the provisions of this Bill, work has already started in the area, and that is why I asked Deputies to note that initial discussions are already under way between the Department of education and the Department of Health. In addition, there are additional discussions under way between the HSE and the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council. While these discussions are at an early stage, significant further engagement is required in this area with a wide range of stakeholders before further progress can be made. That includes the Health Products Regulatory Authority engaging with employees and those listed by organisations who have completed specific training on the conditions. I understand that a number of people have started this. I do not want to repeat the debate.”
“As I outlined earlier, there is absolutely no objection to Deputy Kenny's Bill, but the Government is asking for the timed amendment of 12 months to be agreed to allow for sufficient time to develop the legislative proposals in line with the principles of the Bill. I assure Deputy Ó Murchú, and all those who contributed in the House, that the Government will proceed with this Bill as quickly as is possible. There is a very clear bit of work that is needed to be done. The safety and well-being of all children and young people in schools is a priority for this Government. While the board of management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of pupils, it is the Department of education that consistently seeks to support them.”
“I trust that the House recognises the current practice that is happening in our schools to safeguard children and young people, and that while we support the provisions of this important Bill in strengthening this work, I am asking for a timed amendment to allow for consideration and progression of all relevant matters.”
“There is a requirement to obtain comprehensive legal advice and ensure its thorough review, to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including the education partners, in particular staffing unions, management bodies and parent and student representatives, and to consider registration, training and budgetary matters before proposals can be developed. These may or may not require legislative change. A timed amendment provides sufficient opportunity to explore the relevant matters at an interdepartmental level and develop comprehensive proposals that may impact settings other than schools. I thank the House for affording me the opportunity to speak about the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth.”
“The learning and development programme to be established under the plan will strengthen SNA service delivery by providing access to appropriate and legitimate opportunities for upskilling and reskilling to ensure that SNAs are equipped to meet the complex needs of children in their care in an evolving educational environment. In conclusion, I ask Members to note that discussions and policy development arising, in regard to dealing with medical emergencies in schools, are currently at an early stage. There is a need for co-ordination across several Departments and agencies.”
“Where specific targeted training is required, the board of management can also liaise with the HSE in order to ensure that the HSE provides guidance and training that enables the SNA to meet the care needs of the pupil in an appropriate manner. It is a matter for individual school authorities to make such arrangements locally. The SNA information hub that was set up for SNAs and schools as a result of feedback on the plan also includes links to accredited training. In addition, the Department of Education and Youth is currently advancing work on the first SNA workforce development plan, which is intended for publication shortly. Proposals for the plan have been developed in consultation with key stakeholders, including SNAs, school management bodies, unions, schools, parents and students.”
“Many of these education support centres, which are funded by the Department of Education and Youth, provide accredited courses in first aid response and medical care for school staff. Children's Health Ireland also provides an education day specifically for SNAs on clean intermittent catheterisation, CIC. The SNA national training programme, which is fully funded by the Department of Education and Youth for serving SNAs, provides practical training and a module on supporting students with primary care needs, including medical and complex needs. To date, approximately 3,774 SNAs have completed the national training programme.”
“SNAs support the non-teaching care needs of students with additional needs, fostering inclusion and attendance. Primary care needs covered include the administration of medication, in addition to assistance with feeding, assistance with mobility and toilet hygiene. When appointing a SNA, it is a matter for the board of management to ensure they are in a position to effectively meet the care needs of pupils for whom SNA support has been allocated. There are many different training and upskilling opportunities currently available for school staff in the area of first aid and medical training. These include the education support centres located in regions nationwide who provide professional development to teachers, school management and parents.”
“These measures would be designed to lessen the possibility of any difficulties arising or to ensure that if a pupil suffers from an illness which requires the administration of medication, that appropriate treatment is available. Where a child requires adult assistance to assist in the administration of medicine and where the extent of assistance required would overly disrupt normal teaching time, special needs assistant, SNA, support may be allocated for this purpose. The role of the SNA, as set out in Circular 30/2014 - a circular which will be updated in the near future - is to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs to facilitate their attendance at school.”
“The list of organisations that can register with the HPRA includes educational establishments and childcare facilities and I understand that five schools have registered. Registration is a matter for school boards of management if they consider it necessary to do so. However, it is understood that schools also have local arrangements in place, including parents attending to administer medication on-site. Where a school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a medical condition suffered by one or more pupils, it may be possible for the management authorities, working in conjunction with parents, teachers and children, to put preventative measures in place.”
“In addition, discussions are also under way with the Health Service Executive and the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council on how best to further develop policy in this area. These discussions are at an early stage, and significant further engagement is required with a wide range of stakeholders before further progress can be made on this important matter. Officials are committed to continuing this engagement with a view to progressing these important matters as a priority. As the House may be aware, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, is the statutory authority for medicines in Ireland. Under the regulations, employees or those engaged by listed organisations - who have completed specified training - can, under conditions outlined in the regulations, administer medication in an emergency.”
“Therefore, while the Government is not opposing the Bill l am asking for a timed amendment to allow for consideration of all relevant matters at an interdepartmental level and to allow for the development of comprehensive proposals. I note that it may also be necessary to consider settings other than schools, to obtain comprehensive legal advice, to allow for engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including the education partners, management bodies and parent and student representatives, and to consider registration, training and budgetary matters. I ask the House to note that initial discussions already are under way on this matter between the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Health.”
“I recognise the importance of this Bill, in proposing to make provision for promoting participation by a greater number of school staff in approved courses of training in first aid for medical emergencies and for a greater number of schools to be listed as organisations whose staff are authorised to administer certain prescription-only medicinal products without a prescription for the purpose of saving life or reducing severe distress in medical emergencies. I wish to assure the House that the safety and well-being of all children and young people in our schools is a priority for Government. While the board of management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils, the Department of Education and Youth consistently seeks to support them in that role.”
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Deputy Kenny for bringing forward this important Bill. I am reminded of progress made in other jurisdictions. I remember speaking in favour of Sabrina's law when I was in the Seanad quite some time ago. I will take the opportunity to outline the engagement that is under way between the Department of Education and Youth and other relevant stakeholders in regard to progressing how we deal with medical emergencies in our schools. I would also like to outline to the House the current practice that is happening in our schools to safeguard children and young people, as well as staff members, when such instances occur.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, to allow for consideration of all relevant matters at an inter-departmental level and the development of comprehensive proposals, noting that it may be necessary to consider settings other than schools, to obtain comprehensive legal advice, to allow for engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including the education partners, management bodies and parent and student representatives, and to consider registration, training and budgetary matters." I am pleased to be afforded the opportunity to speak today about the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth.”
“Out-of-hours GP care is provided to the population in integrated areas. The Government is committed to the continued development of our general practice service to ensure patients across the whole country have timely access to GP services. As mentioned previously, work is ongoing to increase the GP workforce and therefore improve access to both daytime and out-of-hours GP services. Significant investment has taken place in general practice both in the 2019 and 2023 GP agreements but we need to do a lot more. The input from the Deputy makes a very clear geographic case for an increased need to service the wider Dublin Fingal and north county area, with a particular focus on the rapidly growing town of Balbriggan.”
“Indeed, I was born in Mount Carmel hospital. It will implement the use of innovative patient pathways and have a real impact on reducing waiting times for patients. If waiting times for patients are reduced, it means they will have less chance to need that out-of-hours care. Once it is fully operational, that Swords surgical hub is expected to deliver additional annual activity of 8,000 day care procedures based on the four theatres, 5,700 minor operations procedures, and approximately 18,500 outpatient department appointments. The Minister also introduced greater regulations to strengthen that. That is all complementary to the issue the Deputy raised and needs to be addressed at source. Needless to say, I will bring that directly to the Minister following this debate.”
“Something that we talk about, which is particular to this issue and which is parallel, not the solution, but complementary to it, is to have a greater D-Doc facility that goes into the north county. That is obvious to the Deputy and me, and indeed obvious to the Minister. That is ultimately the direction of travel we are taking, not just because Fingal is the fastest-growing county in the country or that Balbriggan is the fastest-growing area. I remember once when it was Stepaside but obviously it has been overtaken two censuses later. One of the key areas to cover the wider north county area is the development of the Swords surgical hub, which will be operational from this summer. It will draw on and replicate the success of Tallaght and Mount Carmel elective surgical hubs. One is in my own constituency.”
“The latest population figure for the wider area covered is 690,000. It is covered by five treatment centres, which the Deputy has listed, two of which are only open overnight on weekdays, and those two are open 24 hours on weekends and public holidays. The geography is vast and the requirement for a car is quite obvious. The key thing the Minister would say, which I absolutely agree with her on, is about two things in the immediate area that require attention. The first is the sheer number of GPs in the system. Genuine and forceful efforts are being made on her behalf to make sure we have more general practitioners, both through the additional annual investment and through the conclusion of the GP GMS agreement.”
“I could also talk about the responsibility of every GP to make sure they are providing a genuine option for out-of-hours care for their patients as per their contractual requirements and, increasingly, how those out-of-hours services have been developed and expanded over time, and how they are working extremely well in so many parts of the country. It is a real testament not just to the Department, the HSE and the Minister but to the doctors who provide that care. I had reason to be in west Cork just last week and I read the local paper. It talked about a doctor who retired after 27 years of providing out-of-hours care to the sprawl of west Cork. I know Balbriggan is a long way from Stepaside but west Cork is even bigger again. Crucially, it is important to look at the population in the round.”
“I have to be very careful with this reply because, needless to say, replying on behalf of our mutual dear friend, the Minister for Health, whom I spoke to subsequent to receiving the script, is a balance, because I could throw back to the Deputy many of the points she has raised and somehow that constitutes a reply. I sometimes question, when replies are being drawn up, whether people look at maps or live in the areas. I know where Clonsilla is. I also know where North Strand is. It is a long way from Balbriggan. It should not take a southsider to tell someone that.”
“The real issue raised by Deputy Toole about the transfer of leases is key. We have to provide that level of confidence in the system, not only for the consumer but also for those who are prepared to engage in this process to make sure there is balance and affordability. I undertake to write to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on the Deputy's behalf to see if we can get a specific deputation meeting on this issue. Perhaps it might be more pertinent for oral parliamentary questions in the next round. Hopefully, the wider information will provide a good grounding for further discussion on this key area, which I am grateful to the Deputy for raising.”
“I thank Deputy Toole and the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to provide a response to the overarching points the Deputy made and the wider context of domestic renewable electricity generation, the substantial progress that has been made, and the opportunities to further improve the transition to renewable energy to make sure it is not just a climate imperative but is central to our energy security and, indeed, our economic development. I fundamentally believe that we are making crucial investments in renewable energy, our electricity grid and, importantly, in energy efficiency. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and, indeed, the continuing conflict in Ukraine underline again why we must accelerate the deployment of renewables, strengthen our grid and retrofit homes and businesses.”
“For the 2025-2026 PSO levy year, it is expected that over €11 million will be returned to Irish electricity consumers via the PSO levy as a result of operational scheme projects. It is worth noting that all renewable electricity developments are subject to careful independent scrutiny at the planning application stage by the relevant planning authority when reaching a decision on an individual planning application. Operational functions of the planning system, including the process of planning applications are, of course, a matter for the relevant planning authority. The points made by Deputy Toole are particularly relevant and I will be more than happy to bring them directly to the Minister, Deputy O’Brien.”
“The accelerated deployment of both rooftop solar and solar farms is a critical part of meeting the Government’s commitment to deliver 80% of Ireland’s electricity demand from renewable energy sources in the near term, including 8 GW of solar energy alone. The design of our renewable electricity support scheme auctions ensures that the new renewables capacity is delivered in as cost effective and competitive a manner as possible. Solar has featured strongly in each scheme auction to date delivering real benefits to Ireland’s electricity network and Irish electricity consumers. Indeed, at times of high electricity prices the two-way scheme design ensures consumers benefit directly from the claw back of any revenue in excess of scheme strike prices.”
“Ireland currently has over 8 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity connected to the network, a remarkable achievement as it means we have added approximately 5 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity in just ten years, including doubling our wind capacity and establishing solar energy as a major pillar of our energy supply. In a few short years, solar has become a major component of our electricity supply. Solar is now the third-highest supplier of indigenously generated electricity, behind natural gas and wind, to the electricity grid. Solar is not only reducing electricity bills for households and businesses but it is also easing pressure on the grid by lowering peak demand and supporting a more resilient energy system.”
“It is now more important than ever that we reduce Ireland’s exposure to imported fossil fuel price shocks. The programme for Government has reaffirmed Ireland’s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables in the near term with plans to move to net zero by 2050. We are fortunate here in Ireland to have extraordinary renewable energy resources. Our wind is among the strongest in Europe. Our solar sector is growing at speed, particularly in County Meath but, indeed, beyond, and it is already the third highest share of electricity generation for the country.”
“I thank Deputy Toole for her forensic Topical Issue. I appreciate the detail and I will endeavour to respond as best I can on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien. Ireland’s energy security has moved from being a long-term ambition to becoming one of the most pressing challenges facing our country. I think back to the formation of the Common Agricultural Policy which was based on the basic need that Europe did not starve again. We are now in a situation where the basic need is that we cannot allow the lights to go out again in Europe because recent geopolitical tensions and volatility in global energy markets have proven that energy security is not just an environmental issue but it is essential for delivering long-term energy security and price stability for Irish households and businesses.”
“The LDA has also been tasked with taking over State lands in addition to unlocking stalled private planning consented developments in the shorter term through its market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh, to facilitate additional starter home delivery. We will continue to work closely with local authorities, approved housing bodies, the LDA and other key stakeholders to support delivery of the starter homes programme and I will undertake to bring the points made eloquently by Deputy Hearne to the Minister in due course.”
“I greatly appreciate Deputy Hearne’s contribution. Delivering Homes, Building Communities is a clear priority for Government and we are committed to delivering on the targets across all pillars of the plan. The strategy delivers on the programme for Government commitment to increase housing supply and tackle homelessness with an ambitious target to deliver 15,000 starter homes annually to 2033 via local authorities, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency, the first home scheme, the vacant properties refurbishment grant and the help to buy scheme. The next iteration of the local authority housing delivery action plan will shortly commence outlining local authorities plans to deliver in their areas over the next five years.”
“In conclusion, in order to further drive the required delivery of 90,000 starter homes under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, local authorities including Dublin City Council will shortly commence the preparation of new housing delivery action plans for review by the Department, setting out how the starter home programme will be implemented within their area. These plans, replacing those previously drawn up under Housing for All, will be informed by affordable housing need within the local authority area and will involve collaboration with the delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency, approved housing bodies and the wider development sector, as applicable. The plans will be published on each local authority's website following engagement with the relevant Department.”
“Two additional schemes with the potential to deliver a further 240 affordable homes are under assessment. The first home scheme, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, is also available to support eligible new home purchasers. It has been availed of by 93 affordable home buyers in Dublin city up to the fourth quarter of 2025, the latest period for which statistics have been published. The Department of housing is funding 12.5 dedicated administrative and technical staffing posts in Dublin City Council to support the resourcing and development of these starter homes schemes. In addition to this, we look at cost-rental delivery, the croí cónaithe scheme and, crucially, the vacant property refurbishment grant and other available opportunities.”
“Dublin City Council has established a significant pipeline of starter home delivery and continues to work proactively with all delivery partners to ensure the successful delivery of these homes. Dublin City Council currently has an affordable housing delivery programme that includes a total of 789 new starter homes, which will be available for affordable purchase by eligible, approved housing candidates by 2028. These homes will be located at Ballymun, Montpelier, Oscar Traynor Road and Cherry Orchard. Twelve homes have been delivered at Ballymun to date, with the schemes at Montpelier and Oscar Traynor Road at an advanced stage. We will see significant delivery during the year. The delivery programme continues to be expanded and accelerated.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne, who unfortunately is not here today. Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied in the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The Government is continuing to invest an unprecedented level of funding to support housing delivery, which will underpin the new starter homes programme, delivering an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually to 2030. In terms of starter home delivery, over 22,000 starter home supports have been delivered since the launch of the previous housing plan, Housing for All, including nearly 1,000 in Dublin City.”
“It is similar with Clonburris in South Dublin County Council's locality. I would argue that many of the mistakes made before have been learned from, but there are a heck of lot more that need to be learned from, and that requires our diligence to make sure those mistakes are not repeated. We need to make sure that, absolutely, we crack on and massively ramp up the delivery of new homes, but that those communities and, indeed, the scope for commercial facilities that goes with that are prioritised as well. Again, these are points I will be more than happy to make to the Minister on the Deputy’s behalf.”
“The part of Dublin where I lived was very much a project of the Celtic tiger era where land that was once rural was rezoned rapidly, and housing of all forms – apartments, duplexes and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses - were built at pace, but it took approximately ten years for the schools to open, for roads to be finished off and even for the basic, more commercial entities such as supermarkets and shops to come on stream. We see where development has got this right, such as in Cherrywood, just up the road from me, where the roads and parks are already in. It is only now that we are starting to see the large-scale housing accommodation provided. The three school sites have not only been identified but groundwork has started, and they will be open for the children of that area to be educated in.”
“I will make two points quite clearly. In relation to affordable homes, that is the sort of prioritisation the LDA should be looking for. I am more than happy to bring this point forward on the Deputy’s behalf to the Minister. Perhaps there will be scope for further discussion at the next round of oral parliamentary questions. The Deputy has raised a point that is not being raised enough in relation to the collection of development levies and the ability to use those funds for community facilities.”
“Key measures include the expansion of the LDA’s geographical area of operation, which will enable the agency to partner with more regional-based local authorities and bring forward developments on local authority-owned land. I could not agree more with the Deputy, and I think this matter is going to be a precursor to Deputy Hearne's Topical Issue question to the Minister. Prioritising affordable homes first and foremost should be the aim of the LDA, and I will make sure this point is brought directly to the relevant Ministers.”
“In addition, the agency has partnered with Kildare County Council to deliver 66 affordable purchase homes last November at Barracksfield West in Naas. More recently, the LDA has launched Priory Fields in partnership with Fingal County Council, as Deputy Boland will be aware, to deliver the first phase, comprising 36 affordable purchase homes of a total of 345 homes at Hackettstown in Skerries. A further phase of 91 affordable purchase homes is planned, with the remainder being delivered as 117 cost-rental homes and 101 social homes. Furthermore, the expanded role and remit of the Land Development Agency, as outlined in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, will help to further accelerate its delivery of affordable homes.”
“Under this scheme, newly built homes are made available at a reduced price for first-time and other eligible buyers who cannot afford to purchase these homes at the open market value. These homes are made available at a sale price of at least 15% below comparable housing market prices. Since 2022, the LDA has delivered over 400 affordable purchase homes through partnership arrangements with local authorities, on State lands or sourced through Project Tosaigh. This delivery includes the LDA working in partnership with other bodies, such as at Shanganagh. A total of 597 homes were delivered there, of which 91 were affordable purchase, with the remainder being delivered as 306 cost-rental homes and 200 social homes across 2024 and 2025.”
“More pertinently and directly to the Deputy's point, on behalf of the Minister, we all know why the LDA was set up and the ambition it has. The Deputy is right that it is really ramping up. We can see that in sod turnings, on one hand, such as in Richmond Village, and in site clearings, such as at the former Central Mental Hospital, or Dundrum Central as we know it, but also, crucially, in people moving into homes, as we see in Shanganagh and Shankill. In terms of affordable purchase homes, LDA-sourced or -built affordable purchase homes are delivered in partnership with local authorities, funded by the Department via the affordable housing fund and sold through the local authority affordable purchase scheme.”
“The key to this is that we are in the grips of an energy crisis that leads to issues with costs and food provision. In turn, we need to make sure the systems already in place in this regard, through the activities of the CCPC and the CSO, perhaps communicate more clearly and directly to allow that level of consumer confidence to be in place and ensure people are aware that even though things are very tight, the Government has genuine plans, be it through changes to income tax rates or targeted supports and social welfare, to make sure a little bit of a break is given to what I accept is a very hard pressed part of our society.”
“The addition of two other grocery retailers has provided other options. When we look at consumer spending, purchasing power went up by 2.9% last year compared with the year before. This is something that has, unfortunately, bedevilled economies across Europe. Croatia and Hungary introduced price caps on groceries and that had a disastrous consequence, with a lack of affordability and availability. The left-wing Government in Spain proposed to introduce price caps, only to reach the conclusion that isolated, rural supermarkets and smaller stores would simply have to close. To get to the nub of the Deputy’s point, I do not for an instant hesitate to accept that people are very much feeling the pinch at the supermarket tills at the moment, and they are rightly concerned.”
“To be honest, I do not necessarily accept that. Perhaps this is a communications issue. As the Deputy said, the structures are there. The CCPC enforces competition and consumer protection law, and the CSO independently collects and publishes official price data through the consumer price index. This means two bodies are doing the key things the Deputy is asking for. The CCPC is not the price monitoring or price regulating body; it just enforces the law. The CSO is the price monitoring body. The Deputy is right, equally, that grocery prices are not a uniquely Irish issue. We do not perhaps have the competition in the grocery sector that I would like, but let us not forget that there were only three major grocery retailers in the country up until about ten or 15 years ago.”
“In parallel, the CCPC protects consumers by preventing anti-competitive outcomes that could lead to higher prices or reduced choice, including in rural areas. For example, the CCPC approved a proposed supermarket acquisition by Tesco only after the company agreed to divest an outlet in Oranmore, protecting local competition in Galway. The Central Statistics Office continues to publish detailed and independently-verified data through the consumer price index, including on food and drink prices. This data provides a transparent and authoritative basis for understanding price movements across the wider economy.”
“This analysis examined market concentration, entry and expansion, national and international price trends, and the profitability of major grocery retailers. The CCPC concluded that while grocery prices have risen significantly since 2021, there is no evidence of a failure of competition or of excessive pricing in the sector. The CCPC plays an active and enforcement-focused role in protecting consumers. It enforces competition and consumer protection law across the economy, including in the retail and grocery sectors, and takes action, for example, where traders mislead consumers, fail to display prices correctly, or breach pricing transparency requirements. This includes inspections, prosecutions and enforcement actions in the grocery and wider retail sectors.”
“The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is the independent statutory body responsible for enforcing competition law and consumer protection legislation. The CCPC is not a price-monitoring or price-regulating body. The collection, compilation and publication of official price data is a statutory function of the Central Statistics Office. Businesses in Ireland are generally free to set their own prices, provided they do so independently and in compliance with competition and consumer protection law. The CCPC has engaged with public concerns about grocery prices within its existing remit. In August 2025, it published an updated high-level analysis of the Irish grocery retail sector, updating its 2023 work.”
“I am grateful to the Deputy for raising this issue, one that I have absolute familiarity with having previously been a Minister of State in the Department with responsibility for retail during a period when we had 16.9% grocery inflation on the back of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which massively increased food and energy prices across western Europe. Global inflation will see grocery prices increase. At the time, we would have seen grocery stores reduce their prices on about 700 products in the interim but there was a range of different proposals suggested. The opportunity I have this afternoon, given the directness of the points raised by Deputy Daly, is to outline the existing situation. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is responsible for policy in relation to competition and consumer protection.”