Noel O'Donovan
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fine Gael · Ireland
“We are not doing enough at a societal level for a health-led approach to prevent drug use. Senator Scahill outlined that An Garda Síochána was not being resourced. We have talked time after time about putting more gardaí into rural Ireland. We need more there.”
“I pay particular credit to the French family for enduring what they had to do during the criminal process and continuing their campaign to bring today about. I commend An Garda Síochána on its work in the area of domestic and sexual violence and the progression it has made in recent years.”
“I want to share in what my colleagues have said and welcome the report of the drugs committee. Our colleagues in the Seanad have put such vital work into it. I agree with the call that it should be a permanent committee. We should have a debate in this House on drugs use, drugs policy and what we are doing as a State.”
“I too welcome David and Veronica to the Gallery on what is an important and emotional day for the French family. As someone who comes from west Cork, I am not too far from Leap. The French family has had widespread support from the people of west Cork in their campaign since the brutal murder of their sister.”
“These are community centres, not just places where they sell alcohol and other substances, which I suppose can cause desperate effects. We need to support rural pubs, which provide a vital service in our countryside. Over 2,000 pubs have closed in recent years.”
“I genuinely thank the Minister for his personal work on this and for the help and support he gave to the French family. We will continue our work, as legislators, to ensure that victims of crime and their families are supported and that those who commit crimes are dealt with properly by the organs and institutions of our State.”
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“I genuinely thank the Minister for his personal work on this and for the help and support he gave to the French family. We will continue our work, as legislators, to ensure that victims of crime and their families are supported and that those who commit crimes are dealt with properly by the organs and institutions of our State.”
“I pay particular credit to the French family for enduring what they had to do during the criminal process and continuing their campaign to bring today about. I commend An Garda Síochána on its work in the area of domestic and sexual violence and the progression it has made in recent years. I worked closely with the protective services unit in Wexford dealing with victims and I can see real progression in this regard. The Minister knows that, as an organisation, it has progressed. The French family would have received deep support from the family liaison unit in An Garda Síochána as well, and that must be recognised. As a State, at times, our organs and institutions can be slow to move but this is good politics today. The Bill has cross-party and broad support. There is further work to be done in other areas, however.”
“I too welcome David and Veronica to the Gallery on what is an important and emotional day for the French family. As someone who comes from west Cork, I am not too far from Leap. The French family has had widespread support from the people of west Cork in their campaign since the brutal murder of their sister. I genuinely thank the Minister for his work on this Bill. I know that David, whom I have met on a number of occasions, expresses deep gratitude for the Minister’s work on this. I acknowledge that. There is further work to be done in this area, as the Minister knows well, in terms of other legislation. There are other advocates who see other parts of legislation that need to be worked on. The job cannot stop today. I welcome this, however.”
“These are community centres, not just places where they sell alcohol and other substances, which I suppose can cause desperate effects. We need to support rural pubs, which provide a vital service in our countryside. Over 2,000 pubs have closed in recent years. The Vintners Federation of Ireland has a solid proposal of a tax rebate scheme from the Government. We need to act before it is too late and we lose our pubs. I see that the incoming British Prime Minister is talking about supporting pubs in the UK. I am not saying we need to look across the water for best practice, but we need to act before it is too late for our rural pubs.”
“We are not doing enough at a societal level for a health-led approach to prevent drug use. Senator Scahill outlined that An Garda Síochána was not being resourced. We have talked time after time about putting more gardaí into rural Ireland. We need more there. We need more drug units in rural Ireland to prevent the criminals in the system who are bringing illegal substances in for sale and supply. We are not doing enough to deter and catch these people, and we need more resources there. Revenue definitely needs more. I welcome the work of the committee. We need a debate on this matter and we need action, because this is affecting every townland, parish and part of our society. We need change. Ironically, the next matter I want to talk about is supporting our rural pubs, which I would see as a vital asset in rural Ireland.”
“I want to share in what my colleagues have said and welcome the report of the drugs committee. Our colleagues in the Seanad have put such vital work into it. I agree with the call that it should be a permanent committee. We should have a debate in this House on drugs use, drugs policy and what we are doing as a State. I honestly admit that I have reservations about the decriminalisation of drug use, but that is my personal view. It obviously cannot just be the criminal justice system that is involved in this issue because it has to be about much more than that. We must support family resource centres and youth centres, which we are not supporting well enough. I visit many of them and they do not know where to go for funding. They are not getting a solid line of funding.”
“I fully agree with the Minister. In terms of practical experience, if you have suspicion to search a vehicle, you may well be of the opinion an offence may be carried out. The person operating the vehicle may well leave the scene and that has been the case. The requirement for the person to stay on the scene is practical, common sense and necessary. Senator McDowell made the point that the person may leave the scene for a particular genuine reason. That is actually covered by the wording "as may be appropriate". From an operational sense, I am in agreement and have no doubt that Senator Gallagher will be in agreement as well that this is practical and required.”
“If we go into any establishment now, we will see people on their phones, and I worry about that. We need to act. We have a responsibility as public representatives to do something about it. That is why we are here. We need to have the courage to speak out, put policies in place and challenge those within institutions, be it the EU or our Departments, to make sure there is clear policy. I would welcome a discussion on it. We need to act sooner rather than later.”
“Social media has its merits and positives in terms of clear information and explaining matters, but it also has its negatives. It is affecting people. It is affecting our younger generations in particular. As politicians, if we asked ourselves whether we like social media in the work that we do and answered honestly, we would probably say "No". It is a conversation that we need to have. It is changing the world that we live in. I think to a time when we used to do mathematics in primary school and recall the introduction of calculators. I say it all the time. If I was asked to do a long division or long multiplication in my mind or down on paper, I would struggle to do it. My fear is that phones and social media are taking away our art of conversation. That is the art of who we are as Irish people and what we are good at.”
“I wish to discuss the issue of social media. It has been discussed many times in this Chamber and by various committees. It has been an ongoing national conversation for a number of years. I welcome news that the UK is introducing a ban to those under 16. Whether a "ban" is the right word or not, I do not know. I welcome the words of the Tánaiste yesterday where he outlined that it is going to be a priority of his and the Government during our EU Presidency to put the issue on the agenda and that if the EU does not act, Ireland needs to stand alone. It is a real strong conversation. I have been contacted by a number of parents in recent days again seeking that we do the same in this country. It is a public health issue.”
“The new planning guidelines that are going to be announced need to be communicated clearly to agents. That is something constructive that could be rolled out across the country. Well done to the Minister of State for his work on this.”
“I welcome the work of the Minister of State and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and their engagement with the local authorities, going around and seeing how we can make things better. We had the GAA before the committee this morning. It is quite stark when we look at the figures for depopulation. Our schools, our churches, our pubs and our community centres need people living in local areas. We need to see consistencies brought into the planning process. To make a constructive suggestion, we see local authorities engaging with community groups, going out with roadshows and rolling out information evenings across our communities. That needs to be done with agents and planners and those professionals who help people applying for planning, because there needs to be consistency.”
“I speak on planning from a unique perspective as someone who has been in politics, stepped away from politics and then moved back. I have seen the planning process and system becoming more difficult. It genuinely has got more difficult in the last number of years. We came out of a crash in the late noughties into 2011 and 2012 and our planning system became more difficult. Whether it was ribbon development, local assessments, local needs and local applicants having difficulty applying and going through the process or the removal of planning liaison officers such as people like James Keane on Cork County Council, the barometer moved to a place where it has become difficult. When I explain the importance of politics to people, it is about the grey areas where policy does not work. Planning policy at the moment does not work.”
“It certainly is an opportune time for Carbery Macra to be in the Chamber. It is opportune that the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, is also in attendance. After 18 months in his position, I think it is first time that I have addressed him in the Chamber, so I would like to congratulate him on his appointment last year to the position of Minister of State. What an honour it is for him personally and for his family across west Cork. It is very fitting that Carbery Macra would be here. We are discussing rural planning, which is probably one of the most important subjects - the Minister of State would agree on this - that we deal with on a daily basis for the next generation so that they can live rurally in west Cork and many other rural parts of our country.”
“I appeal to the HSE to replicate what other EU countries have done and to give life to Emma. Yesterday evening I asked Emma what she would like me to say today because I have her permission to talk. I asked her what words she would like me to use on the floor of the Seanad. She said she watched her brother die and now she is at home in the same place. She sees what is coming and she needs help. As a State we owe it to Emma, and to the many families in this country who live with this horrible disease, to make this drug available. It is not a cure but it is groundbreaking, and this is what scientists have said, in terms of offering more support. Her family, Ted, Kathleen and her younger brother Kevin, would travel the world to keep Emma for longer and we need to do this also as a State.”
“As Members know, or may well not know at this stage, more than 200 people in Ireland suffer from the disease. It is deeply debilitating. It is a neurological disease and the end fate is death. Emma lost her brother Timmy nine years ago from the same disease, when he was three years older than the age Emma is now. Emma has had the courage to speak out and ask for help of the HSE, the Department and the Government. There is drug coming on the system. It would not cure the disease but it would slow its progression. It is offered and available in many countries in the EU and in the US but at the moment the HSE is deciding on its availability and reimbursement for the drug. I appeal to the HSE. Yes there is a cost to the drug but cost should not come into it when we are looking to extend someone's life. It really should not.”
“As the Acting Leader knows, as public representatives we deal with a lot of different issues, projects in our community and a whole multitude of issues but sometimes we meet some really inspiring people who leave a mark on us and who display immense courage. I met such an individual yesterday evening. Emma O'Shea, from Ballylickey near Bantry, is 26 years of age and suffers from Friedreich's ataxia. To be honest, in my years in public service one of the most difficult encounters I have had was to talk to someone suffering with such a disease, to try to talk about a solution and to offer help to Emma and her mother and father, Ted and Kathleen, who were also in the living room. To be honest, I did not know much about Friedreich's ataxia until recent weeks.”
“At least we, as politicians, and our communities that we serve, can see a plan for these towns. We need to get serious and actually deliver an interactive audit and plan. If it is a case of looking at European best practice, let us see how other countries do it. I would like there to be a policy. I would like there to be a debate in this House on some stage, which I might call for.”
“Last week, I met representatives of the family resource centre in Bandon, which is a town that is coming close to 10,000 people. They see the social infrastructure that is missing in the town and the implications this will have for the town going forward. I am calling for the Department of housing to get involved with the local authorities and ask them to create an initiative for the interactive assessment of these towns. Once towns can be assessed, we can create a plan. It is well said in west Cork that Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen need plans. Those plans can be interactive, visual ones for all the various Departments so that when they come along to support towns, be it with healthcare or childcare facilities, the needs have been assessed, are visible and are clearly seen.”
“I have raised in the House a number of times the issue of infrastructure development in our towns and villages across the country, primarily for me in west Cork. Thankfully, we are seeing houses being built in many of our towns. We are seeing hundreds of homes being built in the towns of Bandon and Clonakilty. While we are coming to terms with the infrastructure around that in terms of wastewater and water facilities and services, there is a need to audit the towns for amenities and social infrastructure as well. We talk a lot about that, but we actually have to get down to basics and go and do it. I believe there is a role for local authorities in assessing the towns in town planning. They all have planning policy units that can go in and assess all the clubs and social services.”
“There are two good jobs in the household, with one person working in a semi-State and one working for a pharmaceutical company. Yet the family is struggling. There is a need to look at our tax system in the upcoming budget and in the budgets to come. I would welcome a debate in this House on this matter before the upcoming budget.”
“The Senator laid it out straight, in terms of Irish generals not being able to make decisions themselves on where Irish peacekeeping forces go. We should be making those decisions ourselves as a Government and a nation, rather than asking others to do so. I also want to raise the issue of our income tax policy. A discussion of this issue is needed in this House. As a proud member of Fine Gael, I believe strongly in rewarding hard work, encouraging initiative and supporting those trying to build a better life for themselves and their families. Increasingly, though, there is a concern that our tax system is sending the opposite message. It was a message that came through quite clearly on the doors in west Cork in recent weeks when a young family set out their situation.”
“I wish to share in the comments made by my colleagues congratulating Deputies Seán Kyne and Daniel Ennis on their election to the Lower House. The comments about our former colleague, Seán Kyne, from across the floor have been a tribute to him as a man of sincerity and decency and a man willing to work with all of us in this House. The vote, and the transfers, showed that over the weekend as well. I genuinely wish him the best of luck. It is a symbol of the man he is that he has promised to be a better and more hard-working TD than he was the last time. This is a reflection of the man he is. I also agree with the contribution from Senator Craughwell in terms of the triple lock debate. I look forward to having that debate in this House because it is an important one. Some extremely important issues will be discussed.”
“Following on from that will be the overall flood scheme in the town, which is expected to start in 2030 or 2031. I praise the OPW for schemes in other towns but Bantry is a town that has been left behind. Now we are seeing development through the stages. I am looking for a clear commitment from the Minister of State and Government that Bantry will be funded and the culvert will be upgraded once and for all so that Bantry can be supported and no more flooding will happen in the town.”
“I want to praise the Minister of State and the Office of Public Works for the development of flood schemes across west Cork in the past ten to 15 years. The towns of Bandon, Clonakilty and Skibbereen have been protected from floods for many years ahead. Some of these towns are going through public realm works. We see footpath improvements, pavement works and town enhancements. The "but" is that Bantry is a town I want to see delivery on. The Minister of State is a man who has worked hard on flood schemes in his own town and throughout the country. Bantry is by the sea and experiences both tidal flooding and fluvial river flooding. A scheme is being developed in conjunction with Cork County Council to upgrade a culvert. It is at detailed design stage and due to go to construction next year. It is expected to cost up to €30 million.”
“I finish by acknowledging my former colleagues, those serving today and those who served before them, including the 90 members who lost their lives in the line of duty. Their service deserves not just recognition but our continued support. When An Garda Síochána is strong, supported and trusted, our entire country is safer.”
“I had a fear for the safety of the driver and the occupant. Thankfully, they had left the scene and were apprehended afterwards. However, that is the fear that serving members of An Garda Síochána have when making decisions as to whether to pursue and how to act. We have to protect gardaí in the course of their work. I thank the Minister of State for being here. I welcome and support the motion and the progress it reflects. However, we must continue to go further, not just to invest in An Garda Síochána but to truly support the organisation, the ordinary men and women of the organisation, our family members, to ensure that every garda who puts on the uniform feels it is a job worth doing and to ensure that the communities across Ireland feel safe, supported and protected.”
“Right now, there is a growing sense that this balance is not where it should be and that the system is asking gardaí to act but not always standing by them when they do so. That needs to be addressed. When preparing today's speech, I reflected on an incident I was involved in in New Ross where perpetrators rammed a Garda car after committing a burglary. We combed the district for a number of hours afterwards and we happened to come across the car. I was the driver in the car and I was accompanied by an observer. As the car approached us and the driver saw that it was coming towards a Garda car, it immediately took off. I pursued the car, as was my duty. Continuing on after the car, we came to the site where the car had crashed into a ditch. My first thought was a fear that I might have caused the crash.”
“Law and order is not a political slogan but a necessity of everyday life. Our farming families, fishing communities, tourism sector and local businesses all depend on a strong sense of safety and respect for law. People want to know that if something goes wrong, there is a system and somebody there who will respond with confidence. This is not being heavy handed; it is about being clear. Respect for the law must be matched by respect for those who enforce it and that is our duty as legislators. Like many families across our land, mine continues to have close ties with An Garda Síochána. I see the professionalism, integrity and commitment that gardaí bring to their everyday work. They deserve clarity in the law, support from us as leaders and confidence from the communities they serve.”
“In one such situation, a garda responding to reckless use of a scrambler by an individual masked and acting unlawfully took action in the interests of public safety only later to face legal consequences. What message does this send? Gardaí are required to make split-second decisions. They do so to protect the public, prevent harm and uphold the law. These decisions are made in real time and not in hindsight. Of course, accountability matters; it always must. So too does common sense. When gardaí act in good faith to protect the public, they should have the backing of the system not uncertainty about whether they will face legal consequences for doing their job. If that balance is lost, hesitation follows. That hesitation in policing can come at a cost to human safety. In Cork South-West, we need more gardaí.”
“No garda and no family member should be targeted or intimidated for doing their job. Respect for gardaí is fundamental to the rule of law in this country. At the same time, gardaí must feel protected in how they carry out their duties. That is why proposals such as a separate driving licence classification for gardaí on duty deserves serious consideration. Members should not face uncertainty when making decisions in the course of protecting the public. Clarity around pursuit driving and operational policy is essential, and we should legislate if necessary for garda safety and public safety. It is deeply concerning that gardaí have found themselves before the courts for actions taken in the line of duty.”
“This would free up more gardaí for on-the-ground policing. There are criticisms of the new policing model. I have seen how it has functioned within Garda stations. All Members will have heard of these criticisms and some will call for its scrapping. I am calling for an independent review of its implementation to evaluate its successes, its failures, what is working and what is not. We owe it to serving members but it is also prudent management to assess and analyse. That is my view. The motion calls on the House to condemn threats made against gardaí and their families and that is absolutely necessary. I find it appalling that not all political parties in these Houses have condemned the recent threats on gardaí.”
“We talk about high-visibility policing but too often gardaí are tied up in paperwork and administrative processes. I can attest to this from my own experience. If we want gardaí to be visible in communities, we need to enable them to be visible. That means cutting bureaucracy and ensuring gardaí are supported so they can focus on front-line policing because community policing works. It builds trust, prevents crime and strengthens communities. My suggestion of allowing retiring members to work on, perhaps on court duties, court presenting, preparing a court file, warrants or any one from the long list of internal roles makes common sense. Civilians or Garda staff have a role and have contributed greatly to the organisation. However, we will always need sworn or attested gardaí to carry out investigative and prosecution matters.”
“Consideration should be given to allowing retired members who wish to contribute to continue in their work in a structured capacity. We should not lose his level of expertise because it can still be of benefit to the organisation and to us, the public. The Metropolitan Police in London operates a return scheme for retiring members to continue in the job in a number of roles. We need to learn from this scheme. Many retiring members who would like to continue in work and contribute further but have no clear path to do so. There are also ongoing concerns about pensions, particularly for those who joined post 2013; I was one of them. These issues affect long-term retention and must be addressed once and for all by Government in the upcoming pay negotiations. Another reality relates to how the time of gardaí is used.”
“Measures such as body-worn cameras and stronger penalties for attacks on gardaí are important in protecting both members and the public. However, investment alone does not always reflect the reality on the ground. In recent Dáil debates and in this House, concerns have been raised about Garda visibility and morale. While there are political differences, the underlying issue is real. From my experience and from speaking to members today and every other day, I am clear that morale remains under pressure. We are bringing new people into the organisation, which is essential, but we are also losing experienced members. In 2025 alone, over 200 gardaí retired. This is significant loss of experience and leadership. We need to look at how we retain this knowledge.”
“I also welcome the recognition the motion affords to continued investment across our justice system in An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Prison Service and the Probation Service. There is no doubt progress has been made. Funding has increased significantly with over €2 billion allocated for 2026. Recruitment is expanding with a target of 15,000 gardaí, the highest number in the history of State. The expansion of the Garda College and the growth in Garda staff freeing up members from front-line duties are all positive steps. However, we need to go further. I believe we need a police force of 20,000 members and we should be ambitious with our plans.”
“It is a value that has stayed with me from my early years, through my time in An Garda Síochána and now as a Member of Seanad Éireann. Having worn the uniform, I understand what it represents. It is not just a job; it is a duty to step forward at times when others step back often in difficult and life-threatening situations when their only defence or protective weapon is the strength of their communication. I am proud to have served and have a deep respect for those who continue to serve. Those most close to my family continue to do so. The motion rightly recognises the crucial role played by An Garda Síochána in protecting our State, maintaining law and order and upholding justice. Gardaí serve communities across Ireland 24 hours a day and go above and beyond the call of duty.”
“I second the motion. The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber for this important debate. I would like to acknowledge a friend of mine Michael O'Sullivan from Rosscarbery who was laid to rest on Monday last. He recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Mick had served 39 years as a member of an Garda Síochána. He was much more than a garda; he was a community man at heart. Significantly and deservedly, he was awarded the 2016 overall West Cork Hero award. At the time of receiving his award, his words were that he got happiness from helping people. Mick was the essence of what An Garda Síochána is and continues to be in our communities. I am a former member of An Garda Síochána and public service is something I have lived and not just spoken about.”
“As ever, I thank the Minister of State for his work and that of the Minister, Deputy Heydon and the leadership they are taking in supporting the fishermen. We saw the protests some weeks ago. Many sectors felt they were not being listened to as well as others. Fishermen and fisherwomen have been engaging with the Government in recent months and years and have seen the Government’s care towards the industry. They stuck with the process and kept engaging. That is why we have the support here. For fishermen and all sectors of society, this is the Government listening to the primary producers of food. I welcome these supports and thank the Minister of State for his engagement as always.”
“The Minister of State spoke about 800 boats actively fishing around our shores. These are people protecting our shores. This is their daily work. This support is not about giving money for no reason – there is also the protection of our habitats and there is other work these fishermen would like to do. I want to mention that today too. The Minister of State mentioned the fuel that these inshore boats use. They have small, outboard petrol engines. Prior to today, they had an issue around claiming back VAT on petrol. That is an issue that needs to be taken into account as well. I would welcome the Minister of State’s clarity on whether this fuel scheme will support those types of fishermen and whether it might be looked at in future outside the fuel crisis. They are buying it from pumps but cannot claim back VAT as bigger boats can.”
“I believe that in time, we will see that the correct choices have been made and that challenges and the unpredictability we face as a country have steered this package for what it is – the best outcome for an unpredictable forecast. I will touch briefly on the inshore sector. I welcome the Minister of State's comments that his intention is to fully support the sector to be sustainable and viable going forward. There was mention long before this fuel crisis of a long-term stabilisation payment. I know the task force will look at that issue as part of its ongoing work. It is something on which our minds should be focused at the moment. It is not just about stability today and supporting today. They were in crisis long before the crisis we have seen in recent weeks.”
“Service industries around fishing communities were founded on necessity and without them, the industry could not remain functioning. This is why, once again, I call for consideration when it comes to support for these businesses in future. I welcome the fuel subsidies and the support for the fishing vessels along with the other sectors benefiting from the package. Like Senators Boyle and Duffy, I recently spoke in this House on the need to extend this support. We are especially grateful that the inshore fishermen and women, as well as the ferry companies which play a vital role in moving passengers and freight to and from our islands, have been included in these much-needed supports. I know the last few weeks have been extremely difficult for the Government.”
“It could take seven to eight days to reach ports like Bergen, in Norway, and Skagen, incurring the now even more substantial costs of fuel to get there and back. In Killybegs, we have world-class engineering facilities that are recognised globally. These companies are crying out for work due to the downturn in fishing activity, and, in most cases, have had to reduce their staffing numbers. All we need are suitable facilities to be able to dry-dock these larger vessels and keep the skills and substantial revenue generated in Ireland. I know I am slightly off topic but I would like consideration to be given to this subject in future. We need to keep our skilled engineers and those businesses supported by any means, especially when we have a viable solution.”
“The war in the Gulf, of course, has created untold damage to businesses around the country, with the cost of oil and fuel reaching record highs. Businesses in my county are struggling daily and, in some cases, parking machinery and vehicles when they can to save on costs. Most people who know the fishing industry will be aware that most pelagic trawlers are tied to the piers at this time of the year, due mainly to the lack of quota and fishing opportunities. However, I must also say that when the fishing season ends, the work and maintenance must start on these same vessels. Some of the larger vessels must travel to foreign ports, where dry-dock facilities and skilled engineers are available.”
“I thank the Minister of State for being here. I also welcome the students from County Cork. It is always good to see Cork people in the Chamber. I am substituting for my colleague, Senator Manus Boyle, today. They are big shoes to fill, but I will address some of his thoughts on this matter. At the outset, I commend the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on their roles in bringing forward these fuel subsidies for fishing, commercial and inshore, and for all sectors, including farming, transport and forestry. Undoubtedly, we are living in very challenging times. Economic structures have been shaken ever since the war in the Gulf, with threats of tariffs and the unpredictable behaviour of people in high office in our neighbouring countries.”
“We need to look at our own resources in terms of an energy crisis. I will be discussing it further but it is worth a debate with the Minister for energy in due course.”
“We cannot move to a state of zero emissions in the short term. We must work towards it. We have a natural resource 50 km off our coast in west Cork that potentially may lead to billions of barrels' worth of oil and gas. It is pragmatic and a commonsense policy to see exactly what is there. There is talk of billions of barrels' worth of oil but nobody knows exactly how much. The company that owns the licensing and the project at the moment is requesting an exploration licence. This was refused in 2023 but it needs to be re-looked at. The Government needs to look at energy policy and energy security. All our oil and gas is brought to this country. It is imported. It is brought in through ships that use diesel fuel. There is a reduction in terms of emissions if we can use our own fuel. It is my view but I think it is a commonsense view.”
“There are many discussions at the moment around the fuel crisis, the energy crisis, Government supports and our energy policy as a nation. The Barryroe oil field is a topic that is raised quite a lot in west Cork and in recent times local media and national media have raised the issue. Not just in recent weeks, I have been engaging with the Ballyroe oil field. I met them long before this fuel protest in recent weeks. I have spoken to many in west Cork to sound out the views of people, including party members in Fine Gael and commercial people and business people. I want to put on the record that I support moving to renewables. I support all of us -whether it is parliamentarians, businesses, industry- all of us as citizens protecting our environment and reducing our emissions going forward. However, we must be realistic.”
“Inshore fishers are being protected here as well. As many of the inshore boats are small with petrol engines and do not qualify for the current supports, it is important they are included in the new scheme. There is important work ahead in agriculture. The CAP does not get mentioned in agriculture debates as much as I would like. It is going to be really important in the months ahead to ensure that we have a sustainable CAP, a CAP that actually works for the farmers of today. I thank the Minister for his work. It is clear that this funding must be released as soon as possible and that the process involved must be as simple as possible.”
“I am asked by many of the farmers that I represent why there is no carbon tax paid on aviation fuel. I am not sure if the Minister has the answer. Maybe that is a question for the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Why is there no carbon tax paid on aviation fuel? I would like an answer to that question. I also want to acknowledge the support scheme that was put in place for fishers. We are all aware in this House of the lack of support for the fishing community in recent years, if not decades. This time it is a credit to the Government that a scheme is going to be put in place to support fishermen with their increased fuel costs. That is welcome and I thank the Minister specifically for his engagement on that. Senator Manus Boyle asked me to raise the specific point that it is for the whole sector, both inshore and offshore.”