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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“We are at a ceiling nationally of 30,000 houses and this country has great schemes, such as the help-to-buy scheme and other supports, but an infrastructural deficit is causing real issues. I welcome comments made recently by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste on the matter and that they will engage with Uisce Éireann. I ask the Leader to raise the issue of increased funding for Uisce Éireann with senior Government officials, which I have always asked for during my debates in the House. With increased funding, the mechanism of delivery of these capital projects needs to be looked at again. There are strategic business analyses and planning assessments but the five-to-seven-year completion rate for these projects needs to be looked at. It is not just a case of giving more money to Uisce Éireann; we need to look at these processes again.”
“I wish to discuss the issue of housing, and more specifically a wastewater treatment plant in Dunmanway, west Cork. Dunmanway, my home town, is famous for being the home of Sam Maguire, even though we do not win the cup too often. For the past number of years, people have been unable to build houses in the town. Similar to the issue my colleague, Senator Murphy, raised about an area in Galway, the wastewater treatment plant is at capacity. It was built in 2013 but no longer conforms to EU discharge limits. It is a real heartbreak for the people of Dunmanway that houses cannot be built there. I have friends and family who are leaving the town because of this.”
“I might sound alarmist, but Cork County Council had to visit Ballinascarty and Dunmanway last weekend to assist people who were caught up in the flooding. We need to find solutions. Landowners are afraid to clear and maintain rivers because of their fear that Inland Fisheries Ireland and local authorities will get involved. We need to bring about a commonsense solution. We, as a State, need to step in. We need to bring Inland Fisheries Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of the environment to the table to find a solution. That is why I am asking the Leader, similar to what was asked by Senator Boyle, to invite the Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to attend the Chamber for an informed debate about the proper maintenance of our rivers to ensure a commonsense plan.”
“I have invited Kevin Boxer Moran to visit west Cork to see the damage for himself. We have a crisis in our rivers and streams in this country. To put it simply, they are full and choked up with gravel, silt and a build-up of debris from years of no proper maintenance. There is no doubt that we have a climate change issue in this country and globally. We see change in the increased levels of rainfall, but we have also seen change in recent years in that we no longer maintain and clear our rivers as we used to. I love nature. I love west Cork and our unique and special landscape. We have a biodiversity crisis. I am on the side of protecting our streams and rivers, but not at the cost of our people or property. We need to find balance.”
“As we look out the windows of the Chamber this afternoon we will see, dare I say it, signs of spring or a good summer ahead. Unfortunately, the issue I will raise is the flooding events in west Cork during the past weekend. It was yet another flooding event for many of the rural communities I represent, including Rossmore, Ardcahan, which is near Dunmanway, and Halfway. Ballinascarty, which is close to Clonakilty, was probably the worst-hit area. We saw both residential and commercial properties flooded yet again. In addition to many private properties suffering damage, public infrastructure and roads were damaged, predominantly due to rivers bursting their banks. I commend my local councillor, Councillor John Michael Foley, on raising the matter at Cork County Council yesterday.”
“Those of us who ran in the local and general elections this past year know well the work we must do. I ask the Leader to seek a debate on the topic of loneliness at a future point. Loneliness is a silent pandemic in our communities. It is a pandemic after a pandemic and one that affects every age demographic, young and old, urban and rural. A solution requires much more than funding. It requires a national conversation and a cross-departmental approach to the issue. We are a nation of good people, good communities, volunteerism, craic agus ceol. We now need to act to protect our communities, however, and prevent further isolation and loneliness. It is our duty.”
“Law and order, standing firm and knowing the difference between right and wrong both domestically and internationally, are fundamental to my beliefs and those of my party. Turning to things domestic and, indeed, parochial, I am putting Members on notice at the beginning of this term that they will hear me mention my constituency of Cork South-West and west Cork in general frequently. Fishing, farming, tourism and small, family-run businesses are still the backbone of many of the rural communities that I represent. I am passionate about my home and I am determined to use the opportunity I now have to deliver an honest politics and a politics that delivers for west Cork. We have many challenges in this country, in housing, health, infrastructure and improving disability services.”
“During last week's debate, many Senators, some of whom have vast experience, spoke about a politics of collaboration, a politics of working together for the common good, in the national interest and for the betterment of the people of Ireland. I appreciate that many here do not know me well but I assure Members that is also the politics that I do because it is the politics that best serves the people and the various constituencies that we represent. As a former member of An Garda Síochána and now a public representative, serving the public has been my life's work. It is both an honour and a privilege to serve. I look forward in the coming years to being a strong voice for my former colleagues, the men and women of An Garda Síochána.”
“As these are my maiden words in the Chamber, may I begin by wishing the Cathaoirleach well in his position as Chair. I also extend my well wishes to the Leader of the House and my party colleague, Senator Kyne. I look forward to working with them both and with all Members of this House for the collective and common good. I also put on record my appreciation to the leader of my party, the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, and the Taoiseach for affording me the opportunity to be here today. Finally, I thank the important people in my life, my family, friends and supporters, for their unending support and belief in me.”