Pat Casey
Labour Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“As the time permitted for this debate has expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with the order of the Senate of this day: "That section 29 is hereby agreed to in Committee; in respect of each of the sections of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Bill…”
“Amendment No. 9 has been ruled out of order as a potential charge on Revenue. I will read out the reasons for refusal. Amendment No. 9 would delete subsection (5) and insert section 10A completely.”
“I was in my office when I heard a lot of GAA talk, so I said I could not miss this opportunity, as a man from Wicklow, which does not often get the privilege to play in Croke Park. To actually walk the steps of the Hogan stand and to lift the Tailteann Cup was a huge day for Wicklow.”
“Amendment No. 20 has been ruled out of order as it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill. Senator Harmon wants me to read out the reason. Amendment No. 20 would require the Minister to cause an equality impact assessment to be carried out before the commencement of a specified section of the Act by a commencement order.”
“As it is now 8.15 p.m., I am required to put the following question in accordance with the Order of the Seanad of this day: "That amendment No.”
“There is a huge deficit in public transport in Wicklow, whether for bus, rail or road. Today, I acknowledge the work of the Wicklow GAA, the county board, the management team, the players and, indeed, the sponsorship, which was a deal I had a hand in putting together three years ago.”
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“As the time permitted for this debate has expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with the order of the Senate of this day: "That section 29 is hereby agreed to in Committee; in respect of each of the sections of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment; Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby received for final consideration; and the Bill is hereby passed."”
“As it is now 8.15 p.m., I am required to put the following question in accordance with the Order of the Seanad of this day: "That amendment No. 22 is hereby negatived in Committee; that section 22 is hereby agreed to in Committee; in respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment; Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby received for final consideration; and the Bill is hereby passed."”
“The amendment must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 165 as it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill as read a second time.”
“Amendment No. 20 has been ruled out of order as it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill. Senator Harmon wants me to read out the reason. Amendment No. 20 would require the Minister to cause an equality impact assessment to be carried out before the commencement of a specified section of the Act by a commencement order. It is an established principle that amendments that would make the commencement of the Act contingent on actions external to the control of the House are not in order as this is in conflict with the general principle of the Bill as agreed on Second Stage, the general principle being that the Act may be commenced by the Minister and become law following its enactment.”
“Amendment No. 9 has been ruled out of order as a potential charge on Revenue. I will read out the reasons for refusal. Amendment No. 9 would delete subsection (5) and insert section 10A completely. This subsection entitles local authorities to refuse to make homeless services available to a person where that person has refused a provision offer in the previous 24 months. By deleting this subsection, the amendment would oblige local authorities to make additional offers of homeless services to these persons and thereby to provide additional service compared to that currently provided in the Bill. The amendment must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 42, as it has potential to impose a charge on Revenue. Senator Laura Harmon indicated first that she wanted to speak on the section and then I will call Senator Ruane.”
“There is a huge deficit in public transport in Wicklow, whether for bus, rail or road. Today, I acknowledge the work of the Wicklow GAA, the county board, the management team, the players and, indeed, the sponsorship, which was a deal I had a hand in putting together three years ago. It has helped because it was invested in the development squads as opposed to the senior squad. Congratulations to Wicklow today.”
“I was in my office when I heard a lot of GAA talk, so I said I could not miss this opportunity, as a man from Wicklow, which does not often get the privilege to play in Croke Park. To actually walk the steps of the Hogan stand and to lift the Tailteann Cup was a huge day for Wicklow. It took a huge commitment by the players, the management and the county board to achieve that success. In a year that was disappointing in that we did not get promotion from division 4 this year, like last year, to turn it around and win the Tailteann Cup was a unique experience and one that will live long in Wicklow's memories. Public transport was mentioned at some stage. While the Senator was talking about not having car parking spaces at the train station, we do not even have trains in Wicklow, never mind train stations to get people to Croke Park.”
“I acknowledge her work and the group here from the Irish Cancer Society. This is an important day for all cancer survivors in the country. I acknowledge Deputy Ardagh's role in respect of the right to be forgotten over the years.”
“This is an historic day. It is a proud moment for any of us to come in here as representatives, whether it is as a Senator, a Deputy or a Minister of State. For a Senator to introduce legislation back in 2022 and to then see it passed today, sitting here as a Minister of State, is a fantastic achievement. I acknowledge the representatives of the Irish Cancer Society in the Public Gallery today. This legislation on the right to be forgotten is very important. The Minister of State has been passionate about the issue since I first came into the Seanad. It is great to see her sitting here today as a Minister of State, having been a Senator, as this legislation is passed. Only two months ago, she was questioning the Taoiseach in the Dáil as to when this legislation would be passed.”
“If the question on amendment No. 18 is agreed, amendments Nos. 19 to 24, inclusive, cannot be moved. Amendments Nos. 18 to 24, inclusive, are related. Amendments Nos. 19 to 22, inclusive, are physical alternates to amendment No. 18. Amendments Nos. 18 to 24, inclusive, may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“For the information of Members, please note that the House, by agreeing to the motion to recommit, allows for a Committee Stage-style discussion on amendments Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, 25, 36 to 39, inclusive, 41, 60 to 97, inclusive, and 100 to 104, inclusive, and those amendments only. Members may speak more than once on each of those amendments. In respect of any other amendment, a Senator may only speak once on each amendment on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to discussion on that amendment. On Report Stage, each non-Government amendment must have a seconder. Amendments Nos. 1, 3, 25 and 41 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“Whatever views people may hold on the decisions taken at the time, few would question his dedication, courage and sense of duty in continuing to serve the State under such extraordinarily difficult personal circumstances. The Bill, thankfully, represents the final stage in this process. It provides for orderly wind down, ensuring any remaining obligations continue to be properly managed and protecting the interests of the taxpayers. It is a fitting conclusion for structures established to deal with exceptional circumstances, which have now largely fulfilled their purpose. I think the Minister of State and all of the officials for bringing forward this legislation and we are pleased to support the Bill.”
“which has the expertise, governance structures and resources necessary to manage these matters to completion. There are also wider lessons in the legislation. The financial crisis imposed enormous hardship on families, businesses and communities throughout Ireland. While none of us would wish to relive that period, it is important that we acknowledge the role played by institutions such as NAMA in helping the State navigate those challenges and, ultimately, return to economic stability. Reflecting on this period, and on a more personal note, it is right to remember the late Brian Lenihan, the then Minister for Finance, who bore the burden of steering the country through the financial crisis while battling a terminal illness.”
“NAMA played a significant role in housing delivery, facilitating more than 44,000 homes and helping to provide almost 3,000 social homes. It also contributed to the wider regeneration of the Dublin docklands and supported wider economy recovery at a particularly difficult time in the country. Likewise, the IRBC special liquidation has made substantial progress since 2013. The vast majority of its assets have now been released and significant distributions have been returned to the Exchequer. What remains is mainly related to litigation and related matters which, by their nature, may take time to conclude. The approach adopted in the Bill is, therefore, practical and sensible. Rather than maintaining separate organisations for a small number of remaining cases, responsibility will transfer to the NTMA.”
“Extraordinary measures were required to restore confidence in our financial system and stabilise the economy. NAMA was tasked with acquiring and managing distressed properties and related loans in participating financial institutions and maximising the return to the taxpayer. With the benefit of hindsight, it is important to recognise the scale of that achievement. NAMA acquired loans to the par value of €74 billion, repaid all €32 billion in debt issued to acquire those loans and generated a lifetime contribution of approximately €5.6 billion for the Exchequer. As the Minister of State has already pointed out, it has also been cited internationally as one of the most successful examples of a State-backed asset management agency established in response to a banking crisis. Its contribution went beyond the balance sheet.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this Bill and I am happy to support its passage through the House. There are not many Bills that allow us to draw a line under one of the most challenging periods in our State's economic history, but that is precisely what this legislation seeks to do. This is important legislation which brings closure to two significant institutions that were created in response to the financial crisis, namely, the National Asset Management Agency, and the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation. The Bill provides for the remaining residual activity to be transferred to the NTMA, ensuring that outstanding matters can be managed effectively and brought to proper conclusions. When NAMA was established back in 2009, Ireland was facing the most serious economic and banking crisis in the history of the State.”
“Overall this Bill represents a practical response to extraordinary global circumstances, supports families, protects jobs, assists vital sectors of the economy and helps to shield people from external energy shocks beyond their control. For those reasons, Fianna Fáil will be supporting this Bill.”
“The Government has also announced the extension of the temporary excise reduction and NORA levy reduction until the end of August, followed by a phased restoration of the rates between September and December. This is a balanced approach and avoids a sudden increase in cost while allowing supports to be withdrawn gradually as market conditions improve. Importantly, it provides certainty. Families and businesses can plan ahead knowing that a return to normal excise rates will be measured and predictable. While energy prices have declined from their earlier peaks, international circumstances still remain uncertain. It is, therefore, prudent that the Government continues to closely monitor developments and respond when necessary.”
“These measures are particularly important for working families who continue to face the pressure of household budgets. While fuel prices have eased somewhat, many people remain concerned about the wider cost of living, including housing, transport and everyday expenses. In that context, the Government's intervention was both necessary and responsible. The Finance Bill is important for key sectors of the economy like farmers, hauliers, contractors, bus operators and small businesses as all depend heavily on fuel. The temporary enactment of the diesel rebate scheme has provided important support to these sectors and helped to limit wider inflationary pressures.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House this morning. I also welcome this opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill and its passage through the Senate. The Finance Bill is important and practical legislation that gives full effect to the energy and cost-of-living measures already approved by Dáil Éireann. It forms part of the Government's response to the significant pressures experienced by households, farmers and businesses as a result of the high energy costs. The Government acted decisively when international energy markets became increasingly volatile. Excise duty was reduced on diesel by 32 cent per litre, on petrol by 27 cent per litre and the rate on marked gas oil or green diesel was also significantly reduced. In addition, the planned increase in carbon tax was deferred providing further relief for households and businesses.”
“I mention that, not because I want to be nasty but because it was the only implement councillors had, when trying to negotiate with planners, which they could use as leverage to say a specific house should get planning permission. That power has been taken away from our councillors. I have used it on a few occasions for what I felt was genuine rural people building houses on their own land who were being refused because of some little technicality. The councillors have lost the use of that power, even as leverage. Something needs to come back to give councillors recognition of the work they do and give them some leverage so they can insist that a planner listens to them, because there are genuine rural people not getting planning while there are people using the system who do not qualify and are getting it.”
“One was a traditional house and the one beside it was elevated and a dormer. The traditional house was refused and the dormer was granted. It just did not make sense to the two people I had to ring. How did the others get it and they did not? There has to be some consistency. Not all of it should come from the national level. Our councillors have a role to play. Economic need in each county could be completely different. What economic need is should not be from a high level or national level. Flexibility is needed. I will mention what nobody has mentioned yet, namely, the power of section 140 that was taken away from our councillors.”
“Backland development is one of the greatest opportunities we have to locate rural houses which are not visible from the roadside. In my first six years in Wicklow County Council as a councillor, I never heard of an issue with backland development. All of a sudden, out of fecking nowhere - excuse the language - backland development became an issue, and any house that was in the backland was not permitted. I do not know where it came from. There are great opportunities for planned proper backland development that will actually hide our rural housing and not have any impact on the landscape. I am trying to hit on a few things because this is a broad issue. On that understanding of the complexities and inconsistencies, I can give several examples in Wicklow of planning permission decisions on the same day.”
“I could walk into Wexford tomorrow morning and sit down with a planner and discuss my planning application. In Wicklow, I will submit an email and get sent a link to a document. I think we need consistency so rural people can sit down with a planner and go through everything they need to go through, namely, qualification, landscape, transport and environment, so that they know what they are getting into. I would like to speak about ribbon development and backland development. I do not understand ribbon development in a rural setting because you are creating an urban form of development in a rural setting. When you have five houses in a row, all equally backed 20 m from the roadside, it is like an urban landscape.”
“I think the qualification is there in the national planning framework for social and economic need in areas under population pressure - they all qualify. Getting from qualification to planning permission is the problem. The word that has been used all the time is "inconsistency" and the lack of consistency. It is not just across different counties; it is actually within counties themselves. There will be inconsistencies in planning decisions. When you look at the qualification, then you look at landscape and at landscape characterisation. Then you look at whether it is family-owned land or land bought to buy a house. They all have impacts on a decision. The next one is traffic and then environment. I want to focus on the lack of consistency within the pre-planning process.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad this afternoon. I thank him for the work he is doing on this, as well as my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne. I have spoken to the Minister at length about this. It is interesting that we are going back to what my constituency colleague - the former Minister, Dick Roche - did in 2005 when the last planning guidelines were published. We should be careful what we wish for. Sometimes guidelines do not bring us everything we want. I had some sight over a previous draft version in the last Government. Thankfully it did not see the light of day because it was an absolute disaster. I share the opinions of my colleague, Senator Flaherty, in relation to the qualification.”
“I welcome Niall and Dermot Eigney, guests of Senator Ollie Crowe, to the Chamber this afternoon. I am sure he will look after them for the rest of day and they will be well fed and watered by the time they finish. I hope they enjoy their visit.”
“We must build on the progress made, improve transparency and understanding, actively drive competition and tackle the structural costs within the legal claims system. Without addressing those underlying issues, the burden on SMEs will remain. Insurance reform is not a single event but an ongoing process. If we are serious about supporting SMEs and sustaining our local economies, that process must deliver not just headline figures but real, tangible change in the day-to-day reality of running a business in this country.”
“There must also be progress on the proposed Judicial Council (amendment) Bill to ensure the stability of the personal injuries guidelines and to avoid renewed upward pressure on awards. We should also be cautious about proposals that could unintentionally drive costs back up, including increases in court jurisdiction limits. Experience shows that changes like this can lead to higher awards and those higher awards inevitably translate into higher insurance premiums. This issue is about more than economics. It is about fairness and trust. It is about ensuring businesses can operate with competence, communities can retain their local services and people feel the system is working for them, not against them. When we step back and take a look at the overall picture, the path forward is clear.”
“Legal costs, which are modest through the Injuries Resolution Board, can escalate dramatically in the courts. We have a system where similar outcomes are achieved but at far greater cost and delay. That is not satisfactory for SMEs, policyholders or claimants. The direction of reform here must be clear. We need to ensure that more suitable cases are resolved through the Injuries Resolution Board rather than simply passing through it on the way to litigation. We should also examine whether the board can play a stronger role as the first instance decision-making body in straightforward cases. At the same time, we must address the issue of legal costs proportionality. The principle already exists in parts of our court system and we now need to see it applied more consistently across personal injuries litigation.”
“Anybody in business that has a claim against it knows that every year that comes around, it is paying a premium on a premium. If a business pays that premium on a premium for six years, it amounts to a significant sum of money. That needs to be addressed. Even at the end of the process if the claim is found to be fraudulent or no award is made there is no redress for the business and no way to get any of that premium on a premium back.”
“The office to promote competition in the insurance market has a critical role to play here and it must be properly resourced and supported through delivery because without that urgency, SMEs will continue to face limited options and persistent cost pressures. Perhaps the most significant issue we must address is the cost of claims, particularly legal costs. The data here is very clear. For routine claims the level of compensation awarded through the Injuries Resolution Board and through litigation is broadly similar but the route taken makes a massive difference. A larger majority of cases still proceed through litigation, a process that is significantly slower and significantly more expensive. Cases that could be resolved in around two years are taking longer than six years.”
“Providing clear information at renewal on what was paid last year, what is being charged now and the reasons behind charges is a simple but important shift. It provides information that is critical. When businesses understand what is driving their costs, whether that is claims trends, repair costs, or inflation, they are in a stronger position to make decisions to shop around and to manage that risk. Transparency on its own is not enough, however. We need real competition. If we want a sustainable reduction in our costs we need providers in the market and more meaningful choice for customers. Some sectors have no choice and have only one insurance provider while others still cannot get insurance at all at the moment. While we have seen some new entrants, progress must be actively driven.”
“In other words, we are not just paying more but are also carrying more of the risks ourselves. If we measure success purely by headline premiums, we are missing what is actually happening in the real economy. The real test of reform is whether businesses can obtain affordable, reliable cover that genuinely protects them but in too many cases, they cannot. This brings me to the first key issue, which is transparency. For a long time insurance has operated like a black box. Premiums go up and down and customers, whether individuals or businesses, are left guessing as to why. The new transparency measures are a step in the right direction and I welcome the Minister of State's leadership in that regard.”
“We have also seen improvements in transparency and early signs of increased market competition. Those advances matter and do make a difference. They show that reform can work. However, for many SMEs, the experience on the ground tells a more complicated story because what businesses, including my own, have experienced is very clear. It is not just premiums that are the problem any more; it is the quality of cover. Businesses are increasingly facing higher excesses, tighter exclusions and reduced levels of protection. Every year we have to sit down and look at the cost of the replacement of our buildings, fixtures and fittings, payroll, turnover and our excess. We are all of the time, every year, reducing our cover and exposing ourselves to further costs.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House again this afternoon. I also welcome the opportunity to speak on insurance reform and particularly its very real impact on the SME sector, retailers and the wider business community. It is an impact that I am experiencing myself. This is not an abstract policy issue but something we hear about constantly from small business owners on the main street, from cafés, childcare providers and employers trying to keep their doors open in an already challenging environment. While it is important to begin by acknowledging progress, we must also be honest about the challenges that remain. There has been progress. Reforms introduced in recent years, particularly around personal injury costs and the establishment of the Injuries Resolution Board have helped to stabilise parts of the system.”
“As Ireland takes on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we do so with the same confidence and purpose with which we brought this State into Europe over 50 years ago, determined to lead, to safeguard peace and stability and to serve the shared European interests. That approach reflects Ireland's past, serves its present and safeguards its future.”
“That responsibility extends beyond the institutions, particularly to the younger generations. Many of Ireland's young people have known only the benefits of EU membership such as freedom of movement, educational opportunities, consumer protections and peace as the norm. None of these outcomes were inevitable and none are guaranteed. They exist because previous generations made deliberate political choices to co-operate rather than withdraw, to share sovereignty rather than to surrender influence and to invest in the institutions rather than to abandon them. The real danger today is not opposition to Europe but complacency about it. Europe Day is not simply an act of remembrance. It is a reminder that progress is neither automatic nor inevitable and that benefits bring with them obligations.”
“As Ireland approaches the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, these experiences will guide our priorities. The Presidency is a role of stewardship. Ireland will host an extensive programme of meetings across the country, including major summits and ministerial gatherings. We will work to ensure that the Presidency delivers for citizens while safeguarding unity at a time when Europe faces multiple pressures. Public support for membership of the European Union in Ireland remains strong. Recent polling shows continued high levels of support, alongside a clear message from citizens that concerns around the cost of living, migration, security and trust in institutions must be addressed. That support is encouraging but is not something that we should take for granted.”
“As has been mentioned twice so far, John Hume described the European Union as the best example in history of the world of conflict resolution. Shared EU membership created space for dialogue, diminished the Border both physically and psychologically, and supported peace through programmes such as INTERREG, PEACE and PEACEPLUS, which continues to invest significantly in reconciliation and cross-Border co-operation. The European commitment to peace and security is also evident in the EU's response to Russia's illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine. This is now the fifth Europe Day marked by a war on our Continent; a war not only against a sovereign state but against the principle that European people should be free to choose democracy and self-determination.”
“Ireland's policy of military neutrality remains the core element of our foreign policy identity but neutrality has never meant disengagement from security realities. Today's threats of war on the European Continent, cyberattacks, disinformation, energy insecurity, organised crime and challenges to a rules-based international order do not respect borders or traditional definitions of conflict. Through the European Union, Ireland co-operates on civil protection, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, the resilience of critical infrastructure and the defence of international law. The EU's approach to security is not about militarisation, it is about preparedness, co-ordinated in a collective resilience in an increasingly unstable world. Ireland's own experience of peace on the island underscored the value of that co-operation.”
“Throughout that process the European Union demonstrated sustained and practical solidarity, protecting the Good Friday Agreement, prioritising peace and stability on this island and ensuring Ireland was never left to negotiate alone. Covid-19 was a different test but an equally revealing one. Joint procurement of vaccines, a co-ordinated public health response and collective economic recovery measures demonstrated the strength of shared capacity in moments of crisis. These were not abstract but were benefits that directly protected lives and livelihoods in Ireland. Taken together, Brexit and Covid reinforced the central lesson that sovereignty exercised in isolation increases vulnerability while sovereignty exercised through partnership strengthens resilience. That lesson is especially relevant in the area of peace and security.”
“Our membership has also shaped Irish society in important but sometimes understated ways - strengthening workers' rights, advancing gender equality, improving environmental and consumer protections, and widening access to educational mobility. These gains are now embedded in everyday life and can be overlooked precisely because they have become normal. More recently, Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic have brought the value of European co-operation into focus. Brexit represented one of the most serious challenges faced by the State in modern times. As the only EU member state sharing a land border with the United Kingdom, Ireland's position was uniquely exposed.”
“Membership did not remove these challenges overnight but it fundamentally altered the course. Participating in the Single Market expanded opportunities, diversified trade and strengthened economic resilience. European investment supported infrastructure, education, regional development and skills, thereby helping Ireland emerge as a modern open economy. That choice was rooted in political foresight. As the then Taoiseach, Seán Lemass, stated in 1962, in the world as it is today, a small nation such as ours has no future outside the framework of a united Europe. More than 60 years later, that judgment continues to stand the test of time.”
“The Taoiseach has described Ireland's role during the Presidency as acting as an honest broker, bringing people together, building consensus and ensuring that Europe delivers practical outcomes for its citizens. That approach reflects Ireland's long-standing tradition within the Union - principled, constructive and grounded in respect for institutions, partners and shared values. It is also work recalling briefly how Ireland arrived at this position. When Ireland joined the European Communities in 1973, followed by the signing of the Treaty of Accession by Fianna Fáil Governments led by Jack Lynch, and endorsed by an overwhelming 83% of the Irish people, we were economically constrained, outward migrating and exposed by narrow external dependencies. Few decisions in the history of the State have been so transformative.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House again today. I thank him for being here yesterday evening as well. Europe Day offers this House an opportunity for calm and considered reflection on Ireland's place within the European Union, on what that relationship has delivered for the State and on the responsibility that now rests with us. That reflection is particularly appropriate in 2026 as Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July. The Presidency is not ceremonial, it is a position of trust, requiring impartial judgment, and a clear focus on the common European interests at a time of profound geopolitical uncertainty.”
“Social partnership laid the foundation for the success of this State and we must revisit it. The Government has done what is right and has introduced targeted measures. We cannot spend windfall taxes on reducing excise and VAT. We just cannot keep doing that. We must learn from the past. My colleague Senator Dee Ryan spoke about what we are doing to deal with costs for school-going children. That is helping working families again and I welcome it. I am delighted to hear that budget 2027 will focus on working families and make it worthwhile for people to go to work, which is of key importance. I also thank the Government for the interventions for two specific sectors. Those interventions in haulage and agriculture work their way down to supermarket prices. If we had not intervened, all those prices would be going up in the next day or two.”
“Sometimes we forget that and take it for granted. When I came out of college, we had high inflation, the highest levels of unemployment and huge industrial disputes where we were losing hundreds of thousands of workdays every year. The thing that put us on the pathway to success was the social partnership that was agreed in the late eighties. We need to revisit social partnership and re-engage with all the sectors in it in order that we have a stable economy and do not have the issues that arose recently. We do not want the outside world and companies considering FDI looking in and saying Ireland has an unstable economy. We cannot go back there again. We witnessed it, we experienced it and we know what it was like. Many people today have never witnessed that.”
“We have done that before and we have seen the trouble it got us into where we spent all the taxes that were coming in. We have to appreciate that we are putting money away to protect our pensions into the future in relation to the deficit in the National Pensions Reserve Fund. The €23 billion we have put into those funds is welcome. I do not know if I felt the same heater Senator Conway felt in the lobby, but having it on was a bit of a contradiction. Sometimes I wonder if we can not just install thermostats that shut the heaters off when a certain temperature is reached. Senator Conway and I are probably of a different generation from a lot of people here and sometimes we forget what we have come through. Anybody who came out of college in the late 1970s or 1980s came into a completely different Ireland from the one we see today.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his contribution. I welcome the acknowledgement that budget 2027 will be focused on the family income and the people who are most pressurised in society now. We must ensure that going to work pays a better dividend than not working. I am delighted to see the change in focus for budget 2027. Ireland's success is incomparable if we think of our resilience and what we have gone through even in the last seven years, with Brexit, the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine and now the Iran war. On every one of those occasions, we have been in a position to intervene to provide temporary measures because of the fiscal management of the economy. While we might have differences, spending windfall taxes on day-to-day expenditure is not the policy anyone should follow. We should learn from the past.”