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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“There is also a motion regarding the proposed approval of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the justice programme for the period 2028 to 2034 and repealing regulation EU 2021/693. There is also a motion regarding the proposed approval of the recommendation for the Council's decision authorising the opening of negotiations for an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea on the transfer of passenger name record data. All four motions will be debated together and decided on separately.”
“I welcome to the House a group from Carrigallen, who are guests of Deputy Eamon Scanlon. They are very welcome. I hope the Deputy looks after them for the rest of the day. I ask them to be sure to get a good drink out of him before they leave. I welcome the Minister for Justice. The debate is now going to start in respect of proposed approval of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Union support for internal security for the period from 2028 to 2034. There is another motion regarding the proposed approval of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Union support for asylum, migration and integration for the period from 2028 to 2034.”
“Before the Minister comes in, I welcome the guests of Senator Shane Curley's partner Selena's family here to the Chamber. Dan, Alison, Michael, Sammy are very welcome here and I hope Shane is looking after them very well. We have a lovely restaurant in there, so I am sure he will look after them for the rest of the evening.”
“However, if you go to a community like Arklow, which has not had a private housing estate built for 15 years because there is no wastewater treatment plant, this brings new life to it. We have a new wastewater treatment plant. We now have significant capital investment and the likes of LMH delivering high-level engineering jobs based on that industry. Let us have a wider conversation and not just keep coming in here and blaming data centres for everything. That is just an observation.”
“It needs to be balanced about how we can bring both together and not lose that critical investment for this country and the jobs it brings. It is not just the data centre jobs. It is the engineering jobs and the jobs in the locality that build off that. It is the commercial rates that every council will get from them. If that happens in Arklow tomorrow morning, the commercial rates in Wicklow will go up by 30%. That is a huge volume of money coming in for the county. The development levies are in the region of €30 million. Let us not lose sight of how important some of this investment is to Wicklow. It might mean nothing in Dublin, and it would not mean anything in Dublin.”
“It is how we bring both together, so we do not lose golden opportunities that this country has. We are one of the leaders on data centre engineering. Our expertise in data centres is exported across the world. LMH Engineering in Arklow is fitting out all data centres for Meta across the whole of Europe. That is expertise Ireland has. It is scaling up now and will hopefully have 400 jobs on a site in Arklow based on data centres. Those are engineering jobs. The investment in Arklow from Echelon is approximately €3.5 billion before the occupier of the site comes in to employ. KPMG reports that 700 people will be employed across the two sites when that project is fully completed and operational in between five and ten years’ time. We do need to have a conversation, but the conversation needs to be balanced.”
“We have the discussion about one or the other, but we have to be open and honest and look at the wider implications. Yes, Dublin is within the constraint area. That is why Echelon looked at Arklow. It is redeveloping the IFI site in Arklow, which has lain idle since 1,100 employees were left off when the fertiliser factory closed. We are regenerating a brown field site. We need to look at how we do this in the future and learn from the past. However, there is a pathway where both can be delivered together. Equally, in fairness to Echelon, which has yet to turn the sod, it has invested in communities in County Wicklow to the tune of over €3.5 million so far. It has yet to break the ground. It took it four years to get the grid connect, and rightly so. It has to be done in a sustainable manner. It is not about one or the other.”
“We have also just received a briefing at the housing committee from EnergyCloud Ireland about wasted energy every night from wind energy that is going absolutely nowhere. This is where data centres play a role. They have demand 24-7. They will use that energy when nobody else is using it. They have battery storage facilities. They are doing it in a sustainable manner and even have a guide path to carbon neutral by 2033. That is the model of data centres we need in Ireland. It is not about housing or data centres. It is about how we can both work together and come together because we need the offshore wind. If offshore wind does not have data centres tomorrow to use its energy it will never be financially viable and will never happen.”
“Without it, you cannot. I ask Senators to look at that connection to see what is included in it. First, Echelon can no longer take energy from the grid if it is under constraint. If there is pressure on the grid, Echelon is not allowed take the energy from it. Second, it has to support the grid when the grid is under constraint. Third, all its energy has to be generated on-site in a sustainable manner. It is the first company to partner with an offshore supplier, SSE Renewables, to build the critical infrastructure Senators are talking about to land the energy from the sea onto the land for distribution. It is a model for how we can move forward with data centres and housing.”
“I will enter the debate on data centres. First, I put on the record that I have been working with Echelon Data Centres since 2017 to try to attract them out of a constraint area into the town of Arklow, County Wicklow. We must learn from our history, I will not deny that, but it is about how we can move forward with both data centres and housing. It is not about one or the other. In fairness, there has only been one grid connection given to a data centre in the past four years because of the continuous amendment of the CRU policy in relation to the large-scale energy usage policy, which we are still waiting for. I will tell a slightly different story than is being portrayed today about Echelon and how it successfully got its grid connection, because no data centre can start without that grid connection. With that, you can proceed.”
“There is a specific piece of land directly adjoining the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve that is already a woodland and ideal for purchase. I sincerely hope the Minister of State will look on that in relation to expanding that specific nature reserve. I was part of the red kites programme in Wicklow and they have gone from the area they were released in Woodenbridge all up the east coast and we begin to see the red kite present again in our daily lives. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber. Our national parks are critical for our people and communities. They provide a space we can all go to for recreation. However, trying to find that balance can be difficult.”
“Some of our other State bodies need to learn from how the National Parks and Wildlife Service does it. They too should follow the same example moving forward. In the short time I have left, I want to discuss deer management. It is a significant issue in Wicklow. The numbers have increased because, during the years of Covid, we probably did not get the culling required. For the deer species itself, it is nearly overpopulated at this stage and it is probably in its own interest. My final request is, Wicklow national park expanded by more than 4,900 acres back in 2016. We also have a beautiful gem and nature reserve called the Glen of the Downs in Wicklow. I know the Minister of State has been lobbied on this matter.”
“It is about striking that balance between protecting and educating people about the environment, while promoting that environment as one of our greatest national assets. We all have challenges and Glendalough, no different from anywhere else, has significant challenges. I served on the national parks council in Wicklow. I hope to revive that interest shortly. Our best time in Glendalough was when Dúchas was established. A number of State bodies came together under one organisation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service headed by Seán Casey at the time. We got an incredible amount of work done. While we have a fantastic master plan in Glendalough, there are seven State bodies involved, with no direct lead trying to resolve the difficulties in the Wicklow Mountains National Park.”
“I will declare a conflict of interest. I am a privileged Senator in that I live in Glendalough, which is in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Sometimes, we take the significance of that for granted. I acknowledge the incredible service that the staff in the National Parks and Wildlife Service provide specifically in Wicklow and also in the broader context. The way they communicate with the communities they are involved with is important because it leads to getting a lot more done by bringing everybody on board. The challenge for the national parks is trying to strike a balance between protection, education and promotion. We all have to be realistic. The national parks in Ireland are probably our single greatest asset when it comes to tourism and the country's tourism potential.”
“Before I call the next Senator, I welcome to the Public Gallery cousins of Senator Maria Byrne, Mary and Rose Murphy, who have travelled all the way from Cork. They will be delighted to know we have a Minister of State from Cork in the Chamber here today. I hope Senator Byrne will look after them for the rest of the day. It is very unusual to see a current Senator and a former Minister of State whose heart and passion is in the portfolios he had. Therefore, we look forward to Senator Noonan's contribution.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome Councillor Bernie Conlon and guest, who are guests of Senator Sharon Keogan and Deputy Erin McGreehan, to the Public Gallery. I hope they enjoy the conversation.”
“I take this opportunity to welcome the group from Galway to the Gallery. Former Minister and Deputy Frank Fahey was in earlier. I also welcome Deputy John Connolly and Councillor Cillian Keane. I hope the people from Galway have a good day. I hope Senator Ollie Crowe and Deputy John Connolly will look after them well for the remainder of their visit. I am sure they will provide free entertainment and free meals. I thank them all for coming.”
“I thank my proposer and seconder for giving me this honour today. I have done my best to follow protocol and I found a suitable green tie to match the attire of the Cathaoirleach. I welcome the guests of Deputy Richard O'Donoghue from Greybridge Classic Club, County Limerick, to the Gallery. I hope they are all behaving themselves on the roads with their vintage vehicles. I thank them for coming in today. I hope Deputy O'Donoghue looks after them well. They should not forget to get him to take them into the restaurant for something to eat while they are here.”
“There is an allocation of €611 million for rural and community development, including €192 million for rural affairs and €260 million for community supports. A 9% VAT rate on food, catering and hairdressing will be introduced from 1 July. Budget 2026 is a budget of fairness, vision and values. It protects the vulnerable, supports working families and invests in our future. Fianna Fáil's influence is clear. It is in the social support, housing investment, tax fairness and long-term planning that underpins the budget.”
“The warmer homes scheme has seen an 11-fold increase in funding since 2020. The accelerated capital allowance scheme for energy efficient equipment and gas vehicles has been extended to 2030. The €5,000 VRT for electric vehicles has been extended to 2026 and a new zero-emission vehicle category has been introduced for the lowest benefit-in-kind rates. We are delivering climate action that supports people, not punishes them, and that is our approach. On jobs and enterprise, the budget supports Irish enterprise in rural communities. It allocates €1.3 billion for enterprise innovation and job creation and increased funding for Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to support scaling and attracting investment.”
“In the area of health and disability, there is a budget of €27.4 billion for health and €3.8 billion for disability services. This is a caring and ambitious budget. There will be 220 new acute hospital beds and 280 community beds, €1.7 million in additional home support hours, 9,000 people will receive residential care and 1,400 school leavers will be supported with day services. The budget also funds 10,000 overnight and 15,000 day respite sessions and 6,500 private assessments to reduce waiting lists. This is about building a health and disability system that is inclusive, responsive and future proofed. In the area of climate and energy, budget 2026 ensures that climate action is fair and just. A sum of €558 million in carbon tax revenue will fund energy upgrades for homes and communities.”
“The digital games tax credit has been extended to 2031 and the new 40% film tax rate has been introduced for visual effects works supporting Ireland's creative industries. These are not giveaways. They are smart targeted tax changes that support affordability, innovation and long-term sustainability. Fianna Fáil has always believed that education is our greatest equaliser and this budget delivers with over 1,700 new SNAs and 1,000 new teaching posts, expanded access to the national childcare scheme with over 285,000 children, increased capitation grants for schools, major investment in school buildings and special education places, and a €125 million increase in early years funding, bringing a total investment of €1.5 billion.”
“The 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity is extended to 2030, easing energy costs for households during a time of global uncertainty. The €500 reduction in student contribution fees will benefit over 100,000 students making third level education more affordable. The research and development tax credit has increased to 35% supporting innovation, high-quality jobs and Ireland's global competitiveness. The 9% VAT rate on apartment sales will help close the viability gap in construction and boost housing supply, particularly in urban areas. The revised entrepreneur relief lifetime limit has increased from €1 million to €1.5 million supporting Irish business owners and job creators.”
“Housing and affordability remains the defining challenge of our time and this budget responds with scale and urgency: €2.9 billion for new social homes and second-hand acquisitions, €1.2 billion for starter homes through affordability schemes, €140 million for retrofitting social homes and €130 million for 17,000 adaptation grants for older people or people with disabilities. This budget includes a comprehensive and balanced tax package that supports workers, renters, entrepreneurs and families. The national minimum wage will increase to €14.15 per hour in 2026. The USC 2% rate band has increased by €1,380 ensuring that full-time minimum wage workers remain outside the higher USC rates. The rent tax credit is extended to 2028 supporting nearly 400,000 renters and providing certainty for tenants.”
“The increases in child benefit - €8 for children aged under 12 and €16 for those over 12 - is the largest in the history of the scheme and is a direct investment in families and tackling child poverty. The carer's allowance income disregard has been significantly increased up to €1,000 for individuals and €2,000 for couples - a long-standing Fianna Fáil priority. The working family payment threshold is rising by €60 a week helping low-income families to make work pay.”
“In a world marked by uncertainty and shifting global dynamics, Ireland remains steadfast in its commitment to international co-operation and open trade. I welcome this budget as it reflects the strength of our economy, the resilience of our people and the enduring values of our Republic. It is a budget that protects the vulnerable, supports working families and invests in the long-term future of our country. At its heart, budget 2026 is about fairness. It delivers a €10 weekly increase in core social protection payments for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and lone parents. These are not token gestures, they are targeted permanent supports that will make a real difference.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Budget 2026 is a forward-looking and pragmatic plan that invests in Ireland's future while safeguarding the jobs, prosperity and stability of today. It also tackles the urgent challenges we are facing in housing and infrastructure while also building the resilience we need to navigate an era of profound global and domestic change. As the first budget of this Government's term, it sets out a clear tone for sustained delivery in the years ahead. Our economy continues to demonstrate remarkable strength with 2.8 million in employment and life expectancy now reaching 83 years. We have made real progress in restoring public finances yet we are acutely aware of many households continuing to feel the pressures of the rising living costs and ongoing housing concerns.”
“Wicklow has been forgotten when it comes to investment in transport. We need to address that deficit if we are going to grow in a sustainable manner.”
“In the meantime, we are looking at M11 congestion that happens every evening and morning, and while a major plan had been put in place for the upgrade from junction 4 to junction 14, which had gone to the preferred route stage, that was then pulled by the Minister in previous Government and replaced by the N11-M11 bus priority corridor, which is causing untold concerns, specifically in Bray with regard to the closure of the Herbert Road junction, but which will serve no purpose for the long-term future of transportation to Wicklow. For the information of the House, Wicklow has the last single carriageway coming into Dublin city centre, which is the N81. Proposals to improve that have been shelved. When it comes to the bus service, we will not even go there. There is no capacity on some buses. We have a completely unreliable service.”
“For the information of the House, while Wicklow can be considered the youngest county or the last county to be created in 1606, when it comes to the investment in public transport infrastructure, we are definitely the last county to be considered. I look on with a bit of jealousy as the Deputy Leader sits there, because when it comes to the national rail review, I hear discussions about four-track services, increases to treble-track or double-track services and new stations in counties around Dublin, while in Wicklow, nothing is done to the single-track service it has today. We were promised that the DART service to Wicklow town would be in place by 2023-24, which then became 2028 and has lately become 2030.”
“This has facilitated the coverage for high-risk sectors such as equestrian activities, adventure tourism and childcare. It beggars belief that childcare is considered a high-risk industry. The Government remains committed to ongoing engagement with industries through the OPCIM to ensure reforms translate into increased competition and availability of cover and insurance. We are committed to continuing the work of insurance reform to ensure all sectors benefit from reduced premiums and increased availability of cover.”
“I also recognise the Minister of State has recently finished in the form of intense engagement with key stakeholders, including Insurance Ireland and the main insurance companies in the Irish market, to set out the Government's expectations that savings arising from the reform agenda will be reflected in reduced premiums as well as an increase in availability of cover. The programme for Government also commits to the expansion and support of the office to promote competition in the insurance market to ensure Ireland remains an attractive market for insurance. We have spoken about this before and it is another key element. The office chaired by the Minister of State has played a critical role in encouraging insurance companies to broaden their risk appetite.”
“The sector of small, indigenous family businesses is in trouble and we need to do more to support them across the whole sector and industry. I welcome that our manifesto and the programme for Government pledge to develop a new action plan for insurance reform with a focus on encouraging further competition and working to enhance transparency and affordability across all types of insurance. The programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, commits to publish a new action plan for insurance reform. The plan's implementation will be supported by the re-establishment of the Cabinet subcommittee group on insurance reform to ensure insurance issues continue to receive the highest level of focus across Government, co-ordinated and chaired by the Tánaiste.”
“There is absolutely no transparency in the insurance sector, specifically when it comes to potential claims businesses have received which can take six or seven years to resolve. Any company in that situation is being penalised by an additional premium every year because of the potential claim on the business. Even in seven years' time, if that claim leads to no payment, there is no rebate for the business. It will have suffered that increase in insurance premium for those seven years. The reality for small family businesses, and RGDATA has said this, is that they are on the edge and an increase in insurance premiums will only make them unviable, with the result that we will see many more family businesses close down across the country.”
“I believe further action to drive down insurance costs impacting households, drivers and businesses is required to ensure customers are paying a fair price for their insurance premiums. Previous speakers have already mentioned the proposal by the Judicial Council to increase personal injury awards levels by 16.7% will wipe out any progress that has been made in the reductions of some premiums and will add a cost to sectors that have seen no decrease in their insurance premiums. Having a family business myself, this is one area where, in our case, since 2016, we have seen our insurance go up sixfold to a level that is almost unsustainable. We have heard speakers talk about transparency.”
“The 2020 action plan for insurance reform successfully demonstrated the value of an all-in Government approach, led by the Cabinet subgroup on insurance reform, to reduce the cost and increase the provision of insurance, improving competition and affordability with key achievements including the rebalancing of the duty of care, reform of the injuries resolution board, the introduction of the personal injuries guidelines, which I will expand on later, enhancement of the national claims information database, and increasing competition in the market. Despite all this progress, the sector still faces insurance issues with affordability and availability. The benefits of the reform have not been fully passed on to customers and businesses.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to what is a very important debate on insurance. Fianna Fáil welcomes this debate on insurance and will be supporting the motion. In Government, we are committed to tackling insurance costs to reform and ensure fair competition in all sectors. Since 2020, we have delivered a series of reforms under the action plan for insurance reform. While insurance premiums in some sectors, such as motor insurance, have fallen since 2020, more needs to be done to secure larger reductions in premiums across a broader range of areas. I will expand on that later. Having demonstrated how reforms can deliver reduced insurance prices, Fianna Fáil believes a further series of steps should be implemented.”
“We will also work with partners to make the EU more self-reliant. The EU needs to take more responsibility for its welfare and prosperity, improve competitiveness and ensure security for its citizens. While Ireland's economic outlook has challenges, it also has opportunities. By managing our finances wisely, supporting fair trade and investing in our future, we can navigate these uncertain times and ensure a prosperous future for all.”
“Ireland thrives on open and fair trade. We believe in a rules-based international order. Unilateral actions and tariffs are not the solution; dialogue is. Trade wars hurt everyone involved - those who start them, those who respond, consumers and businesses. The EU is a fair and reliable trading partner. If there are trade issues, we should resolve them through negotiations. We welcome the 90-day pause for talks and hope for a resolution. Recent events have shown how fragile global markets can be. Even if the current issues are resolved, things will not go back to how they were. Ireland has benefited from a globalised world and we must adapt to a more uncertain future. We will continue to support an ambitious global trade agenda. Trade brings economic benefits, lifts people out of poverty and contributes to a stable world.”
“The Government has also committed to using the funds from the recent EU court ruling to invest in infrastructure, particularly in housing, energy, water and transport. As Senator Joe O'Reilly pointed out, we have an ideal opportunity now to plan the future of our country but we must align water, transport and energy to where our housing is going to be delivered. Thanks to careful financial management, we are now in a strong position to face the upcoming challenges. It is important to continue with a balanced and sensible budget policy during these uncertain times. The United States is a crucial partner for Ireland with deep ties that go back before both countries' independence. Our modern relationship includes a strong economic connection. However, the new US Administration's approach to global trade has created a lot of uncertainty.”
“In this scenario, while the domestic economy is still expected to grow, there is a downward revision of 1.5 percentage points by the end of 2026 relative to the baseline scenario. However, it is difficult to make confident predictions regarding trade decoupling and a weakening of transatlantic relationships. The Department of Finance is forecasting a general Government surplus of €8.7 billion for this year, equivalent to 2.6% of our national income. However, as the Minister pointed out, our public finances remain exposed to potential transient windfall corporation tax revenues. To prepare for the future, the Government has established the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. These funds will help us plan for the future without relying on temporary revenues for permanent spending.”
“The labour market forecast is to see employment increase by 1.75% this year and around 1% next year. This translates to approximately 25,000 fewer jobs compared with the baseline scenario by the end of 2026. While this is a cause for concern, it is also important to note that the labour market is resilient and continues to grow. The most pressing economic threats are undoubtedly external in nature. The shift towards tariff barriers may not be temporary but could persist permanently, affecting Ireland's long-term growth prospects. Given the significant change in the global tariff landscape in recent weeks, the annual progress report included the scenario again, as the Minister pointed out, that attempts to incorporate the impact of these tariffs.”
“Enhancing our competitiveness, supporting diversification and innovation in our enterprise sectors and investing in our national infrastructure are crucial to maintaining Ireland as an attractive location for investment. The baseline forecast presented in the annual progress report was produced in March assuming no introduction of transatlantic tariffs. These forecasts, endorsed by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, indicated that modified domestic demand is set to grow by 2.5% this year, a downward revision of almost 0.5 percentage points from the autumn forecast, as the Minister pointed out. For next year, MDD growth of 2.8% is anticipated, a slightly downward revision of 0.2 percentage points relative to the IFAC forecast. Employment is expected to continue expanding, albeit at a slower rate than last year.”
“I welcome the Minister to the Seanad Chamber. He has always made himself available to the House. I welcome the opportunity to discuss Ireland's economic outlook. We are at a critical juncture for our economy and global trade. It is essential that we approach these challenges from a position of strength and resilience. Over the past few years, Ireland has demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming various economic challenges. Since 2020, over 600,000 jobs have been created, bringing the total number of people at work to nearly 2.8 million, the highest level in our country's history. Despite the significant challenges and economic uncertainty we face in the short and medium term, we must respond carefully and responsibly at national and EU levels.”
“Regarding the two previous contributions, the legislation quite clearly details exactly the number of ATMs that are required as a percentage of population. Part of the review process which will happen after the next census will be to establish the use of cash in society. The issues raised by the Senators are clearly dealt with in the legislation in respect of the availability of ATMs. The legislation gives the Department the power to go after the banks if this is not working. All of that is dealt with comprehensively in the legislation.”
“The European Union and the Council of Europe, in promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law, are essential and their impact on Ireland has been significant.”
“This is a war against the idea that the people of Europe should be able to live in a free democracy. Fianna Fáil and Ireland stand with Ukraine and fully support its application to be part of the European membership. Looking ahead, Ireland remains committed to furthering the goals of the European Union. Ireland aims to continue advocating for strong human rights protections, especially in the areas of digital privacy and the rights of migrants and refugees. We will strengthen democratic institutions and processes, ensuring they remain resilient against threats like disinformation, supporting legal reforms and enhancing the rule of law, including measures to combat corruption in judicial systems. As we celebrate Europe Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the values and principles that unite us.”
“Far from diminishing our sovereignty, our EU membership has strengthened it, giving us a reach and influence we would not otherwise have achieved. Our membership has played a vital role in the journey towards peace and reconciliation on this island. For as long as the UK was a fellow member state, Europe provided a valued shared space where Irish and British Ministers could co-operate and get to know one another. Our European partners' support continues today through generous EU support for peace and reconciliation programmes, benefiting communities in the North and South and strengthening prosperity across the island. Sadly, this year we again mark Europe Day with a war on the Continent caused by the savage and criminal aggression of Russia against Ukraine and its people.”
“The Council of Europe is an international organisation dedicated to protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law across Europe. It was established in 1948 and comprises more than 40 countries, including Ireland. The Council of Europe fosters co-operation and solidarity among European nations, playing a vital role in promoting these fundamental values. I am delighted to have the opportunity to be part of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe and look forward to continuing Ireland's role on the council. Since joining the EU almost 52 years ago, Ireland has seen a transformative impact. In the five decades since joining Europe, the EU has seen Ireland emerge as a modern, open economy and society shaped by close co-operation with our European partners.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House and today, as we celebrate Europe Day, we reflect on Ireland's significant role within the European Union and the profound impact our membership has had on our nation. Europe Day is particularly special for Fianna Fáil. It was our party, in Government, that led Ireland into Europe in 1973, marking the culmination of a decade-long campaign. Over the past 52 years, Ireland has made remarkable progress and has significantly contributed to the development of a modern European Union, which we should be proud of, and makes us all look forward to the next 50 years. As we celebrate Europe Day, we must also acknowledge the important role of the Council of Europe, distinct from the European Union.”