Patricia Stephenson
Labour Panel · Social Democrats · Ireland
“A number of us on this side of the House have concerns around what this is opening us up to. We are concerned that we do not have the correct protections and safeguards in place to ensure that the supply will be State-owned and State-led because it is not included in the definitions in the legislation.”
“The world is literally on fire in some places. We have a forest fire in Ireland for the first time in years perhaps. I know we sometimes have them in the Mourne Mountains in the North. This is cause for concern, not just for future generations but for us today.”
“I thank the Minister for coming in. This is a really positive step. I am delighted she is pushing it forward. By and large, the oral contraceptive is incredibly safe. A lot of well-studied medicines are available. Over-the-counter oral contraception has been recommended by the WHO since 2019.”
“I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “ “emergency” means a situation where the State is experiencing a significant and protracted physical disruption of gas supply, or other catastrophic deterioration of the supply situation, and where— (a) all relevant market-based measures have been fully…”
“The Department has stated this facility "will provide the resilience required to support our energy transition" and that "the reserve will only be used in genuine emergencies", yet there is no definition in this Bill of what the Government means by an emergency and when that would apply.”
“We also have to be mindful of the burden it will place on pharmacists without the correct resourcing for pharmacies to deliver the scheme to safeguard against them withdrawing from this or any future scheme simply because they feel they do not have the resources to deliver it in a timely manner.”
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“I recognise that this loan facility will provide desperately needed support to the people of Ukraine, who are obviously continuing to endure an awful, brutal and illegal war. Ireland should absolutely stand with Ukraine. I support the measures that provide humanitarian and civilian assistance to the Ukrainian people, in line with our long-standing position of neutrality. The invasion of Ukraine has repeatedly been condemned by the UN, which has reaffirmed that this war represents a clear breach of international law and Ukraine's territorial sovereignty. In a world where international law and diplomacy have been completely disregarded and bullying is the tactic of the day, it is the EU's duty to stand up for democracy and human rights. However, the EU cannot pick and choose when to uphold international law.”
“I particularly welcome Senator Clonan's amendment calling for an end to the sexual violence and bullying that has persisted in the Defence Forces. Sexual violence must be stamped out in all spaces and women and men who choose to serve must have dignity and safety within the workplace. Across Ireland, people rightly take pride in the Defence Forces. We are proud of the international reputation we have as peacekeepers, with men and women in the Defence Forces acting with honour, bravery and integrity to protect others. However, the simple fact is that the underinvestment and underfunding of the Defence Forces which we have seen for decades has left them on their knees. It really should not be like this any more. That is why I welcome the Fianna Fáil Senators bringing this motion forward.”
“When the Irish Naval Service engaged in humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean and was saving lives daily, applications to the Defence Forces increased. When we decided to pivot away from search and rescue, many decided their time in our Naval Service was done. Issues around pay and conditions, the gutting of the Defence Forces pension and cultural issues meant that good women and men chose not to stick around past their obligatory period of duty. This trend, which was caused by problems we have seen fester over decades, means we all lose out as a nation. The pay and conditions afforded to members up to this point show a complete underappreciation of the role the Defence Forces played for Ireland, both internationally and at home.”
“We need ships in the water, we need recruits being trained and we need to put an end to the decades of underinvestment by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil that has left the people who risk everything for this country on the breadline with their families. We are faced with a recruitment crisis at a time when we need our Defence Forces to provide national-level defence and to support humanitarian missions. We had the longest unbroken peacekeeping record in the world, yet we pulled out of the Golan Heights - not due to a lack of a UN mandate or because of neutrality, but because we simply did not have the numbers and we chose to prioritise an EU battle group instead. That humanitarian peacekeeping is the beating heart of our Defence Forces. It is what we do best and it drives recruitment.”
“I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in her new role. It is historic to have a woman in this position for the first time and I congratulate her on that. I welcome this motion and that successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments have finally seen fit to fix their absolute bungling of Defence Forces funding, recruitment and retention of personnel and infrastructure. They have stood over the atrophy of the Irish Defence Forces for the past 20 years, to the point that the ability of our Defence Forces to man ships, monitor our skies and do their jobs safely has been placed under serious threat. The stance of the Social Democrats has been clear: we need urgent investment in the Defence Forces.”
“It is completely beyond the realms of reality that we can be doing and inviting something like this. I would love the Minister to come in here for a debate because last week she said that this is a moment of hope but we cannot be remotely hopeful at this board of peace.”
“This peace plan has come after this alleged ceasefire. I call it that because over 450 people have been killed and over 1,200 injured since October 2025. UNICEF tells us that while air strikes and gunfire have slowed, they have not ceased. International law is just an aspiration. We have no meaning of international law any more. We are not governed by any concepts of international law within the international community and this peace plan could be seen as more of an occupation of Gaza. We cannot allow this. We need to stand up for international law. We are not only legally obligated to do so but are morally obligated to do. We cannot accept plans like this that are simply not human rights compliant and do not adhere to any of the academia around peacebuilding and peacemaking.”
“Even Putin apparently has been given a potential position on this board, despite his illegal invasion of and war in Ukraine. Trump has offered a way to buy permanent membership of the so-called "board of peace" by paying $1 billion in order that the richest countries in the world can get a seat at the table without any Palestinians being involved. This should be a great cause of concern for all of us. Trump has redefined the meaning of the word "peace". In his world, up is down, left is right, conflict is peace and might is right. We cannot allow this to continue. Peace will not work if it is imposed and if it does not include meaningful Palestinian engagement and participation. We cannot allow so-called peace agreements to be rammed through so egregiously, whether in Gaza or, indeed, in Ukraine.”
“When is a peace plan not a peace plan? That is a question many people across the country are asking in relation to the Gaza peace plan, the deal that is being brokered and overseen by Trump but which leaves many of us very concerned. This peace plan does nothing to end any of the injustices and violence experienced by the Palestinian people. The Palestinians, who have suffered the most, are not involved in the plan. They do not even get one seat at the table. They have been sidelined while the occupying force of Israel is dictating who can and cannot be involved. This plan has been designed by the US and it is simply being imposed on the Palestinian people. The governance of Gaza is to be handed to this so-called board of peace made up of US political figures, former and current western leaders and figureheads of international finance.”
“If we do not do this, we will be returning to this issue again because there is no rationale for us not to do it. As we have heard tonight, the question of 16- and 17-year-olds having less pay was only introduced as a means of keeping people in the education sector in the first place. We have fantastic rates of education retention for people going through to college, so why would we not pay people who unfortunately are suffering by working to pay their family's bills? It is not simply summer jobs we see young people working in. That is the reality of the cost-of-living crisis affecting families across the country.”
“This is about facilitating high-quality apprenticeships and jobs that encourage people into the construction workforce, which we so desperately need. This is why it is essential we pass this legislation to end the exploitation of young workers, interns and apprenticeships. It is worth pointing out that if we do not pass this Bill, we will not comply with the EU directive on the adequate minimum wage. If it is not passed today, the Government may well return to this issue if we are not in compliance with EU legislation. I fully support Senator Cosgrove. She has been systematic in her support both for young people and on labour rights, especially since becoming a Senator. As Senator Harmon said, this is a sensible and logical Bill.”
“Almost all of those who drop out cite low pay as the reason. While most employers are good employers, the fact of the unregulated, wildly inconsistent apprenticeship scheme means some employers have complete freedom to exploit young workers should they wish to do so. Unfortunately, we have lots of horrifying examples of young people being exploited in the labour market. The State is crying out for skilled construction workers. We are crying out for electricians, stonemasons, mechanics, bricklayers and carpenters. Although the number of apprentices has risen on previous years, we need that figure to increase by another 30%, or almost 3,000 apprentices per year. How are we encouraging people to do that? This is not simply a matter of fairness.”
“I also remind Senators that the national minimum wage is significantly below the living wage. Highly profitable multinational fast-food operators will save millions, thanks to the newly reduced VAT rate gifted to them in the Government's budget. Will we see these extra profits funnelled towards the real value makers in our society, that is, the workers? Does the Government believe, in 2025, that working for subminimum wages somehow builds character? When meaningful, well-paid employment is hard to come for young people, who would not look for alternatives such as emigration and going overseas? ICTU's 2024 survey of apprentice pay is shocking. The average hourly wage for first-year apprentices across construction workers, electricians and mechanics is €8.67. The drop-out rate is 20%.”
“In fact, with the cost-of-living crisis we have in this country, there are unfortunately young people working to support their families to pay energy bills and put food on the table. That is the reality for people across this country. We might not like to face that reality that families are struggling so much that teenagers are having to go out and put money in their parents' bank accounts. On the question of apprenticeships, the average starting age for an apprenticeship these days is between 23 and 30 years. These people have rents to pay. They might have children to support. The landlord does not give a discount based on subminimum wages. They do not get 30% off their grocery bills. Bringing in a minimum wage for all employees in apprenticeships, regardless of age and occupation, is only the first step.”
“I am proud to support Senator Cosgrove's Bill. Dignity and equity at work should not be something you age into. That young workers are paid less than their peers but expected to do the same work is simply labour exploitation. It is as simple as that. You can be working the same job with the same responsibility and effort but receive totally different pay because of your age. subminimum wages discriminate against young people. It really is that black and white. Instead of looking at ways the Government can support employers through lower energy costs, lower insurance rates, affordable rents and targeted supports to SMEs so they can manage the increased salary impact it might have on their businesses, the Government still chooses to neglect workers, many of whom are working to support themselves through college or saving up for college.”
“On the question around resourcing and the challenges with having resourcing for age appropriate units, if a child is in an adult unit, I assume they will be in a private room and taking additional staffing away from the adult unit. How can we balance those resources in a way that can facilitate? I know we have talked about the numbers and that there have only been two cases in 2025. Is there a question about rejigging resources because we would still be removing resources from another aspect of the service provision?”
“I know the Minister of State wants us to move on, and I will let other Opposition Members speak for themselves, but I was not suggesting we should legislate to hold children for 72 hours. The fact is the legislation does not commit to not holding children in adult units for any period of time. I was supporting the idea of having a compromise within the legislation. By no means was I suggesting we should provide in any legislation for holding children for any period of time in an adult unit. It is important to correct that. Are public patients put in private services? Does the public system use private providers in these cases for children, or any patients, for mental health services?”
“I absolutely respect that, but could there not be a 72-hour hold? We are now speaking about an amendment that was ruled out of order. I am sure Senator Boyhan will table it again on Report Stage. We hear systematically week after week that DPOs, disability rights organisations and human rights organisations do not feel that the Bill meets the human rights and equality obligations we have under the UN conventions.”
“I lend my support to what Senators Ryan and Boyhan have said. I appreciate the Minister of State addressed the questions on the convention pieces last week. However, the challenge we have is that we have been hearing from organisations for persons with disabilities and disability rights organisations since last week and before that. They do not feel that this Bill is in fact addressing those convention pieces. We are trying to advocate for those people, who feel that this Bill has not addressed those concerns. I support Senator Boyhan's comments about the idea of ambition, and 72 hours seems to be a compromise in the context of the window. Last week, the Minister of State referred to the example of a child who might need to be placed safely somewhere and about their being no other beds available.”
“We have seen light-touch regulation and that was the problem here. None of these families are responsible for what happened to their homes. They are not responsible for the blocks that came out of the quarries. What about those quarries? Are inspections under way? Are blocks still being drawn from the same quarries? Do we know that those quarries are now sustainable and have effective blocks? I was disappointed that Charles Ward's amendment relating to a public inquiry into the regulatory failures that allowed this scandal to take place was shot down yesterday. We need to know what went wrong because this is a national scandal and I think we need to be very clear about that. Families cannot be kept waiting while their homes deteriorate and their well-being suffers, and we need to act with urgency.”
“I know the rent can be provided, but they are paying to go to live in another house that has been maybe not as badly affected or the crisis for that defective block is not as severe, but they are paying to go to live in a defective house somewhere else while they tear down and build up their own house. There is no logic to it. I do not see why side by side should not be approved for all homes. I think it is also important to acknowledge how Donegal and parts of the west have been treated differently. The cases of pyrite in Leinster were dealt with. The State stepped up and homeowners were not abandoned. Responsibility was taken, and the scheme that was offered worked well for families. Yet, like in so many cases with poor Donegal, it is the forgotten cousin that gets treated like a second-class citizen.”
“Families have been left to struggle with these really complex bureaucratic procedures to draw down supports or shoulder massive costs. These families face major expenses. The payment caps do not reflect the reality of today's building costs. Inflation has driven up construction prices way beyond what the scheme allows, leaving shortfalls up to €100,000 for some people, and where is that money going to come from? How can ordinary families afford €100,000? I am also a bit disappointed that the adjacent building is only limited to vulnerable people. I do not understand why we cannot have side-by-side building for all families and for all households. Instead, we have a situation where people are paying rent.”
“It is causing anxiety, exhaustion and worry about children’s safety and their financial futures. Imagine not knowing if the place you bought - your forever home, a place that was supposed to guarantee your future security - might literally crumble and fall down around you. People are worried about the damp going into their homes. They cannot open their windows anymore because the walls have moved so much that they cannot actually open any windows into their homes. The fact of the matter is the State has a responsibility to protect people and not abandon them. The State simply has not acted quickly enough. We have seen homeowners who did nothing wrong and yet they are not receiving the full, fair and accessible redress that they deserve. There should be no small print and there should be no loopholes.”
“I thank the Minister. It can be hard to understand the devastation this crisis has caused to entire communities. I went to Malin Head earlier this year with Councillor Ali Farren to see the homes that were torn apart by defective concrete blocks in County Donegal. It really is a blight on the landscape. Every single home one looks at in the distance has been affected. It has had a heartbreaking impact for families and communities, and it has shamelessly been going on for far too long. I saw cracks widening, walls failing, chimneys teetering on the roofs above children's bedrooms and families living with that fear and constant uncertainty about their physical safety in their homes. That has caused such a severe emotional weight that people are carrying constantly.”
“The system simply does not do that at this point in time. We are simply not meeting the needs of people living with disabilities. People are making choices about whether to turn on one or two bars on their oil radiators. When we have the wealth we do in this country, we cannot call that a great support mechanism. We cannot have this year on year, where the most vulnerable in our society have to prostrate themselves in the grounds of our parliamentary buildings and ask for the most basic things to live an adequate life with a little bit of dignity.”
“The challenge with funding disability services through a one-size-fits-all approach is that people do not get the same autonomy over how they make their payments and spend money based on their unique and specific needs. It is possible to implement a long-term permanent plan, which is why the Social Democrats want a complete restructuring of the social welfare system so that people do not have to come out time and again to plead for resources. We know it is possible to provide relief on energy bills, the reinstatement of the mobility allowance and a motorised transport grant. We know it is possible to have a permanent cost of disability payment, plus a disability allowance. These are costs that can be costed to surpass inflation. We need a social protection system that works to support those most in need.”
“They are seeking dignity and to live independent lives on their own terms. One woman said she was just looking for an adequate life. She was not looking for anything grand, but rather to live adequately. It is disgraceful that in 2025 some of the most vulnerable people in society have to plead outside the gates of Leinster House during one of the worst storms this winter for an emergency winter payment so that they do not freeze in their homes. In the last budget, the Government stripped back disability payments to the tune of €1,400 per year. The disability support grant, living alone allowance and electricity credits were removed. The fuel allowance was reduced. The point of disability payments is that people have greater choice over how they spend their money to suit their unique needs. They want choice, not charity.”
“Ireland consistently ranks as one of the richest countries in the world, but the grubby reality is that many Irish people and those living with disabilities are falling deeper and deeper into poverty. Yesterday, we met members of Disability Federation Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Access Ireland. They spoke about hardship and made desperate pleas to be heard. We heard from people who said they cannot turn on their heating this winter and are choosing between feeding their children and feeding themselves. They are sitting in front of plug in oil radiators and deciding whether to put two or one bars on, depending on what they can afford. We heard from an older woman who is a wheelchair user and is caring for her mother who is also disabled. People are seeking small amounts.”
“There was increased funding for disability services in budget 2026, which I welcome, but that does not go far enough. It does not go to the root causes of poverty that people with disabilities live with. The buy-in costs for the most basic day-to-day items that many of us take for granted are thousands of euro more expensive per year for those who are disabled. On top of that, Ireland has one of the worst records for access to employment for disabled people and support for employment options. The budget is one step forward, with unreliable piecemeal handouts, and two steps back, as the rising cost of living swallows up any meagre increases in support and the cost of disability payment should have been part of the Bill.”
“I thank the Minister for coming in again. The social welfare payments in the Bill do not go far enough to support the most vulnerable in our society who are under severe pressure due to the cost-of-living crisis. We need to consider a proper radical reset of the social protection system so that it delivers for those who most need it. My contribution will focus on people living with disabilities because the Government's budget and the social protection Bill have been devastating setbacks for people with disabilities. As a result of the latest budget, dozens of people were compelled to make the trek to Leinster House, despite the storm, to advocate and appeal for action during the upcoming winter because they cannot afford to put on their heating such are their bills.”
“This Bill is about ensuring that councillors can fulfil the mandate they were elected to carry out. It strengthens local government and local accountability and it recognises the modern complexity of local government. It supports those who give so much of their time and so much of their energy and personal life in the aid of public service. I am very proud to support the Bill and I am disappointed about the timed amendment.”
“We know that the technical nature of councillors' work has also grown enormously with local authority budgets now running into the millions, accompanied by dense annual service plans, local area plans and the development plans that require careful analysis and scrutiny. There are people who struggle. I have dyslexia and there will be councillors who actually struggle with reading the content, as I would. Having that additional administrative support would allow a councillor to consume, analyse, assess and make judgments on the material they receive monthly. Councillors are expected to exercise oversight and representation on behalf of their communities and to do that without any support whatsoever, unlike ourselves and unlike the TDs in the Dáil.”
“All of these things make it really difficult to do the full scope of their work to the degree they would wish to, which could be countless meetings, responding to constituents at all hours, and acting as a bridge between local authorities and communities that they proudly represent. I have heard directly from councillors who have so much admin that they choose not to submit their vouched expenditure and their own expenses because it is just an additional task that they cannot get to. They prioritise their constituency work over receiving their own expenses. This is also about retention and diversity. The lack of support pushes out parents, people in full-time work and carers. For those with second jobs or with caring responsibilities, admin is the last thing to get done.”
“I also want to express my disappointment about another timed amendment. I appreciate there is always an excuse for the timed amendment but it has been systematic across Opposition legislation. This Bill is not simply an investment in our county councillors. It is really an investment in the quality, transparency and democratic integrity of local government. As we all know and has been said already, councillors carry a workload that is vast, complex and often heavily underestimated. Finding a balance between attending events, preparing and participating in meetings, and admin work like emails and research is a significant challenge. I am sure we all know councillors who can get overwhelmed with just the sheer quantity of what they need to do. Many of them are working full time on a part-time wage. Many of them might be parents or carers.”
“We should try to make sure that all of the legislation we develop is compliant, whether it includes Senator Boyhan's explicit reference to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The fact is we currently believe it to be non-compliant, which is a concern for us. We would then have to amend the legislation in the future.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate what she is saying in respect of the challenge around children in some very extreme circumstances being admitted to adult wards. I recognise that the Department met IHREC officials. However, we have heard from IHREC that when it comes to the question of beds on adult wards and statutory independent advocates for children, the Bill will not be in compliance with the UNCRC As it stands, the Bill will not be compliant which is from where a lot of our concerns stem. While we have not transposed those two conventions into domestic legislation, following the advice of advocacy groups, including IHREC, we are potentially going to pass a Bill that will not bring us in line with those conventions. That feels perhaps the not right step to be taking.”
“Could the Minister of State comment on whether she has met with IHREC? I believe it had concerns about the fact that the Bill does not align with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular the piece about independent advocacy and about children being treated in adult units. Those were the two aspects about which IHREC raised concerns in terms of non-compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
“I thank Senator Boyhan for tabling the amendment. IHREC also published on its website concerns around this particular aspect. I want to add to Senator Boyhan's comments in that regard. Has the commission's advice on the CRPD and the Convention on the Rights of the Child been taken into account?”
“The end of this 16-day campaign should not be a quiet day of reflection; it should be a time of mobilisation and a day to shine a light so bright that no online threat, closed door or conflict zone can hide that violence in the shadows. Women refuse to be numbered and silenced, and refuse to accept this violence as inevitable. I am calling for us to have an holistic debate in this Chamber on tackling gender-based violence that looks at the whole cycle: prevention, mitigation and protection across all of the different service providers, including the issues of refuges, long-term housing solutions, education and health supports. Sadly, I think we are seeing a rise in gender-based and domestic-based violence across the island. It should be the opposite.”
“Of course, none of this is an excuse for any individual's abusive behaviour, but it shines a light on how State inaction embeds inequality and increases risk. If we are serious about preventing violence, the Government needs to step up and take responsibility to deliver housing, healthcare and other supports that allow every woman and girl in Ireland to live safely and with dignity. We also need to look explicitly at the prevention angle when it comes to things like online safety and education in schools around consent. Prevention is such a key pillar to tackling gender-based violence. We always find ourselves responding to gender-based violence and not thinking about how we can prevent it through early-age education.”
“Women are exhausted from living with the constant, quiet calculation of risk, exhausted from the weight of stories shared in whispers, and exhausted because the threat is very real because it has happened to us or to someone we love. In Ireland, over one third of women have experienced intimate partner abuse and 90% of women who have died violently in Ireland have been killed by a man known to them. In addition to that, women face structural violence. When the Government fails to provide safe housing, adequate income supports, accessible healthcare and culturally appropriate services, it creates the very conditions in which violence against women and girls can take root. Poverty, poor health provision and the absence of timely services place enormous strains on families, fuelling conflict and leaving women and girls more exposed to harm.”
“As many Members will know, today marks the last day of the 16 days of activism campaign against gender-based violence. This campaign will end until next year, but we cannot allow ourselves to take our eyes off this issue for another year. Gender-based violence is a human rights crisis and a major public health concern globally. It is particularly high in places where there is conflict, war, severe instability and poverty. More than one-in-three women or girls experience gender-based violence globally. That is the risk. Across the world, 137 women are killed every day by an intimate partner or family member, which is an incredibly horrifying figure.”
“The Minister of State mentioned longer term or lifelong challenges or conditions versus more transient mental health issues. It is worth pointing out that plenty of people experience quite severe transient conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder where women experience severe suicidal ideation. It is important to say that lots of very severe mental health conditions can be transient and it is not necessarily somebody living with a condition that is long term, be it long-term psychosis, where he or she needs to be treated. I wanted to flag that because it is a really important distinction to make.”
“I share my support on this. It is about making sure that the language we are using in legislation reflects the lived experiences of people within this context and that we are humanising it. This legislation deals with really difficult and challenging contexts for individuals. This amendment is an important way of responding to the communities affected and of making sure that they see themselves reflected accurately in a way that is not stigmatising.”
“It is simply not the systematic outcome particularly for children who do not have the ability to advocate for themselves because of their vulnerabilities.”
“I will add a little bit to what Senators Boyhan and Black have said. No one is saying that any of these bodies do not intentionally have the best interests of the child in their minds but the sad reality is so many children have fallen through the cracks, whether that is in the care sector or in CAMHS. They are, for various complicated, bureaucratic reasons - understaffing or whatever the reason might be - simply not having their needs at the centre of it. It is a point to highlight. No one is saying that is not inherently the intention of all these people in these clinical spaces. I am sure that is their intention but without that special advocate in place, that is simply not how things work in the push and shove of daily life with resources and staff being stretched in many contexts.”
“My concern is that the reply the Minister of State gave regarding the 14 and 21 days is based on current provision in the health service. That is what I understood from what she said about all of the different requirements regarding assessments. What I heard is that doctors would not be able to deal with a 14-day review as opposed to a 21-day review in light of the current staffing situation. That does not sound very human rights-focused. It sounds like it is based on demands within the system. Perhaps the Minister of State could clarify that because she obviously feels that is not what she said, although that is what I heard.”
“I am still not clear on some issues. The Minister of State said that she is not a clinician but I am sure she has spoken with plenty of clinicians in reviewing the Bill. When it comes to the difference between 14 and 21 days I recognise what she said about the case-by-case basis, but maybe she could elaborate on that. I was not really clear on the justification for not having a limit of 14 days versus 21 days or for the case to be 15, 16 or 17 days. It would be helpful for me to understand the rationale behind that. As outlined by the other Senators, there are human rights concerns around this, which we have heard about Maybe we need a bit of clarity around that. I do, in terms of understanding the rationale because it seems a bit arbitrary.”
“I move recommendation No. 4: In page 99, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “Report on VAT cut for hospitality and hairdressing services 72. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Seanad Éireann a report on the consequences for employment, prices and Exchequer revenue arising from the reduction in the VAT rate applying to hospitality and hairdressing services.” I am withdrawing this recommendation.”
“This recommendation is not about general housing supply. It is about specific tax breaks, so it is very different from general reports we might be getting on everything else. Being against the idea of having a discussion based on the facts of this tax break and an evaluation of its impact seems nonsensical. How can we review the legislation, evaluate matters and see if things are working effectively without a report? Does the Senator believe it is effective? I do not, but having this report would be a way to ascertain that. It is a no-brainer and just good practice. If we were giving money to anybody, such as a charity or NGO, we would expect them to do reviews like this. I do not see why we should not review our own legislation to see its impact. It seems like good governance.”