Paul Lawless
Mayo · Aontú · Ireland
“Confidence in our education system depends on quality resources but parents remain seriously concerned about inappropriate material that is being promoted in our schools, libraries, etc. Concerns have been raised in relation to the book What's the T?”
“They would make up a higher proportion of the membership of the Dáil than is the case at Westminster. Aontú's leader, Deputy Peadar Tóibín, during his time on the Oireachtas enterprise committee, completed the first Oireachtas report on the all-island economy.”
“Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace — respect for diversity. Aontú believes fundamentally in a united Ireland.”
“It is important that those who oppose a united Ireland - who are now a minority on this island, and increasingly so - are treated as equals and with the respect they deserve in the discussions relating to a united Ireland. I have good friends from the Protestant tradition to whom I speak on a near daily basis.”
“The Tánaiste once said that he wanted to make Ireland the best country in the world in which to raise a child. He is failing in that regard. We have a situation where we have record homelessness among children, spinal surgery waiting lists and children with special needs or disabilities who are waiting for supports.”
“Rather than celebrating and respecting our differences and our right to be different politically or religiously, they wish to make us all the same. They want to make us all apolitical atheists who never speak on or campaign in respect of the issues.”
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“We need to assist them in terms of compensation for additional fodder and housing, etc. The flood defence system and the planning system for flood defences are incredibly bureaucratic, and that red tape needs to be removed. There are people who can no longer wait for a planning system that takes ten or 20 years in some cases. That is wrong. The entire House supports this motion, and Government members themselves have outlined this morning that they support it. I ask them to get on with passing the legislation to ensure that the bottlenecks are removed. We have been very clear on what needs to happen, and there is no reason for the Minister of State to preside over additional delays.”
“The application form clearly stated what it would cover, and the rejection letters then outlined the very things that it was set out to cover and the letters stated what is not covered. For example, food and clothing were two items specifically mentioned on the application form and specifically mentioned in the rejection letter as well. That is so frustrating for families who have been so badly affected. They apply for something the Government advertises only to receive a rejection letter on the basis of the criteria it has set out. That needs to be addressed. This is a serious issue in relation to the humanitarian assistance scheme. When flooding happens in the spring and the autumn, farmers are desperately affected as well in terms of bringing in livestock. That needs to be looked at.”
“That information is really valuable. It is valuable in terms of preparing for a potential emergency evacuation. That is why it is in our motion, and it is unforgivable that this is currently the case. At the very least, we need to ensure that the families who are affected have all the information available to them. My colleague Deputy Tóibín outlined the motion in clear detail earlier. I will address a point the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, made about the humanitarian assistance scheme, HAS. We had Storm Éowyn last year in Mayo and right across the west. It affected thousands of families, and many of those families came to me with the application form.”
“Go raibh maith agat, Chair. I welcome the cross-party support for this motion and the fact that the Government will not oppose it. However, I do want to say very clearly, it is one thing not to oppose this motion but it is another thing to implement fully the practical measures we have proposed that will have a significant impact in so many thousands of families and businesses right across this country. I urge the Minister of State to really get to grips with this and drive on with this legislation because it is clear there is cross-party support both in government, from Aontú and right across the Opposition. In relation to Met Éireann, I have spoken to a number of families who are affected by the floods and they are so frustrated by the fact that there is information out there that is available to Met Éireann that is not getting to them.”
“-----with the direction of Government but the facts are the facts. In relation to Bord Bia, the Taoiseach's attitude can only be described as smug, lacking understanding and showing an unwillingness to engage with farmers. There is a significant impasse at the moment and the Government's attitude is one of "Hands off, there is nothing to see here" when the reality is that farmers are hurting because Bord Bia pushed them for standards and, meanwhile, its chair is importing beef. How many tonnes of Brazilian beef are coming into this country on an annual basis? How many tonnes of poultry are coming into this country?”
“The Government's credibility and its relationship with farmers have been damaged significantly. In regard to its efforts on the Mercosur agreement, it only really opposed it when it was clear the deal would be passed. The Government failed to lobby any MEPs or member states-----”
“We need a full investigation into how many tonnes of Brazilian beef are coming in. I do not believe that Larry Murrin is the only individual or business bringing Brazilian beef into this country. We need to have a serious investigation into this matter, not just in the beef sector but right across the board in respect of the food that is coming into Ireland and Europe. What is being imported would never satisfy the regulations policed by Bord Bia or allowed under the organisation's quality assurance schemes. Farmers and consumers across Ireland are extremely frustrated by the double standards at play. If the Minister cannot see that, I ask him to wake up.”
“There are serious questions about food labelling, particularly that relating to beef, poultry, pigs and fish, in this country. We must address those questions and ensure that the country of origin is inserted on the packaging of all food sold here. Who chaired the meeting of the board on 22 June? Was it the case that the person who is the chair, that is, Larry Murrin, chaired a meeting on whether he would continue in his role?”
“I want to welcome the farmers who are here today. I thank all the farmers who raised their concerns with my office. The fact is that farmers are hurt by the fact that they are subjected to strict regulations and rules by Bord Bia and are paying it €6 million a year. The latter is in addition to the taxpayers' money that is going into Bord Bia. They then learn that the person driving the ship of an organisation that is driving regulation, that is continually pushing standards and that is contributing to the inflation of standards in the food sector is the importing beef that would never qualify under those regulations. That is why the board and the chair have lost the confidence of farmers. Frankly, farmers are frustrated by the Minister's response to this.”
“It will be known as the legislation that caused the flight of small landlords, which has already been happening but it will cause an acceleration of it. I ask that this aspect about small landlords be reconsidered. It is primarily designed for large institutional investors. There are a number of cases where we will see homes being left vacant as a result of this. I ask that it be reconsidered and that amendments to the legislation be considered to reduce the number of properties that will remain vacant as a result of this.”
“I believe this legislation is going to create more difficulty for renters because it is designed for pension funds and investment funds. I have spoken to landlords who are very concerned. The restrictions on small landlords are very concerning. Financial hardship has been mentioned. I looked at the legislation, which states small landlords may only sell where they are servicing a debt in excess of 15% of the asking price. This is causing concern. I have spoken to landlords who have attended my clinic and who are raising this as a concern. I spoke to another landlord, who is a grandfather. His grandchild is in Australia but he will be coming home. This man said he is going to leave the property vacant. This is the reality on the ground and the unintended consequences of the Bill will be great.”
“It is designed for large institutional investors. It is not designed for accidental landlords or people who are entering retirement and who may seek to sell down the line. For many such landlords, it actually incentivises vacancy. The number of eviction notices issued has increased by 35%. In quarter 3 of 2025, over 5,500 termination notices were issued. In the same quarter of the previous year, the figure was 4,000. Most of the landlords who are issuing these notices are intending to sell and they are not being replaced. The RTB has concerns in that regard as well. Some 56% of homes that are sold are sold by landlords who are leaving the market. Just 9% are being bought by investors. There has been a significant reduction in the number of rental properties available.”
“I have very serious concerns in relation to the legislation. If I could have the Minister of State's attention very briefly, I would greatly appreciate it because there are significant concerns. This legislation will not bring about stability or the balance the Minister of State has outlined. It is actually causing the flight of landlords. That is what is happening. It has accelerated the exodus of landlords from the market, which is causing immense difficulty for constituents and renters right across this country, including in my own constituency of Mayo. Small landlords are leaving the rental market and it is not because they want to but because of this Government legislation and its six-year tenancies. The evidence is overwhelming. That is why I am asking the Minister of State to reconsider. The legislation must be reconsidered.”
“Mayo University Hospital is under immense difficulty at the moment, particularly the emergency department. A couple of weeks ago electives were cancelled in the hospital. Research I have done found that a safe staffing framework for which an audit was carried out in 2021 was only recently sanctioned, and those posts still have to be filled. Mayo has a unique patient cohort, and I ask the Taoiseach to come to Mayo to visit the hospital. We have a significant issue with step-down facilities and home care packages that are having a knock-on effect on the hospital. Will the Taoiseach come to Mayo to visit the hospital and the step-down facilities we have in Mayo?”
“That is how bad things are in certain towns and villages. We need targets for local authorities and we need to resource local authorities. We must have metrics.”
“The number of houses in Mayo represents 3% of the overall national housing stock. Despite this, according to a recent GeoDirectory report, the proportion of dereliction in Mayo represents 14% of the national rate. That is extraordinary. Dereliction is a scourge on our towns and blight on our communities. Many homes have been abandoned for decades and have essentially been left to rodents and bats. That is what is happening. Mayo has had an average of two compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, over the past ten years. We need to resource local authorities in the context of dereliction levies and CPOs . We also need to set targets to ensure that action is happening. We are rudderless in respect of this matter, and communities are struggling. I know of communities in which people are worried because slates are falling off buildings.”
“I have raised this with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and every time, they and the Government says that they basically agree and will do something on it. Meanwhile, businessmen are driving around rural communities in sports cars, convertibles and Range Rovers speculating and making millions of euro off the back of what is happening. I welcome some of the changes in relation to it but a significant body of work must be done to get a handle on this issue.”
“There are businessmen in County Mayo from the east, the north and all parts of Ireland coming around rural villages in souped-up cars, sports cars and Range Rovers, speculating on warehouses, closed hotels, nursing homes, etc. That is the reality and the Government has facilitated this. I have raised this on many occasions. If the Minister wanted to change this, he would remove the planning circumvention immediately. In Ballina, for example, in the former school site of St. Mary's Secondary School, the people were told it is a nursing home. There was even a sign saying that a nursing home was coming soon. Meanwhile, the planning circumvention for a section 5 was submitted. The Government is treating the people like fools.”
“I am still unclear on the processes the Department has put in place since the Comptroller and Auditor General's report was issued. We must address the fact that approximately 90% of applicants come through the North from Britain. That is a major issue. I appreciate that there are complexities and significant challenges but, equally, this is a beast we must tackle. We must get a handle on the issue of thousands of people coming here from Britain via the North. We have to get a handle on it and I think it is crucially important. We should do that ahead of potential changes in Britain. I also want to raise the fact that, as Deputy Fitzmaurice quite rightly said, there are businessmen coming around rural communities and speculating on properties.”
“One company overcharged VAT by €7.5 million, and only €1.5 million was recovered. The report found serious issues with compliance and the potential for the State to overspend by millions of euro on contracts. What is happening is extraordinary. Another reason for frustration is the abuse of the system itself. The vast majority of applicants ultimately fail. Many remain in the system for excessively long periods, sometimes years, and this ultimately means we are spending a significant proportion of billions of euro unnecessarily. That is the truth of it. Meanwhile, we have so many issues with infrastructure and services for the Irish people. This must be cleaned up. Financial oversight must be cleaned up. We must address this issue.”
“We submitted a parliamentary question and the data in the response are staggering. Up to the end of last October, nearly €1 billion was spent on IPAS. Therefore, last year's budget for IPAS will have exceeded €1 billion. In 2024, it also exceeded €1 billion. An extraordinary amount of money is being spent on the IPAS system. Imagine what we could do with an additional €1 billion every single year. We could build the Galway ring road, for example. People, including taxpayers, are frustrated, for a number of reasons. One is the litany of financial failure by the Minister's Department in relation to contracts and the oversight of spending. These are not my words; it is in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. What the report reveals is extraordinary.”
“I welcome some of the Minister's moves in this space over recent months. It must be said, however, that it is deeply regrettable that, as a sovereign nation or state, we tied ourselves to the EU migration pact. We signed up to EU fines, irrespective of the fact that we have a common travel area with Britain, of movements in relation to the BritCard and of the potential change of government in Britain and what that will mean for Ireland. Tying ourselves to the migration pact will result in devastating and potentially significant fines down the line. I welcome the change in rhetoric from the Government. The Minister has been a welcome change from his predecessor, it must be said, but when we drill down into the detail and the cost of the IPAS system, we find it is extraordinary. It is very clear that nothing has changed as of yet.”
“When they reflect on their political careers, will the Minister of State and the members of the Government be able to say that they supported the most vulnerable in our society, the people who could not necessarily always advocate for themselves or those who are struggling at home? The motion would offer people practical support in terms of a payment this winter and a recognition of the fact that there is a cost of disability, that this cost should be recognised by the State and that support should be available to them.”
“Despite that and, what the Government said during the general election campaign to the effect that it was going to prioritise those with disabilities - it is even in the programme for Government - what has actually happened is that supports for people with disabilities have been cut by up to €1,400. People with disabilities are significantly less well off this year than they were last year, despite all the rhetoric. That is why I am so disappointed. The motion before us, which is a good one, will provide practical support for people with disabilities. It offers, perhaps, a very small glimmer of hope during this very difficult winter for those individuals. The Government, however, has completely erased the motion. That is extraordinary.”
“I support the motion. Those with disabilities are the most vulnerable people in our society. That is a fact. Right across Mayo and the rest of Ireland, there are people with disabilities who are struggling. In many cases, they are struggling physically. They are struggling to overcome all of the barriers they encounter in daily life. Now, increasingly, they are struggling with an enormous burden financially as well. The financial burden on so many vulnerable people is incredible. The Indecon report of 2021 outlined that the cost of disability, which is the additional cost for a person, is €12,000 annually. When indexed against inflation, the amount involved rises to €15,000.”
“I very much welcome the movement in terms of more judges. That is crucially important. We also need to ensure there are statutory timelines for these cases. We cannot have a situation where a victim has to go through the courts for more than a decade. It is unacceptable. Domestic abuse is such a horrendous violation for any individual. We should restrict the use of disclosure orders in domestic abuse cases. There is movement on that Bill and we certainly welcome that. This case presents a particular issue in terms of potential abuse and the Department should seriously review it to ensure no victim is retraumatised in the manner Margaret Loftus was.”
“The case of Margaret Loftus exposes very deep structural problems in An Garda Síochána but also in the judicial system. Her story shows how a victim has been failed, in the first instance by An Garda Síochána and then by the judicial system with regard to how slow and opaque it has been and how that system was weaponised, particularly with regard to the disclosure that was consistently sought by the perpetrator. She stated recently that the judicial system was as traumatising as the abuse itself. Margaret endured over 50 court hearings before a plea was eventually offered - a process that was incredibly difficult for her, her family and her ability to move forward. It is crucial that the process be expedited in these cases to ensure that a victim can begin to live again and move on with their lives.”
“Domestic violence and abuse is a major issue and a scourge on so many households across this country. What is the Department doing to reduce domestic violence in terms of prevention initiatives, supports for victims and reform of the judicial system in light of the recent case of Margaret Loftus in Mayo?”
“These are people who are suffering immensely and the way in which we are dealing with them is unacceptable. The Department's capture and management of the data also need to be looked at. I support the motion and I look forward, hopefully, to its implementation.”
“Recently, a constituent of mine who was suffering from addiction attended an emergency department. The response was simply inadequate in terms of being able to provide the level of care that was needed. There were significant gaps in care and the detox programme. I submitted a number of parliamentary questions to the Minister of State on this. I was trying to identify gaps and variations in delivery of addiction services and issues with female-only spaces, and the level of response was simply inadequate. I intend to submit questions again to the Minister of State and to write to her on this issue because mental health and addiction services are intrinsically linked. One question I put to the Minister of State was on the level of demand. It is extraordinary that this does not seem to be captured by the Department.”
“I support the motion. It is a fact that emergency departments across the country are overburdened. In Mayo, there are significant delays in waiting times and so on. For individuals suffering from mental health difficulties or suicidal ideation, I do not believe an emergency department is appropriate or the best place. Every year, 51,000 people access mental health services for the first time through an emergency department. That is an extraordinary figure. It is extraordinary for the individuals who have to go into the emergency departments, but equally for the healthcare professionals. It is crucial there is a dedicated room, with dedicated professionals available on a 24-hour basis, within emergency departments. It can be done. It is a practical solution to a major crisis.”
“That is what Government is going to do by signing this. I ask the Minister not to support this, to accept the amendment and let us be like the Hungarians and the Czech Republic and so on, and not tie ourselves to a financial loan without the proper scrutiny that is absolutely necessary here.”
“First, this is reckless. This is €90 billion over a two-year period we are going to sign over without any financial oversight or any real guarantees in terms of who is going to spend or pay over this money. It is said the Russians will pay in terms of repatriation. I highly doubt that will ever happen. It will be the Irish taxpayer who will end up footing the bill for this loan. There is also the question of neutrality, which the Irish people support but this Government clearly does not. We know where it stands on the triple lock and we know where it stands on this. There are no guarantees or certainties in relation to where this money will be spent. Will it be spent on guns, tanks or ammunition? The truth is that the Minister cannot answer that question because this is like a blank cheque.”
“It is quite incredible to think that an individual who shows blatant disregard for the laws of the land can find themselves in front of a judge ten, 20, 30, 100 or 200 times, and each and every time they can avail of free legal aid without any cost to that individual. That is wrong. We must be tough on crime. I welcome some aspects of this Bill but the aspect in regard to community service orders needs to be looked at. We will be tabling amendments and I hope the Minister will consider them on their merits. I hope we can have progress on this.”
“The consequences may be significant for the Garda Síochána as well. Garda morale is already low and we need to protect and enhance it. If a garda spends a huge amount of time and resources prosecuting a criminal for a burglary at a house, and sees that a lady who was living on her own is terrorised and will not go back to that home, and then the judge turns around and sends him to the local Tidy Towns, that is a very worrying legislative provision. I want to see a provision that ensures this will not be an option for repeat offenders. Free legal aid also needs to be looked at for repeat offenders. First, free legal aid is not free. It costs the taxpayer. In 2024, it cost the taxpayer €113 million. For repeat offenders, free legal aid should be taken from their social welfare. It is only right and proper.”
“We must ensure that when individuals perpetrate crimes that have such damaging and lasting consequences on their fellow citizens, they experience the full wrath of the law. Burglary and coming into someone's home has a devastating impact. If we are going to move in this direction, we are ultimately going to facilitate such aspects. Community service orders have a place but the conditions must be incredibly strict and I do not see that in this Bill. If it is a person's first offence and they have a good, clean record of working and contributing, perhaps we should consider such measures. We will be proposing amendments in relation to this. We want to make sure we do not use this option for repeat offenders. When this story broke, families across County Mayo were shocked. They could not believe it.”
“I am very fearful that this Bill would suggest that a person who is drug dealing in a community may be given time with the Tidy Towns, for example. That sends a very poor message. There are major issues with burglaries and thefts in rural Ireland. I know families who have been terrorised by burglaries. There have been sprees of burglaries in certain areas. I know of a woman who was living on her own in County Mayo but will no longer go back to that independent living, such is the devastating impact of the burglary of her property. The suggestion here is that these people may be given community service orders and I think this is a very worrying move. We must be tough on crime.”
“It is important that we try as best we can for the victims to get the balance right. One aspect of the Bill I am hugely concerned with is the community service aspect. The Bill outlines that it obliges the courts to consider community service orders for sentences up to 24 months. The current threshold is 12 months. It goes on to say that judges must give reasons if they decide to impose a community service order. In other words, it appears that the Government is directing judges with regard to preferring the option of community service orders. The types of crimes that will be considered here are drug dealing and possession with intent to supply, serious theft, burglaries and assault causing harm. I want to be very clear that drug dealing is not a minor offence.”
“We are all familiar with the queues of people looking for rooms. I spoke to a landlord the other day. She said she listed a room in Dublin and had a thousand emails over a 24-hour period. When you see that level of demand, you see the real crisis and emergency situation in which so many people find themselves, particularly immigrants into this country. They are, in many ways, the most vulnerable and susceptible to having to go to such lengths. I welcome that aspect of this Bill. I welcome the extra protection for survivors in respect of counselling notes. There have been many positive suggestions in the Chamber in relation to going further to protect survivors and to ensure they have their privacy protected as much as possible. There is no doubt that we need to be mindful of the question of constitutionality as well.”
“Anything that helps and protects front-line services and the men and women who go out to do their jobs should be commended. I am concerned by comments in this House that suggested that such a move would be to weaponise the prison officers. That is an extraordinary statement. Prison officers work under incredibly difficult circumstances. In regard to anything that can help them in their duties, we must remember that prison officers are not going to use pepper spray willy-nilly. This should and will be a last resort and I think we should be supporting our front-line gardaí and prison officers as much as possible. In relation to the sex-for-rent issue, I welcome the change. It is quite extraordinary that we live in a society where the housing crisis has reached a stage where women feel they have to resort to this.”
“I ask the Minister to follow up with the Garda Commissioner to ensure that such cases are taken seriously and that action follows. Her abuser subsequently went on to be promoted and was even given a firearm in the force. There were hugely excessive delays and relentless court hearings in relation to this case. The bravery of this woman should be recognised and noted. Indeed this case would be worth looking at by the Minister with his officials to ensure no woman should have to undergo such abuse and so many years of fighting for justice. I want to touch upon other aspects of the legislation. First, I welcome the prison officer safety aspect, which will allow prison officers to have incapacitant spray like pepper spray. What is happening in the prisons is horrendous, with overcrowding and so on. This will be a positive aspect.”
“This Bill is a mixed bag. There are some positive changes and some technical ones that will add efficiencies and so on, but we have some serious concerns about it. I commend Margaret Loftus from County Mayo on her bravery. Margaret suffered horrendous domestic violence. She stated to the media this week that the judicial process was as traumatising and damaging as the abuse itself. She is an incredibly brave woman who endured up to 58 court hearings over 13 to 14 years. She fought over so many years simply to have her case heard. The issues with the judicial system in this case are quite extraordinary. First, there was inaction and silence when the case was first reported. Margaret was a member of the Garda and so too was her partner. That is a major issue.”
“Will the Government engage across Europe with the wavering nations in particular and ensure that the voices of the European Parliament and the people are heard and that this Mercosur deal will go through the courts and a court decision will be reached before the provisional implementation of this deal?”
“Yesterday the European Parliament voted to pause the Mercosur deal. No sooner had that vote taken place than the European Commission and many senior members and politicians, including the German Chancellor, effectively stated that they wanted to proceed provisionally with the implementation of Mercosur. The position of Ursula von der Leyen and the Commission is very clear in relation to this but our position has been ambivalent at best. During the last round at the European Council, you really came in at the eleventh hour in terms of your opposition. The provisional implementation will go before the European Council and will need a qualified majority vote.”
“I have done much work on this matter and I have spoken to Uisce Éireann and officials in the local authority, but it seems there is no way that we can help him because he does not fall within the criteria of the multi-annual rural water scheme due to the number of houses. I would like the Minister of State's help with this. It is in very close proximity to the public water supply on the Lough Mask system. It is a major issue for this community. I am at a dead end with it. This is a basic need. There are elderly people in the community and significant difficulties as a result. Will the Minister of State meet me and work on this issue with me?”
“I want to raise an important issue that does not relate to Uisce Éireann or group water schemes. It is about houses that are not supplied on the public system or group water schemes. There are quite a number of such houses around the country. I believe there are around 100,000. In the valley of Glensaul in Tourmakeady, County Mayo, are 15 houses. I have been working with this community to try to get water into their homes. One man in that valley has a makeshift water connection from the local stream and on a stormy night the flow of the river washes that pipe away. He is an elderly man and it is a health hazard because reassembling this water pipe is becoming a frequent task.”
“The fact is that farmers are bound to the land. In other circumstances, larger corporations, etc., where regulatory burdens become significant, can migrate and relocate. They can create shell companies. Farmers are bound to the land. A farmer in Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Louisburgh or anywhere across the country is farming that land. The Government is putting him at a significant disadvantage. It is a significant anti-competitive practice to allow a product with an inferior standard to compete in the same marketplace. The Government has done this to the tillage sector. Irish native grain growers are competing against genetically modified produce that is coming in from outside this country.”
“I am just off a plane from Strasbourg. Over the past number of days, I met many MEPs who were wavering and on the fence in relation to this issue, who abstained in the previous vote and who said "I hear your prime minister is against Mercosur, but where is he? How come he never reached out to us?" How is it the case that the programme for Government explicitly states that the Government will work proactively. It took the Opposition, smaller parties and Independents to lead the charge on this, not the Government with all of its power, with the apparatus of the State and the Department of foreign affairs, etc. It is incredibly disappointing. I heard the Minister of State's comment in reply to Deputy Collins and would like to make this point to him.”
“Okay. I am happy to share this with the Minister of State after my contribution. The point I am making is that there are individuals who, on the one hand, worked for the consultancy aspect or, essentially, the wind farm companies and have now gone on to work in local authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála. In this instance, the same individual who worked on a planning application is now working within the local authority and adjudicating on that same wind farm application. There is a huge conflict of interest here. I am raising it to highlight this issue and seek assurances that it should not be allowed to happen. I am seeking that the Government puts these applications in County Galway on hold until we ensure that due process is adhered to and there is no conflict of interest in relation to these wind farms.”
“We can see from the documents on the website of An Coimisiún Pleanála that, on 19 November 2020 during the pre-application consultation phase of one of the proposed development sites in Galway, a meeting took place between the prospective applicant, the design team and Galway County Council. A certain individual is listed as present at that meeting representing the wind farm company. Luke Silke has declared and shown me documents that this individual is now working for An Coimisiún Pleanála. Is there not a huge conflict of interest in this regard? In further documents, we can see that a separate individual was working for MKO-----”