Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Dublin Mid-West · Independent · Ireland
“As I have mentioned in the House before, if a border poll passes by 52% to 48%, the legal threshold of the Good Friday Agreement is met but the social consensus is not and moving 800,000 citizens into a new state against their explicit, democratic will does risk causing civil unrest.”
“We also have other gaps that are much smaller, like a ten-year phased transition, reducing the net annual cost to between €2.5 billion and €3 billion. We then had the middle figure of about €11 billion. We actually do not know how much it is going to cost but we do know it is going to cost something.”
“For example, adopting a single currency, getting rid of the exchange rate volatility and the transaction costs for cross-Border businesses are all advantages.”
“I would be loath to call a border poll right now because of the risks associated with that, but if a border poll did occur, the State would have to be prepared for the huge structural disruptions that would follow, so we have to start working now - that is why this debate is welcome - without arrogantly presuming it is going to become a r…”
“I have been listening to this debate in my office since Deputy Currie started her contribution. I always follow these debates on Irish unity with interest as someone who wants to see a united Ireland by consent.”
“Some have been mentioned in this House, such as a devolved regional assembly in Stormont to preserve local governance for the unionist community, a shared bill of rights protecting the dual Irish-British citizenship, and re-evaluating our relationship with the Commonwealth.”
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“We have come to this housing debate God knows how many times now. I think we have had about six or seven debates on housing. In one sense, it recognises the importance of the issue. However, as Deputy Tóibín said, we are having a lot of statements. We are going around in circles without actually moving forward. The Housing Commission's report, for example, has been going for some time at this stage. It is supposed to be this comprehensive roadmap, but so far very little has been done regarding it. In one of my earlier contributions, I mentioned some things outside the report that need to be done, but I want to focus on a couple of things inside the report that have not been looked at so far. For example, we have not had proper rent regulation reform or vacant property utilisation.”
“I congratulate the Taoiseach on surviving a diplomatic balancing act at the White House last Wednesday. I am sure he will agree the decision to invite a thug in a suit on our actual national day to what in effect was a rapists' convention was a gross insult to the people of Ireland and especially to the women of Ireland. In one context, we can shrug it off but at another level, this represents a deliberate if not pathetic attempt to interfere in our electoral processes given that said individual has on multiple occasions indicated he wishes to run for the Presidency. That Administration may not understand our nomination process but it wanted to send a message nonetheless. Is there a protocol for calling out such blatant interference? If there is not, perhaps it is time we developed one.”
“It was great to see Deputies pointing out the progress that had been made and the contributions of women to Irish society and the world. However, we also need to remember that there is more work that needs to be done.”
“He is a muppet of President Putin who trash talks women, whereas his only claim is that he was once caricaturised as a piece of trash muppet on "Sesame Street". Then we have his sidekick who dislikes women who have no children and who like cats. That is the level of example we are being set from the shining example for the world. They have to be called out at any time. I would say this to President Trump or any of his misogynistic colleagues: treat women fairly and treat women well. In Ireland, we are not perfect, but we recognise an abuser when we see one. He needs to be called out whether he likes it or not. I am not going to give any more time to that individual. This is a day for celebrating all the contributions that women in Ireland have done over many years.”
“Today, however, I will specifically focus on what is happening in Afghanistan, where women are now not even allowed to speak in public. They are treated as subhuman in that country. I know it is run by a fundamentalist regime, and we know the issues there, but at Irish governmental, EU and UN level, we need to be doing more to call these abuses of fundamental human rights out. I also raise the fact that men need to call out misogyny more, including the types of - I referred to this during the motion on gender-based violence as well - behaviour that some of the online media influencers carry out that is influencing our teenagers. Equally, it needs to be called out at the highest levels of politics, where we have someone in the White House who abuses women.”
“Of course, women take a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, as we know. Gender-based violence was referenced last week. It is appalling. I will not go into it again, but what else can we do to make Ireland a safer place? In terms of political representation, women in Ireland remain underrepresented. It is interesting that independent female candidates are among the lowest participation levels. There is a systemic problem that we have to look at. There are also housing and economic challenges, particularly for single mothers, and the online abuse and harassment that generally tends to be focused more on women. Internationally, I could list a litany of countries where abuses occur towards women, be it India, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan or the despotic regime in Iran.”
“On this occasion of marking International Women's Day, I wish all the very best to mná na hÉireann, and to women across the world. Despite this being the second quarter of the 21st century, we have so many issues that still need to be resolved. It is absolutely shocking. It needs to be called out at any level. Obviously, women are well able to do it for themselves, but there is a litany of abuses in Ireland and beyond that need to be referenced, so I will refer to some of them now. We have a situation still ongoing in Ireland where workplace discrimination and sexual harassment remain concerns. We have the ongoing gender pay gap and workplace inequality. Women in Ireland still earn less than men on average, with a gender pay gap of approximately 12%. Childcare costs and work-life balance make it more difficult for women to return to work.”
“We import in excess of €6 billion in energy every year. From a strategic point of view, given the dangers that we are facing in the world, energy self-sufficiency is more important than ever, yet there is nothing tangible in the programme for Government and we have done very little on wave energy investment. We are lagging behind Scotland, Australia and Portugal. There are huge untapped resources. An energy company called NoviOcean estimated that there is a theoretical potential of 440 TW annually, which is about 16 times our current electricity consumption. Foras na Mara said a little more modestly that we could meet 75% of our electricity requirements. One way or the other, we could be a net exporter of wave-generated energy or convert it to hydrogen. That would save us money in the long term.”
“I also believe we need to change the legislation to assist the Garda to ensure there are more consequences for those who offend. I am not only talking about curfews. I am also talking about Revenue getting involved to dock people's pay or social welfare if they are not working. We need to create consequences for people who commit crimes, thereby resulting in less work for the Garda to allow it to focus on the real issues.”
“I suggest a super fit, focused and trained Garda core. However, why not have a dedicated Garda traffic corps that specialises in that area? We could separate it entirely. There are people who would be interested in traffic policing but would never think of getting involved in on-street policing. We might need to consider that option. We need to update the IT systems. PULSE was not fit for purpose when it came out in the 1990s and it is definitely not fit for purpose now. We have data accuracy integrity issues, access and security concerns, technical and usability problems and training and user competency issues for this old system. Others have mentioned governance and oversight issues. There are a whole lot of concerns.”
“In my limited time to talk about policing community safety, I will focus on a couple of key points. The first is pay for gardaí. We need to create total pay restoration to the levels before the economic downturn. As I have mentioned in respect of nurses, if we are to have gardaí posted in urban areas, they need a Dublin allowance as an incentive. Otherwise we will be unable to replace the officers leaving the force. I put that first and foremost. The second thing is community policing. You get more bang for your buck when you are able to be out there, liaising with people from all sorts of backgrounds and identifying problems before they happen. That is policing at its best. We need to be putting the skills of our gardaí to their best use. I would not be one for diminishing the fitness test, for example.”
“The Wombles preschool in Scoil Mhuire, Airlie Heights, is facing closure because the Government is putting in an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit, which is welcome, but the reason the Government is putting it in is that it is not opening the other schools that should be opened. We are talking about 66 childcare places going nowhere else. That is going to cost the State a fortune down the line to try to find alternatives. We need to think smarter.”
“On the contracts for construction, consistently in this country we have no checks and balances for companies that are considered dodgy and that do shoddy work and end up costing the taxpayer more over a period. BAM, for example, has had massive cost overruns with the children's hospital but it had issues with schools in the past. Why should a company that has been shown not to adhere to best practice then be awarded a contract because it has given the cheapest tender? We know the cheapest is not always the best quality or the best way to spend public money. We should be going down like a hammer on all these contracts to make sure they are delivering proper value for money.”
“The big one that came out yesterday was the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the climate change body report that said we would get between €8 billion and €26 billion in fines for not investing in areas that can save people money, protect our environment and do our bit on climate change. It is a no-brainer to put in that investment, but instead we are hoping the EU will go lax and that we will not have to pay those fines. We will have to pay something. In six years' time, are we going to be saying this was another example of gross Government ineptitude? We need to invest in water to provide housing and in housing itself to avoid costing people a lot more in inflated rents.”
“Schools should be multi-use facilities so there can be a pre-school on site and rooms which can be used in the evening. I called that integrated public partnership 20 years ago. We are wasting school buildings. We should be feeding that solar panel energy back to the grid rather than adding to our costs. Also on costs there has been the delayed implementation of the digital government e-services. Then there is the over-expansion of consultancy contracts with the excessive reliance on external consultants leading to inflated costs. The mismanagement of subsidy programmes leading to the unequal distribution of funds and a minimal impact on agricultural development.”
“Inefficient public transportation investment and funds allocated for transportation projects were under-utilised and mismanaged leading to increased congestion and annoyance to the public. There is a strike today which is affecting my constituency of Dublin Mid West which has left thousands stranded because the buses did not turn up. That was because of dissatisfaction over how the bus service is operating. There were 300 electric buses which could have saved a fortune in fuel left idle because of gross ineptitude and bureaucratic incompetence. School construction projects frequently exceed budgets. I was listening to the “Path to Power” podcast and heard of where schools were going to put in 12 solar panels. That should be much more.”
“The reason for that is because of massive inefficiencies and mismanagement in the agency which is costing the taxpayer money. There is also mismanagement in the HSE. The HSE has faced multiple instances where projects were delayed or went over budget which impacted service delivery. Obviously, there have to be agency nurses but we have seen an over-reliance on agency staff in administration. It is not good economics. It is not very efficient. There has been delayed utilisation of medical equipment worth millions. It remains unused due to infrastructural delays reflecting poor planning and resource management. There have been overruns in public housing projects. Several projects exceeded budgets by millions.”
“Deputy Tóibín did not want to give too many examples but it is important to keep ramming the examples home. Just over the past three years, there have been several instances which have highlighted concerns regarding the mismanagement and waste of public funds by the Irish Government bodies and agencies. There was a seven-year inquiry into NAMA’s €1.6 billion Project Eagle which resulted in €14.4 million being spent primarily on legal fees and administrative costs. The new X-ray scanner at the National Gallery cost €124,000 and the Arts Council’s failed IT system cost €6.675 million. We had the OPW overpriced bike shed construction, the €7,000 retirement party expenses and the Office of Public Works €1.4 million security hut. Need I say more? We had a debate recently on the need for the Road Safety Authority to have a structural overhaul.”
“As well as promoting the Irish-speaking schools and trying to have more of them, we need to put both the funding and mindset towards developing more Gaelscoileanna. As I said to the Taoiseach an seachtain seo caite, there are many more people who want to go to a Gaelscoil than are actually able to go. At the same time, mar a dúirt mé cheana freisin, we also have to encourage comhrá Gaeilge a chur chun cinn. There is no point in just having a fast lane without also having a medium lane. I thank the Minister again for the funding initiative and our colleagues for the motion. I want to reiterate that we need a special leaving or junior certificate subject for comhrá Ghaeilge so people can speak le chéile as Gaeilge but not necessarily get into the grammatical stuff. That will flow after people foster a love of the language.”
“Nílimid ag obair i dtreo an fhadhb sin a réiteach ach ina aghaidh sin. When the Taoiseach mentioned there was some work being done, I acknowledged this and noted the Minister was at the Féile na bhFeidearthachtí launch today - which is part of Gaeilge365 - and that there is additional funding coming for promoting Irish through the local authorities to try to find creative ways. Chonaic mé go leor smaointe faoi úsáid na Gaeilge i go leor bealaí éagsúla. Tá grianghraf agam anseo. Nílim in ann é a léamh ach tá cúpla sampla ann. Ina measc sin tá biongó; club oíche na Gaeilge; seomra éalaithe as Gaeilge; comórtas scánnán, rud atá suimiúil freisin; tráth na gceist - is gnáthrud é sin - agus a bheith ag caint leis an madra trí Ghaeilge. Tá a lán smaointe ann.”
“Tá na scoileanna a fhreastalaíonn ar phobail Ghaeilge lasmuigh de theorainn na Gaeltachta ag iarraidh stádas mar scoil Ghaeltachta a fháil cosúil le ceantar na hEascrach i Leamhcán. Tá dhá Ghaelscoil agus Gaelcholáiste i mBaile Átha Cliath theas. Rinneadh cinneadh sa chlár Rialtais neamhaird a dhéanamh ar na príomhgheallúintí i gclár Rialtais 2020 maidir leis an nGaeilge. Ina measc sin, bhí béim ar an teanga labhartha a mhéadú sa seomra ranga, líon na ndaltaí a fhreastalaíonn ar Ghaelscoileanna a mhéadú, polasaí cuimsitheach a chur ar fáil don Ghaeilge ón réamhoideachas go dtí oideachas múinteoirí do gach scoil agus tacaíocht a mhéadú chun an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. Ní maith go leor é sin. Is mór an trua é. Mar a dúirt mé leis an Taoiseach cheana, is léir go bhfuil éileamh ann.”
“Tá Gaeilge á labhairt in a lán áiteanna eile. Is líonra Gaeilge é Cluain Dolcáin. Níl an rogha ag daoine ar fud na tíre. Más í an Ghaeilge ár dteanga náisiúnta, nár chóir go mbeadh an rogha ag muintir na tíre ar fad í a fhoghlaim? Tá brón orm go bhfuil droch-Ghaeilge agam ach táim ag déanamh mo dhíchill. Tá líon na ndaoine a labhraíonn Gaeilge ó lá go lá tar éis titim thar an dá dhaonáireamh is déanaí atá againn. Tuairiscítear sna páipéir inniu nach bhfuil foirgneamh seasta ag 39% de Ghaelscoileanna. Níl a dhóthain múinteoirí a labhraíonn Gaeilge ag 80% acu. Tá sé sin an-ard ar fad. Tá Gaelcholáistí ag fostú múinteoirí nach bhfuil líofacht sa teanga acu. Mar a dúradh inniu ag Féile na bhFéidearthachtaí, is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste. Tá orainn níos mó múinteoirí a fhorbairt a bhfuil Gaeilge líofa acu.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl faoi láthair, tá sé tábhachtach gur ardaíodh an t-ábhar seo. Aontaím go mór leis an rún. Is tábhachtach go n-aithníonn an Rialtas an obair seo mar beidh mé ag labhairt faoin Aire i gceann tamaill. Maidir leis an díograis agus an tiomantas chun an Ghaeilge a shábháil beo inár gcultúr, tá bealach ann chun é seo a fhorbairt, is é sin, ceart agus rathúlacht an oideachais trí Ghaeilge a roinnt le gach saoránach in Éirinn. Maidir le staitisticí, mar a dúirt an Teachta Tóibín cheana, feiceann muid go bhfuil 11 contae gan Ghaelcholáiste in Éirinn. Níl rogha ag na daltaí meánscoile a gcuid Gaeilge a fhorbairt trí oideachas Gaeilge. Déanaim tagairt d’ocht gcinn. I mo cheantar, tá sampla níos fearr. I Leamhcán, tá dhá bhunscoil agus Gaelcholáiste amháin.”
“In that context, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to introduce a new international protection Act in 2026. Why so far away? This is an urgent issue.”
“The Irish people are a generous people. We recognise the need of so many people fleeing persecution and war who come to this country. Long may that continue. People have said to me on the doorsteps that they recognise the fantastic contribution being made by people from various countries around the world in, for example, our healthcare system. However, there is concern about people who are economic migrants using the asylum process, nice people as they may be. I note that the recent midnight plane to Georgia brought 32 of them back to that country. However, this is a drop in the ocean, even if the numbers involved are increasing in percentage terms. We need to be more targeted in terms of work permits. We need South African bus drivers, for example, as they drive on the same side of the road as we do.”
“It is not my place to comment on America's democratic right to elect people like this, but I want to put it on the record that they still have a chance in the congressional elections in two years' time to have some sort of a positive impact for their people. I am saying that in the same way as Elon Musk tried to interfere in the German elections and talk about the AfD. We will leave it up to the people to decide, but to our friends and cousins in America, please speak out against the transactional abuses that your President is committing regarding Ukraine and Palestine. Glory to Ukraine and I thank our guests today.”
“I know, however, from speaking to some of them, that many of them regret their decisions. They may have voted Republican because they felt the Democrats were not actually addressing some of their bread-and-butter needs, but what is happening now is nothing more than the systemic attempt to dismantle democracy in the US. There is no point in an Opposition Deputy being a nice person and trying to placate the US Administration. I want to put on the record for 40 years' time that we have a narcissist in office in the United States. He is someone who puts transactions above what is morally right; someone who abuses and mistreats women; and someone who has an unstable tech head in his administration trying to disassemble the working people of America.”
“President John F. Kennedy and President Zelenskyy have both addressed the Dáil. We respected both their contributions, but we had a particular cousinly relation with JFK when he came to Ireland. He was seen as one of our own, coming back to the old sod - a Catholic coming back from America made good. Our relationship with America goes back generations. Some 40 million diaspora claim to have some form of Irish heritage on this island. The Americans are our cousins, our friends and our relatives. The Americans are a great people and we have always believed in American exceptionalism. We have followed European policy socially, but always admired the American dream from afar. We cannot lecture our friends and cousins in America about the democratic choices they made.”
“The adoption of the ineffective Minsk agreements and the pathetically weak response of major European nations, particularly to the Donbas war, emboldened Putin to invade Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Europe belatedly responded with military and civil aid, as did the US. Ireland also played its part in providing support in line with our policy of military neutrality. In the initial stages of the invasion, the international community, led by the then normal United States Administration and European allies, rallied to support Ukraine. The US Congress appropriated nearly €174 billion from fiscal years 2022 to 2024, and supplemented appropriations to aid Ukraine. This assistance was instrumental in bolstering Ukraine's defence and providing humanitarian relief. However, recent shifts in US policy have thrown this into disarray.”
“Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine three years ago was a terrible attack on a sovereign nation, escalating into a conflict that has killed more than 1 million people, created 7 million refugees, displaced 3.7 million people internally and put almost 13 million people, including more than two million children, in dire need of humanitarian aid. Tens of thousands of children were also abducted by Russia and forcefully taken away from their families. Despite its vicious, indiscriminate military assaults and many war crimes committed, thanks to the bravery and steadfastness of Ukraine, very little has changed on the ground compared to what was already in situ following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent war in Donbas.”
“We need to work in society as well as in the education system to make sure that this pervasive influence is dealt with. We have to deal with the algorithms in social media as well.”
“There is no mention of this legislation, only a reference to working with gardaí. We need to have some legal mechanism and to bring in Jennie's law. In the minute I have left, I will talk about the wider societal issue. Among influencers on YouTube, TikTok, all across social media and even on mundane and mind-numbing programmes like "Love Island", it is seen as acceptable for men to commit misogynistic acts against women, for women to forgive all kinds of abuses and bad treatment, and for that to be seen as the norm on our national TV. It is not the norm. These people are making money online perpetuating the myth that somehow men have been hard done by and that somehow ensuring women have their rights means men are being hard pressed. It is not the case.”
“There should be mechanisms to make accountable and even recall judges who make misogynistic and insensitive rulings. We must prioritise accommodation for women and children who have been abused because housing, accommodation and refuges are a major issue in our country. We should introduce Valerie's law, as previously referenced, to remove guardianship rights from those who kill the other parent of children. We must provide femicide and intimate partner violence training for gardaí. We should introduce Jennie's law, a domestic violence register to make available information about anyone with a conviction for domestic violence. On 11 February, in reply to me, the Minister for Justice referred to a scheme in the programme for Government in respect of domestic violence, but this did not include a domestic violence register.”
“It is abhorrent. We have increased sentencing for domestic violence from five to ten years, passed by the Minister for Justice, but way more needs to be done. There need to be consequences. We must end the practice of character references before sentencing for those convicted in cases of gender-based violence. We must protect the confidentiality right to privacy and therapeutic healthcare for victims. Advocacy should be provided as well as representation for complainants in the courts process. It is necessary to end rape myths in the courtroom, and to invest in and recruit court personnel so that nobody must wait more than a year for sexual assault, rape or gender-based violence cases. We need educational programmes in schools to challenge misogyny and gender violence.”
“The legal system, as others have described, is harrowing. In 2023, there were almost 29,000 contacts with Women's Aid. A domestic abuse motive was recorded for 90% of women in relation to victims of murder, manslaughter and infanticide. Women are more likely to be injured as a result of violence and need medical attention. Since 1996, more than 270 women have died violently in the Republic of Ireland. We are by no means a shining example in any case. We had legislation such as the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Domestic Violence Act 2018 to aid the protection of victims of domestic violence. Still, there were 25,570 applications to the District Court for gender-based violence against women in 2023 versus 23,536 in 2022. There an increase of 10% every year in domestic abuse cases brought before the District Court.”
“I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Violence against women is a global problem. It happens in so-called capitalist societies, socialist societies, religious communities and secular communities. It happens across the world. It may have an increasing risk in areas of deprivation and poverty but it is not related to income or social status either. We have our own background of patriarchy and misogynistic history but even in modern Ireland today, the level of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is totally unacceptable. We have by no means lived up to our commitments under the Istanbul Convention. The facts are stark. One in four women in Ireland has been abused by a partner or former partner; 5% of women who experience sexual assault report it to the Garda, with only 14% making it to trial.”
“They think that now they have their test they can do whatever they like. Maybe we need refresher courses and tie that into the insurance costs.”
“In rural areas - but also in urban areas - when people are trying to get to college or to work the public transport system not fit for purpose a lot of the time. As someone with a green background I would like to be able to say that yes we have the public transport system that delivers, but we know that BusConnects is not fit for purpose. We need to have alternatives for people. We need to have measures that would encourage people to be able to get get their driver permit as early as possible. In my remaining seconds I wish to make a point about novice drivers. Once a person has got their test it does not end there. My rural colleagues have mentioned anecdotally that roads are the issue. In urban areas with good roads I have seen people with N plates speed and break the traffic lights.”
“We need more driver testers, with permanent positions especially, and we need the promised reorganisation of the RSA to address the backlog in driver tests, including its own mandate, resourcing and programme of work. We need to address the shortfall in the driver test centres across the country. We need more of them and spread more evenly. We need to instruct the OPW and the RSA to urgently identify the suitable sites to fill the gaps. I welcome that one can no longer keep applying for a test and driving on the learner permit indefinitely. Now a person can renew his or her learner permit twice and after that he or she must apply for a driver test or have unsuccessfully taken the test in the previous two years. This is all very welcome but more needs to be done. I will focus now on what others have said about transport.”
“Driver test waiting times have become a major issue across the country. From speaking to people in different parts of the country we know there are huge differences depending on ones location. The Government has itself acknowledged since last year the need for significant restructuring of the RSA and its €90 million budget but there is a lot of work to be done. There are 72,000 learner drivers awaiting a test as of February this year. This is a rise of 10,000 over the last three months alone. The Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, referred to a 22-week wait for a test, which last April was 15 weeks. We need a lot done. We need the implementation of the service level agreement to ten weeks as set out under section 28 the Road Safety Authority Act, with consequences if they cannot deliver, as others have said.”
“The Minister of State mentioned that this Government is putting the disabilities issue front and centre of Government. If that were the case, then some of the Taoiseach's nominees would have been people at the forefront of the disabilities sector. I mention people like Joan Carthy, for example and Ann Marie Flanagan, both of whom have tremendous expertise in this area. It would have been a good idea if the Government had appointed both of them as Taoiseach's nominees to the Seanad. They would have addressed the gender balance deficit but they are also experts in their own right in the field of disability. I hope that somehow, through whatever sector, their contribution can be encouraged and recognised.”
“I have short enough speaking time but I welcome that the Minister of State has mentioned there has been some progress on graduates in the special section of the Department of the Taoiseach. There are also quite a number of areas, however, that require urgent re-examination. Reference is made to 60% of people with disability working. If one looks, however, at people who are termed disabled to a great extent, it is only 27.3%. That is an area which needs to be focused upon. We need to look at the issue of housing for persons with disabilities, given that disabled individuals make up 25% of homeless people, which is hugely disproportionate. We need better accessible transport, affordable childcare, improved education, improved employment and adequate personal assistant services.”
“We must develop and enforce regulations that promote responsible AI usage and ensure it serves the common good while protecting our values of fairness and privacy. Together, let us lead the way in harnessing AI for a brighter future. Thank you. On a point of information, this speech was entirely written by AI, for better or worse, with parameters I set. It is important we have a little bit of control over it.”
“Honourable Members of Dáil Eireann, we stand at the dawn of a transformative age, one driven by the power of artificial intelligence. In business, AI offers unparalleled potential to boost productivity, streamline operations and foster innovation. Our economy can harness AI to enhance sectors like manufacturing, healthcare and finance, positioning Ireland as a global leader in technological advancements. However, with great power comes great responsibility. AI's rapid growth presents challenges: job displacement, ethical concerns and data privacy issues. It is crucial we manage these risks while embracing innovation. Ireland must ensure its workforce is equipped with the skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy while also safeguarding the interests of workers and consumers. From an EU perspective, co-operation is key.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Taoiseach. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil caighdeán Gaeilge an-mhaith sna gnáthscoileanna freisin agus go bhfuil na hÉireannaigh nua ag lorg áiteanna chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt an t-am ar fad freisin. Tá a fhios agam sin. Is mór is cuimhin liom nuair a bhí mé i mo mhéara ar Chomhairle Contae Átha Cliath Theas, fuarthas cuireadh ó ghrúpa reilige ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig agus bhí an ghrúpa ag canadh go leor amhrán. Chan siad amhráin as Béarla agus as Gaeilge. Ba mhór an bród a bhí ar an ngrúpa seo as a bheith ina nÉireannaigh agus as a gcuid tíortha nádúrtha ag an am céanna. Chuala mé freisin an Córán á léamh trí Ghaeilge. Tá a lán daoine ag iarraidh Gaeilge a labhairt ach caithfear an tslí a dhéanamh níos simplí. B’fhéidir go bhfuil orainn comhrá a bheith againn faoin chaighdeán Gaeilge.”
“Ag an am céanna, tá orainn níos mó Gaeilge a labhairt i rith an lae. Níl mé ag caint faoi Ghaeilge líofa ach faoi chomhráite Ghaeilge. Tá a fhios ag formhór na ndaoine go bhfuil caighdeán níos fearr Fraincise ag daltaí meánscoile thar an Ghaeilge tar éis sé bliana, cé go raibh ocht mbliain acu roimhe sin sa bhunscoil ag foghlaim Gaeilge. Cén fáth a bhfuil sé mar seo? Is í an dara cheist atá agam ná cad a cheapann an Taoiseach faoi chúrsaí nua sna scoileanna san ardteist nó sa junior certificate le béim ar chomhráite trí Ghaeilge?”
“Níl figiúirí níos deireanaí agam, ach sa bhliain 2017 measadh go raibh 6% de dhaltaí ar fud an bhunleibhéil Gaeilge, agus go raibh titim go 1.6% i mbunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge. Tá mé cinnte go bhfuil go leor tuismitheoirí ag iarraidh go bhfoghlaimíonn a gcuid páistí Gaeilge ach níl an deis nó an t-eolas acu lena dhéanamh. Tá sé deacair nuair nach é an Béarla a gcuid teanga dúchais, gan trácht ar an nGaeilge. Mar sin, caithfidh muid féachaint i ndáiríre conas líon na nÉireannach nua a mhéadú sna Gaelscoileanna. Is cinnte go bhfuil daoine ag cur isteach ar shaoránacht Éireannach. Is é mo thuairim ar aon nós gur cheart go mbeadh siad in ann líofacht a léiriú i gceann amháin dár dteangacha náisiúnta ar a laghad, agus leibhéal réasúnta comhrá sa teanga eile, an Ghaeilge is dócha. Is smaoineamh é sin.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl go luath i gceann coicíse, bhí mé ag smaoineamh faoi conas a chothaítear níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid, go mór mór i measc na nÉireannach nua. I ndáiríre, tá fadhb againn. Léiríonn figiúirí ón Roinn Oideachais go bhfuil 8% de dhaltaí bunscoile sna Sé Chontae Fichead ag freastal ar Ghaelscoileanna agus go bhfuil 8.3% de na bunscoileanna sna Sé Chontae Fichead ag baint le Gaelscoileanna. Léiríonn taighde ón ESRI, áfach, go bhfuil an leibhéal éilimh ar an nGaelscolaíocht ag 23%. Tá níos mó daoine ag lorg spás sna Gaelscoileanna. Dúirt mé an tseachtain seo chaite go gcaithfidh muid níos mó Gaelscoileanna a oscailt. Tá sé seo fíor. I measc thuismitheoirí na ndaltaí sna Gaelscoileanna atá againn anois, áfach, cé mhéad acu siúd a rugadh in Éirinn?”
“I would like more time to speak, but I welcome something I raised a while back at the council regarding people being able to build in back gardens. As long as it is not being rented out to the private sector and is for family use, it is a brilliant idea. Let us keep moving with it as quickly as possible.”
“I agree with rent pressure zones and keeping rents down, but if there are people operating in rent pressure zones whose tenant leaves of his or her own volition, they should be able to put it in for a market rent. Other than that, we need to keep prices down. We need to give tax incentives to assist the smaller landlords. The State should be the biggest developer in the country. I do not mean the State should don all the shovels and do everything. It should work with the private sector but as the lead partner. There are ideas. In County Louth, for example, there is a housing development that will be produced in a new and innovative manner through 3-D printing. Although modular housing has been overblown in some areas, in other cases it is being delivered more cheaply than traditional bricks and mortar.”