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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“The rents will not be cheaper either. I will give the local example of Lucan swimming pool. For some reason, South Dublin County Council decided to tender out the management of this pool, which was won by a private company. As a result, there are higher costs for using the Lucan pool. For example, it is €6 for a swim in the Clondalkin pool operated by the council but it is €10 for a swim at Lucan. I can only quantify that in housing terms by saying if people are in it to make their profit and margin, and to give their investors a return, it will always be more expensive. If we are talking about giving breaks, we should be giving breaks to small landlords, those who own one property and have been keeping people on reduced rents for years but are being squeezed out of the market, or the single property investor.”
“It is good to have the opportunity to speak on housing again so soon. I welcome the motion from my Social Democrats colleagues. Looking at the Government amendment, I would vote against it but I will put on the record that I am participating in a pairing arrangement today and so will not be voting. However, I will speak in support of the motion. It is very important to emphasise a couple of things. The Government statement says that some of the investment has to come from the private sector and that there is not an over-reliance on it. It seems that going forward there will be an increasing reliance on the private sector. The so-called vulture funds and investment funds that are coming in are obviously there to make a profit. There is no way in the world the price of any housing for sale, if they sell it, will be cheaper.”
“That needs to be examined, but there was little mention of a Dublin allowance in the response. I would like to see it looked at because it is best practice in other countries, and as well as pay increases, we need to entice people in high-cost environments to come to work here.”
“These checks are crucial for the early identification of any developmental concerns, allowing for timely interventions. and they can significantly enhance or basically curse a child's prospects in the future if it is not looked at. Parents are understandably concerned about the need to have their children assessed in a timely manner, and it cannot be done privately. Maybe that needs to be examined in the context of something like the treatment purchase fund while we are trying to sort it out. In the limited time I will mention the cross-cover arrangements in place for priority cases. It is not fair, taking the country as a whole, that one area can be well staffed and then areas such as in my constituency are not as well staffed and the load is not being spread out.”
“Despite advertisements at job fairs abroad, we have not been able to get nurses. I have been raising this matter for several years. If we cannot get these healthcare professionals in, we have to look at new ways of doing it. That is why I believe that a Dublin allowance would make a great deal of sense. There is a precedent in this regard. There is such an allowance for inner London and outer London. There is something similar in Paris. This is an important matter, particularly as 14,000 of the 80,000 nursing staff in the country in 2010 have left. We need to bring those people back.”
“This is our own Health Service Executive, but it is factually misleading, because in the constituency I represent, Dublin Mid-West, within community healthcare organisation, CHO, 7, in areas like Lucan, parts of Clondalkin, Newcastle and elsewhere, parents have been unable to get health checks. Stephen Donnelly, the former Minister, confirmed that GPs do not do the checks. Parents have tried to have them carried out. The Government has acknowledged many times before that this is a problem. The main responsibility for carrying out the checks rests in the hands of our hard-working, hard-pressed and underpaid public health nurses. As we know, along with staffing in other areas of healthcare, there is a serious shortage of public health nurses across the country. This is especially true in my constituency.”
“Here is a quote for the Minister of State: Every child gets free health and development checks from 0 to 5 years. This is to make sure they are healthy and developing normally. Checks will happen with a healthcare professional, for example your public health nurse (PHN), GP practice nurse or GP. They will normally happen at home or at your local health centre. You can use these visits and health checks to ask any questions or talk about any concerns about yourself or your baby. This is not misinformation on a Facebook post generated by some IT farm in Russia. This is not a typical post on X. This is not even a statement from the White House briefing room.”
“As others have mentioned regarding their constituencies, I see parents in Dublin Mid-West in areas like Lucan and Clondalkin seeking special classes and autism units well outside the geographic areas in which they live. I welcome the fact that a special education school is being put in place in Lucan, but we are not doing enough. We must ask ourselves whether we cherish all children equally and whether we need to allocate more resources.”
“In my constituency of Dublin Mid-West and other areas that have been mentioned, there are significant challenges that demand immediate attention. This year is the 21st anniversary of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act. Many of the main sections of that Act which would have benefited children with additional educational needs have not yet been implemented. An example in this regard is the provision of individual education plans. The demand for special education placements continues to rise steadily. This year, the 2024-25 academic year, the special education teacher allocation model has been redesigned to provide more teaching hours for children with complex needs. Despite that, many children, particularly those with additional needs, still lack access to appropriate educational settings.”
“As I look around the Chamber, I see the busts of those involved in the 1916 Rising. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic resolved to cherish all children of the nation equally. This has been used before many times. It can almost become cliched at times, but it must be stated that in the area of special education, we are not cherishing children equally. Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states: States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and life long learning. Ireland is lagging behind in this regard.”
“I know there has been movement on the issue of inpatient beds, but the enormous delay in intervention makes mental health issues worse. They are often exacerbated by social media use outside of school hours. There is also a persistent shortage of mental health professionals, which hampers service delivery. My colleague mentioned the recent ending of embargoes and the terms and conditions. Despite plans to recruit nearly 3,000 staff in 2024, there are other barriers, including low pay and inadequate housing. In that context, I will, on behalf of public health nurses, raise the issue of the Dublin allowance. It applies to staff in this sector.”
“Why is it that despite investment, we seem to be, at best, running to stand still in respect of our mental health services? There are many things to cover, but I will focus on some of the matters that are getting worse despite a record allocation of €1.48 billion in budget 2024. Of particular concern to me and my constituents, and the topic I wish to concentrate on in my brief contribution, is the alarming increase in waiting times for CAMHS. I recently submitted a parliamentary question on the issue and await the reply. Before the election, according to the HSE, more than 4,500 children were awaiting an initial appointment and 750 of them had been waiting for more than a year. That is totally unacceptable.”
“However, to improve road safety we need to put in place other complementary measures such as CCTV for those who skip traffic lights or pedestrian crossings. There is a bus lane beside Kishoge train station where people are underpassing. If the gardaí do not have the resources or a traffic corps to enforce rules then we need a dedicated traffic police. I ask the Government to revisit this please.”
“Some time ago, the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland suggested that Ireland might have the highest level of uninsured vehicles in the EU. Those driving without insurance are more likely to be the sorts of drivers to kill or maim people. Speed kills so the lower the speed limit, the lower the risk to pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers. A reduction in the speed of a dangerous road may not have everyone keeping the limit but it will certainly discourage many from exceeding the limit to the previous extent. I take on board some of the remarks by my rural colleagues about the types of roads where speed limits are applied. Mayo, for example, had 18 tragic fatalities last year so there is certainly something that needs to be done around particular roads and it needs to be looked at very carefully.”
“The Road Safety Act was a progressive piece of legislation and I commend those involved in its implementation. The legislation, which I broadly welcome, targets three main areas namely mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions; penalty points and some movement around speed limits. It is not a universally well received piece of legislation but we must look first and foremost at saving lives. There are many aspects we need to look at such as ensuring people who cannot drive properly are taken off the road. That means speeding up testing and a zero-tolerance approach to those who serially avoid the tests. It also means more serious consequences for those who drive under the influence or those who drive without insurance.”
“It is like going out to the shop, buying an extra pack of sweets and handing them out like you are everyone's best friend while having a whole packet to yourself. It does not work and people see through it. Comparisons with other countries do not work in relation to Ireland because the stark fact is that this is one of the most centralised countries in the world. If we do not have Ministers, we do not have a properly functioning local government. Councillors have no power. As Deputy Murphy said, let us have a referendum on whether we need to increase the number of Ministers or need to give good, devolved government to the regions and have a smaller number of Ministers in Government focused on the issues.”
“I have one minute and 30 seconds to speak. I actually supported curtailing this debate because it was all done and dusted when the Government was announced. There is a simple sentence that describes this ministerial appointment splurge. It is "The Late Late Show", with one for everyone in the audience. That is what it seems like. I can take on board that we have additional tasks and we have to deal with a strange new regime in the USA and a very dangerous world. We do need more people to look at more things but that was already done five years ago. This is now a case of handing out the goodies. Rather than Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael saying they will have to do without a couple of Ministers because they have done a deal with the Regional Independent Group, they have added more Ministers.”
“This is a fantastic service. I recommend the Government engage in a proactive way on this. It is a long debate; I would love if I had two hours to talk on these issues, which I why I focused on a few suggestions to be constructive. I reiterate that mandatory tie-in of housing and construction with infrastructure and amenities is required. We need to build communities, not just housing. That has failed in areas like Clonburris. It needs to be improved.”
“Greater flexibility is also needed to allow families in rural areas to build sustainably on family land or in back gardens in urban areas subject to conditions about renting such properties out for profit. In this way, young couples can more easily save for their own larger home while living in a starter unit that is high quality and meets planning conditions, etc.. This could also become a step-down property for older people whose children and grandchildren may move into the main home. Targeted step-down properties are needed in key locations where there is an older population. There should also be meaningful liaison with charities such as the fantastic The HomeShare to target people who need to rent an affordable room and match them with older people who want companionship and a few hours' work around the home.”
“People on housing lists should also be allowed to move to new or refurbished accommodation in areas that need the population in rural towns and villages without losing their place on a Dublin housing list for five years. This will encourage people to try a move and enjoy a better quality of life while also providing the critical population to keep services like post offices and shops open in rural areas. We also need special housing built or purchased for critical workers near their places of employment, with affordable rents to allow them to save for their own homes, for example teachers, nurses, doctors and gardaí. A Dublin allowance is needed.”
“I reiterate my support for the recommendations of the Housing Commission report and emphasise the need to act on a macro level. I will outline a few more suggestions I will bring forward in more detail at a later stage. The first is increased penalties for housing not occupied including the right of a local authority to make a compulsory purchase order faster than the current derelict sites process. Allied to this are incentives to allow for the refurbishment of derelict buildings in city centres and rural towns and villages, enhancing the existing Croí Cónaithe scheme. More focus on building in Dublin city centre to revitalise the area with incentives to encourage people to live there. We should plan 20,000 homes in the city centre for three years from now. It would make the area safer and more vibrant.”
“Legislation to enable a domestic violence register was listed as a priority in the Fianna Fáil manifesto before the general election. However, this important matter is not mentioned in the programme for Government. Will the Minister for Justice indicate whether it is still a priority - he has said that it is - and, if so, when will legislation, to be known as Jennie's law in memory of the late Jennifer Poole, to create a register for those with a history of coercive control and abuse be brought forward? The Department of Justice has stated that the focus is now on practical ways to enable An Garda Síochána to warn partners and family members about dangerous and violent individuals. If it is that straightforward, can we get a promise to make it so in the coming weeks?”
“EVs are a panacea for rural Ireland because with all the space on roofs and battery storage technology, people should be able to charge their cars at home and have cheap and almost free electricity at different times of the year to get from A to B in rural communities and reduce carbon emissions. There is not enough in the programme to push this at the pace required. We saw in the issue about the electricity grid that we need to have more locally produced electricity added into the grid as part of an overall regional hub system. A brief but important aspect that is not in the legislation at all is the consequences for those who commit violent assaults. The Minister for Justice said that those who have a history of coercive control and abuse would require a Private Members' Bill but there is no Jennie's law.”
“There are issues with ghost buses and Dublin Bus used to be able to put a service on halfway along the route and catch up for the overspill. There are buses that do not turn up and buses that are full but the NTA does not engage. Is it arrogance or incompetence? I found in this survey that a lot of people have faith in a directly elected mayor with political accountability to take over our transport system. I will come back to this issue. We also need to do more to incentivise the take up of EVs, replace older, polluting vehicles and make EVs more affordable.”
“Tá an clár Rialtais comhtháite maidir leis an éileamh agus soláthar do Ghaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí Gaeilge. Tá éileamh ard ann ag na scoileanna seo nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur ar fáil dúinn. We need to put more investment into Gaelscoileanna. There is a demand in our constituency and across the country. On transport, I reference what Deputy Shane Moynihan said. He is a great person for highlighting the deficiencies in our transport system in Dublin Mid-West. A lot of what Deputy Moynihan spoke about was stuff that is not in the programme for Government, which is not a good omen for the five years to come. I mentioned in my bus users survey that the bus system is not fit for purposes. More than 2,700 people filled in this survey. I have had a nightmare trying to get the NTA to engage.”
“They need a Dublin allowance to encourage them to come back here, work and contribute to our society. We have issues with the school transport scheme. Again, there is little on this in the document. Taxi drivers over the age of 70 can carry members of the public but Bus Éireann will not allow these taxi drivers to supplement the shortage of drivers required to bring kids to and from school. The Minister of State is nodding and I have faith in her delivering on at least this aspect of the programme for Government. Freisin, maidir leis an éileamh a thagann nuair a labhraítear faoin easpa tacaíochta agus cúnaimh a thugtar dár nGaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí, is léir go bhfuil an-chuid den phobal ag lorg níos mó scoileanna, go mór mór i Leamhcán, mar shampla.”
“Again, I will challenge the Government on this over the coming years. We have staffing shortages, in both the healthcare service and education. I have mentioned previously that we could do with a Dublin allowance to encourage back the many people who have travelled abroad. They might have travelled as a rite of passage to work for a year or two, but they do not come back. In healthcare, for example, if it were not for the great efforts put in by staff from countries such as the Philippines or Nigeria, we would not have a healthcare service. Equally, however, from an investment point of view, if we are looking at pure economics as opposed to at people and society, we should keep our best and brightest at home and encourage them to return. They cannot afford to rent in Dublin, let alone get a mortgage.”
“On education, the population at primary level is stabilising throughout the country but in Dublin Mid-West, the constituency I share with the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and Deputy Shane Moynihan - it is great to see them here in the Chamber - we have the opposite. We still have rapidly growing areas, such as Newcastle, where the population shows there is a need for at least a 500-pupil second level school. Newcastle is a public transport desert. People have been campaigning for it but there is no movement at Government level for a school for Newcastle. In areas such as Adamstown and Clonburris, the strategic development zones, SDZs, there is the same issue and children cannot get a place close to where they need one, and the problem is even more pressing at second level.”
“We are dealing with backlogs and long waiting lists for patients, some of whom cannot obtain appointments in local clinics or find a space on the patient lists of their local GPs. I know that GPs are private operators but we do not have the incentives to get them operating. There are many other issues relating to hormone replacement therapy, HRT, as I mentioned previously. Other women's health issues also need to be addressed, such as free contraception and breast cancer screenings. There are many other issues in the area of health but I am going to skip them because this programme is a scattergun document, and while we could pick flaws everywhere, I want to get to different areas.”
“Where do we start? I will point to a few sections of the document. On housing, there are a lot of aspirations but nothing tangible or deliverable, and given that the previous targets were not met, we have no faith that these ones will be. I mentioned climate earlier in the context of Storm Éowyn. The programme is equally woolly in this regard. We are talking about meeting our 2030 targets but not about how we are going to do it or the step-by-step approach that is required. On healthcare, the people of Ireland are dealing with a crisis at the moment and it is evident the HSE needs ongoing support and proper management structures. I was surprised to find out recently, for example, that a lot of agency staff are now being appointed in the area of management, not just in terms of nursing support.”
“We need localised electricity grids that can be connected to central and regional plants. In the programme for Government, however, there are very few tangible plans, just a few vague lines. We need to be explicit and time-based. Rural Ireland, in particular, has massive potential for microgeneration, self-sufficient storage and sharing inter-regional grid hubs, but we need to plan the system in a different way. I acknowledge there has been more discussion about the water services network but, again, we have no tangible plan for action. We have to wake up and smell the coffee. We are past the point of no return. We cannot have further statements like this in another two or three years and say the same spiel again.”
“Last month was the warmest January ever, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, despite the cooling influence of La Niña. We have now shifted to the next level of instability and it is only going to get worse until global leaders work collectively to avoid the worst-case scenario. That means us too. This storm broke wind speed records at four stations and reached hurricane force at two stations. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime storm risk anymore. If the Government is lucky, it will be a storm that happens once in the lifetime of the Government. It is going to happen again soon and preparations need to be made now, not just for inevitable emergency responses but on the grid itself. We cannot afford massive undergrounding but we need to make our network resilient.”
“Last month, Storm Éowyn rampaged across our country, causing havoc in its wake. Our power grid was crippled, with smaller communities especially devastated and left without power for weeks on end. Despite the best efforts of ESB Networks and international volunteers, getting repairs done quickly proved a challenge. I thank everyone on the front line for their work, but nationally this is another wake-up call and successive governments have been asleep at the wheel for more than a decade. Judging by the final Sinn Féin contribution to this debate, it looks like its members are supporters of Trump - drill, baby, drill and keep the carbon coming - with no solution there either. We knew the climate was changing.”
“Like others, I hope for a day of peace and reconciliation in this troubled region. In the meantime, this Bill sends a clear and unambiguous message. What the Israeli state is doing is wrong. Whether it is a two-state, a one-state or a multi-state solution, we will support whatever type of solution gives rise to peaceful coexistence. Until then, we have to call out the Israelis for their atrocities. We love the Israeli people; we hate the regime.”
“I condemn their equally fundamentalist ideology of hatred that seeks the total annihilation of Israel. I feel for the suffering of Israeli families whose loved ones have been taken. I recognise the right of the Israeli state to exist and to condemn antisemitism in all its forms. Like my colleagues, I welcome that some of the hostages have been released and that there is a ceasefire. We have to call a spade a spade, however. The way that Israel has retaliated is morally wrong. Before its retaliation, the illegal occupation of the West Bank, which continues, was morally wrong. If we condemn these illegal settlements and their methodical progress, we have an obligation to do everything in our power to stop them being supported economically, which is what is proposed in this simple Bill.”
“How can someone be held to account if they cannot be called to account face to face? Of course, then the Israeli Government decided to do this themselves and slur Ireland as an antisemitic country, doing a grave dishonour to the millions exterminated by the brutal Nazi regime for the sake of scoring political points. We are simply a people who have experience of being brutalised. We have seen colonisation and brutalisation for what they are at first hand. We have experienced both and we empathise with the Palestinian people. Equally, and it has to be said in this context and in this Chamber, we have no axe to grind with Israel or the Israelis. We recognise that no life is worth less than another. Like many others, I condemn outright the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, the murder of innocent Israeli people and the taking of hostages.”
“Others have referenced the way they have died and suffered. Those who have been maimed have been sentenced to a different but equally horrific type of life. This wrong was highlighted a long time ago, even before a certain narcissistic person came up with the outrageous, inhumane and farcical Riviera proposal involving mass ethnic cleansing. That proposal is said individual's version of "go hifreann nó go Connacht", or to hell or to Egypt. Those who are called out in respect of this type of behaviour have used and will use any threat or lie to deflect from what they have done and what they continue to do. When I was a councillor, I opposed motions seeking the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. I saw such a move as counterproductive and thought it sent the wrong message.”
“In many instances, this has been done in a targeted, strategic way aimed at subjugating the Palestinian population and creating corridors that make the establishment of an independent, autonomous Palestinian state increasingly difficult. We know that initially this was for strategic, possibly defensive, reasons. The so-called Area C, controlled by Israel, has now been propagated for blatant, fundamentalist, religious and Zionist reasons. It is a case of "God's will - we are the chosen people to occupy this land". This wrong has been highlighted many times over the years, certainly before the events of the past 18 months when more than 60,000 Palestinians have been massacred by the Israeli army in Gaza. The vast majority of those people were innocent adults. A very large and horrific number of those indiscriminately murdered were children.”
“I am delighted that Senator Frances Black was returned to Seanad Éireann to keep the pressure on and continue what she told me had been up to now a positive and constructive engagement in terms of passing a Bill that would send out the right message but that would also have a meaningful impact. This is extremely simple legislation aimed at banning Irish trade with Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank - nothing more, nothing less. As previous speakers stated, much more needs to be done. Focusing on the subject matter, however, it is obvious that Israel has never had sovereignty over the West Bank. Despite this, it has facilitated the planting of an estimated 500,000 settlers across decades.”
“It is now more than six years since the occupied territories Bill was sponsored by Senator Frances Black. Before the election, I welcomed that the Government indicated support, in some shape or form, but now, like others, I am extremely worried that this Bill might not proceed further or might be watered down in such a way as to be rendered meaningless. It is one thing to hone the legislation in terms of what is legally possible within an Irish or EU context; it is quite another to amend or abolish it because of cowering to threats or misinformation and disinformation emanating from various bad actors continents apart, be it Netanyahu, President Trump, Elon Musk or anyone else. We have an obligation.”
“On a personal level, in the context of his long, esteemed career, his integrity and the nature of him being a man of substance, I wish Deputy Micheál Martin all the very best. On the basis of this programme and its constituent parts, I cannot vote in conscience for this Government, but I wish it all the best. Good luck, colleagues.”
“However, we need to get moving on so many issues: housing and homelessness; our health service - most recently the huge delays in the promised delivery of hormone replacement therapy products; making our streets safer; introducing legislation to ensure real consequences for violent assaults; processing school building projects in rapidly growing areas; tackling overcrowded or non-existent trains and buses; dealing with an asylum system that is clearly not fit for purpose and, similarly, climate targets that have no roadmap. In that regard, we face billions of euro in fines on our taxpayers. Equally important is the energy crisis. We need to be self-sufficient in energy but we are going to face massive imports. I also mention the occupied territories Bill. The list is endless.”
“In fact, Chappell Roan comes to mind painting a picture of what it will be like in five years' time: And when you think about me all of those years ago You're standing face to face with "I told you so" You know I hate to say it, I told you so It does not have to turn out that way though and if we work constructively, we might have better options.”
“I said before Christmas that it looked like this Government would end up like a cold to lukewarm cup of tea with the bag still in it at a convenience store in Thurles. I had hoped that might happen a little bit later but this is far from a visionary programme for government document. It is an insipid artificial vanilla programme for paralysis that is devoid of any roadmap or tangible targets. Tá sé gan fuinneamh, gan treo, gan dóchas, gan chostálacha agus go mórmhór gan chomhbhá. It shows no compassion. This is no Seamus Heaney moment where "hope and history rhyme". It is more like good old Gilbert O'Sullivan, where nothing rhymes.”