Peter Roche
Galway East · Fine Gael · Ireland
“As the Minister of State mentioned, there are instances where students and families have benefited from school transport tickets. There are also many instances where they are not utilised. If there was a formula or mechanism to make sure that only those who need them apply, it would help the situation.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I get the whole cost of providing transport, but access to education begins with access to transport. For any parent who finds themselves in receipt of a refusal for a bus ticket for next year, it is the most compelling and difficult thing they have to deal with.”
“Like the Minister, I want to wish our gallant Galway hurlers everything that is good on Sunday, but that is not why I stood up to speak. I am anxious, given the spate of correspondence coming into my office, about the school transport scheme and how some families find themselves ineligible or refused transport for the next year.”
“I want to put the spotlight on the primary medical certificate and the very rigid rules there are with regard to eligibility. It is fine if a person has a very physical disability; they will qualify. Those who lose eyesight, for example, would not be eligible. The appeals process is also quite complex.”
“As the Tánaiste is aware, this is Men's Health Week. Government policy acknowledges or recognises that improving men's health has clear benefits for families, partners and children right across society. A key part of that is the experience of early parenthood. I refer to paternity leave in particular in this regard.”
“The Courts Service owns a building in the heart of Tuam that has been derelict for the past 15 years. As part of the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027, reference was made to the possibility of it being refurbished at the end of that period. We are in the middle of 2026 and there is no sign of that.”
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“There is nothing more heartbreaking for any parent than to watch their child's progress stall or, worse still, regress because the supports that should have been there were absent, delayed or inconsistent. The strategy before us speaks of equality, participation and choice but these words will mean nothing unless they are backed by urgent action that tackles waiting lists, makes inclusive education real, lifts the crushing cost of disability for families and ensures housing, transport and healthcare are designed for everyone. The strategy can offer great hope instead of hopelessness but we need to replace exhaustion with confidence. This is a whole-of-government commitment to remove barriers in education, work, health, housing and transport and in community life.”
“I welcome the publication of the strategy and give credit to the Minister for bringing it to the Chamber. For too many families in Ireland, strategies and promises have come and gone, so to speak. Sometimes what remains is a very real sense of letdown. I do not speak today in abstract as a member of my staff is the mother of a lovely ten-year-old girl with Down's syndrome. For those ten years, her lived experience has been that unless she shouts the loudest, her child's needs go unnoticed for the best part. What families are looking for is equality but they often end up with exhaustion. Parents should not have to fight every single day just to secure the most basic services for their children.”
“My question is on carers. I acknowledge, as most of us do from time to time, the outstanding work Family Carers Ireland and carers in general do in our communities. I also acknowledge the increase in the income threshold in the assessment. As part of the programme for Government, there is a commitment to abolish the means test. I am anxious to know the timelines in this respect.”
“It reflects the findings of the Sláintecare report and builds on the governance improvements of the 2019 Act but we must ensure that it results in better care, not just better paperwork. For Galway East, for our nurses, GPs, and carers, this Bill must ultimately support those on the front line and not just the balance sheet. In the context of the contributions already made to this debate, it would be remiss of me not to mention the outstanding work our front-line workers do every day and sometimes under severe pressure. No one can predict when there will be an emergency or an outbreak. From experience and from my knowledge of how the HSE, particularly in the context of University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park and other hospitals in Galway, deals with these scenarios, I have to compliment and thank those workers.”
“Budget discipline must be matched with strategic investment, especially in primary and community care, in line with Sláintecare. In east Galway, the community is ready to embrace integrated, regionally led care models but we must see more visibility around the HSE's performance locally and not just nationally. How will this Bill ensure that people in Ballinasloe and Loughrea can see tangible improvements on foot of national reforms? I fully support the power of Ministers to direct the HSE when it comes to corrective actions, but we must go further in the context of clarifying accountability between the Department and the HSE. Oversight without consequences is not accountability. This Bill is a strong step forward.”
“However, will the performance delivery plan give local health services, like Portiuncula Hospital in Galway and community care hubs in east Galway, the flexibility they need? Will funding allocations truly reflect the demographic demands of rural regions like east Galway, which has an ageing population and growing waiting lists for inpatient and outpatient care? Accountability must not become bureaucracy rather it must lead to outcomes. This Bill rightly brings sharper tools to financial governance but it must be paired with real insight into what drives health spending. We know, for example, that east Galway continues to suffer from GP shortages, delayed disability assessments and pressure on mental health services.”
“The people of Galway East, like communities across our country, deserve assurances that resources are being used efficiently to deliver timely and effective care. This Bill gives the Minister the capacity to question these finances and work for the communities that need care and intervention. This Bill introduces several key reforms and brings in: strategic direction statements from the Minister will help guide the HSE’s corporate plan, ensuring alignment with national priorities; mandates early warning and corrective action mechanisms if the HSE is projected to overspend; and, crucially, places legal obligations on the CEO and board to stay within approved financial parameters. I welcome the clarity and discipline this Bill imposes.”
“I support the Second Reading of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill is timely and necessary and fundamentally about one thing: accountability in how we plan, manage and deliver healthcare in Ireland. The central purpose of the legislation is to ensure the Health Service Executive operates under the highest standards of prudent and effective financial management. It replaces the old service plan model with a more accountable performance delivery plan, strengthening the role of Ministers and the HSE CEO in financial oversight and correction. Since 2015, health spending has exceeded its initial allocation almost every year. These overruns not only challenge our public finances; they ultimately threaten service delivery.”
“While we cannot undo the past, we can honour their testimony with action, honesty and a firm commitment to justice. I urge all Members of this House to support the motion. Let us approve the establishment of the committee of investigation, not as a symbolic gesture but as a concrete step in a long journey towards justice, accountability and, ultimately, healing.”
“We must ensure that what emerges from the commission leads to real, lasting change. The scoping inquiry found our current child protection systems are robust, but there is always more to be done. Let this commission serve not only as a reckoning with our past, but as a recommitment to the future of our children where safeguarding is not optional and silence is never again a shield for abuse. Courage can be a challenge and everyone who has the courage to speak out should be commended. They might find solace in knowing their story will contribute to the safeguarding of the youth of today. To the survivors, I say to them that they have been heard and acknowledged. I thank them for that. This motion, investigation and moment are because of their strength.”
“The terms of reference also rightly include a survivor engagement programme, grounded in a trauma-informed approach. This will also allow survivors and the family members of those who cannot speak for themselves to share the impact of their experiences in a safe, supportive and open setting. Their voices are not peripheral to this process; rather, they are central to it. Some will ask why this has taken so long, why it did not happen sooner and why revisit painful history. The answer is quite simple. Justice does not expire. For too long survivors felt invisible. This commission is a chance to acknowledge that what happened to them mattered, that it should never have happened and that we as a State take responsibility not just for uncovering the truth but for acting on it.”
“His legal experience, including his service in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, ensures the work will be done and guided with independence and integrity. We must reflect on the substance of the terms of reference. They go beyond historical fact finding and direct the commission to ask difficult but essential questions. Why were concerns not acted on? How were allegations concealed and-or ignored? What was the role of schools, religious authorities and the State? The inquiry will not only look into what happened, but how it was handled or, indeed, mishandled. That includes failures to report abuse, the shielding of abusers, the moving of individuals between schools and dioceses and the use of legal processes to silence and deflect accountability.”
“The scoping inquiry uncovered almost 2,400 allegations involving more than 880 alleged abusers in 308 schools between 1927 and 2013, which is not that long ago. Many of the allegations were reported from the records of approximately 42 religious orders that currently or previously ran schools in Ireland. These are not just statistics. Every number represents a child's life altered and a trust betrayed. The Government's acceptance of the inquiry's recommendations, including a comprehensive investigation into the handling by schools, religious orders, State bodies and law enforcement of allegations, is both welcome and essential. So, too, is the appointment of Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath as chair of the commission.”
“I thank the Minister and Minister of State for progressing the commission of investigation. It matters to me, as it matters to all previous speakers. This is a very solemn day, not because we are beginning something new but because we are acknowledging something that was hidden for many years. The commission is being established because survivors of childhood sexual abuse, both men and women, had the courage to speak. I thank them for that. They have broken silences imposed on them by shame, industrial-institutional power and societal difference. Their testimony has illustrated a dark and systemic failure that occurred not in a single place or era but in day and boarding schools right across our country, spanning generations.”
“I am delighted to be the Minister of State's colleague from east Galway and that he is in the position where he can deliver this. The timelines are something I am anxious to understand.”
“I ask the Minister of State and Irish Rail to consider better Saturday departure times so as to better accommodate those passengers. There have been a lot of contributions today on the western rail corridor. The west is crying out to be opened properly by rail. It is 32 years since we had a freight service on that line and 48 years since we had a passenger service, which really tells its own story. Like many in east and west Galway, Sligo and Mayo, I am anxious to find out the timelines as to when it is possible that we would be looking at investment. The all-island rail review and the feasibility study indicated that there was no consideration going to be given to anything else except rail along that alignment.”
“I acknowledge the extension of the last train from Galway to Dublin on Saturdays, which is now running at 8.50 p.m. as opposed to 7.25 p.m., which is a step in the right direction. It is important also to highlight the inconsistency in the service during the week. The last train departs at 10.25 p.m., yet on Saturdays, when demand for cultural and social events peaks, the cut-off is at the earlier time of 8.50 p.m. That is a little bit short of what is required to support cultural events. Now with the Galway International Arts Festival around the corner and many headline events coming up during the summer, most of which will be finishing at 9 p.m., we are missing the opportunity to support those local cultural events and the night-time economy.”
“The issue I bring to the Taoiseach's attention relates to LEADER funding. I will throw the spotlight on how the allocations affect us in east Galway. Per head of population, Roscommon receives €97; Offaly, €76; Mayo, €64; Clare, €53; and poor east Galway, €37. I ask that consideration be given to rebalancing how LEADER funding is divvied out and that we get our proportionate share.”
“With thoughtful collaboration and shared commitment, we can build an inclusive educational system that meets the needs of all learners. The challenges are great, of course, but I am asking that we rise to that challenge. I commend the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on their relentless energy and efforts in that regard.”
“Every child deserves the right to move through the educational system with stability, dignity and the right supports in place. The shortage of general learning disability classes is another key issue. In Galway, for example, there are currently 152 special classes for autism. There are just two for children with mild learning disabilities and 13 for children with moderate learning disabilities. These figures highlight a need for a rebalancing of provision to ensure that no child is left behind due to the nature of his or her diagnosis. I welcome the review, the emphasis on rights-based and inclusive education and its call for policy and legislative reform. It is critical that the work be matched by action. I encourage the Department to continue listening to the voices of people like myself, some professionals and young people themselves.”
“The lack of post-primary planning, the refusal by some schools to accept students with special educational needs, and the overreliance on special schools, many of which have now reached capacity, have left countless families without realistic and fair options. The failure to accommodate children with co-occurring or physical disability contradicts both best practice and the commitments of Ireland made under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Families have shared their anxiety about the transition from primary to post-primary schools. That is critical. Too often, this process is marked with uncertainty and a lack of clear planning. The review calls for better transition pathways, which I support.”
“These realities are acutely felt across east Galway. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of balance in the allocation of special classes. In 2024, 92% of all new classes were designated for children with autism. While that provision in vital, the limited availability of classes for children with other needs, especially those with speech and language disorders, raises concerns about equality and inclusion. The review underscores the need for a system that reflects the full spectrum of needs in our schools. Circular 0038/2007, which governs access to speech and language disorder classes, remains unfit for purpose and continues to exclude children with learning and physical disabilities from accessing vital therapies and supports.”
“Like others, I welcome the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. I commend the Department of Education and Youth on undertaking that critical work. Although many positives have been reported, the findings of the review confirm what some families, educators and advocates have long felt. We still need to work harder on delivering inclusive, equitable education for children with special educational needs, particularly those with Down's syndrome, general learning disabilities, and speech and language disorders. The review also reflects the voices of over 28,000 individuals and organisations. Among the most urgent concerns raised were access to timely assessments, the inadequacy of current placement options, insufficient transitioning planning and glaring gaps in class provision.”
“The Government committed in the men's health action plan 2024-28 to increase health literacy and raise public awareness of boys' and men's physical, mental and emotional health through a range of promotional activities. I welcome that the Minister for Health is in the Chamber. How much funding has been allocated to implement the actions in the plan? Is the Government confident the strategy is fully funded and resourced? Are any potential difficulties with the plan anticipated as we go forward?”
“In east Galway, we are fortunate to have Dexcom. The company is at an advanced stage with its development in Athenry. It plans to employ many people there, which is really welcome. Most of us understand that some companies are better insulated against the proposed tariffs than others. I am heartened to hear the Minister's plans to safeguard employment and the measures he has taken or is considering to further ensure there is no threat to those in employment.”
“I thank the Minister for a comprehensive response. No matter where you come from, there are, right around the island of Ireland, representatives like me who are concerned about the threat to any job, particularly in the more dispersed rural villages. Everything the Minister for Finance can do would be much appreciated and is much needed. None of us was aware of what the volatile President Trump was about to do and the impact it would have on our economy. The Minister stated that there are 2.8 million people in employment and that the unemployment rate is 4%. That is resounding testament to how things are going in this country. I applaud the Minister for his continued and relentless efforts in that regard.”
“I appreciate the Minister coming into the Chamber to deal with the responses to some of the genuine concerns that people have about the finances. I ask the Minister where he and his Department intend to ensure that employment growth continues, given the global uncertainty.”
“As a member of the health committee, Deputy Rice, our Chair, has referred to the fact that we will be hearing lots more about this. It behoves us to respond in a professional and dignified way in terms of the way that we deal with these discussions. There have been a lot of contributions. Many people and Members of this House have suggested that they know some of these families. I am no different; I know one family. That brings the whole thing closer to home. I commend the Minister on her swift action. We look forward to the findings of the independent review that will establish whether the surgeries carried out were necessary. That is most welcome. As I said earlier, we need to give reassurance to the general public.”
“I welcome that these patients are being recalled for review and that the HSE is establishing, under the Minister's watch, an independent expert panel. That is really welcome and reassures me that we are responding to the crisis. This needs to be done not only for the families affected, but because public confidence in our health service needs to be restored. Most importantly, all future DDH surgery decisions will be consistent, evidence-based and focused solely on the best interest of the child. This is where governance must deliver, not as an abstract policy, but in real clinical decisions with real positives for real people. When governance fails, the patient pays the price. It must not happen again. We owe these families a lot of honesty, respect and, of course, accountability.”
“At Temple Street and Cappagh, however, the audit raised serious "concerns" about decision-making, where a significant number of procedures were carried out without meeting the acceptable clinical criteria, including surgeries on children with a stable hip and no prior treatment for DDH. Families are rightly being contacted on this issue because fundamental questions have been raised. The questions we all ask are: how did this happen?; why was it allowed to happen?; where were the checks and the balances?: why was the governance so weak? and, most importantly, how can we ensure that there is no repeat of it across any sector? There is no question of clinical variation. As the report makes clear, the scale of unjustified procedures cannot be explained by differences in judgment alone.”
“When we take our most cherished children to the hospital for care, we expect that they are in a safe place. We certainly expect that they will be cared for in the trust of the professionals caring for them, confident in the knowledge that every decision is grounded in evidence, compassion and accountability. The findings of the CHI audit raise deep and troubling questions about whether that trust was upheld. We have also heard that nearly all surgeries reviewed in Crumlin hospital were found to have been appropriately selected for surgery based on current international standards, which is good.”
“The Minister has inherited quite a difficult situation. I do not doubt her response, her hands-on approach and the swift action that she has taken. I read in a report that she means business, and rightly so. It is shameful that we have to be talking about this kind of a calamity happening in modern-day medicine. It is hard to believe. Sitting at home listening to the news reports, I found myself saying "Not again." It beggars belief that this is happening in this day and age. However, we are where we are. I thank the whistleblower. Great credit has to be given to the person who felt the need to highlight this issue. We do not want to hear about it, but it is a reality. The fact that it is a reality means it needs to be dealt with, and it has been entrusted in the good Minister to do that.”
“I commend the Minister on her relentless energy, commitment and dedication to the education sector in the early months of her ministerial tenure and the visits she has made to schools, which is hugely appreciated.”
“The project is being advanced but it can be deeply frustrating financially for the principal and staff to try to manage the three campuses from a staffing point of view and with all the associated bills that go with managing a school. Teaching is stressful enough without having to be worried also about finances. I accept that is all part of it. Those issues are not isolated ones, as they reflect the broader need to ensure that our ambitions for excellence in education are matched by investment urgency and a follow-through on commitments. I know the Minister shares the goal of equity of opportunity in education. I raise these examples today in that shared spirit. The Minister has my support for her work going forward. No child, teacher or school should be left behind.”
“A total of 232 pupils attend the school. In many ways it is a large school. The school is very challenged in that it has overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of basic infrastructure such as internal toilets and the absence of proper facilities for special educational needs. We must do better in 2025. The situation there must be addressed. The effort to create a positive learning environment in such circumstances is commendable but it should not be necessary. The next school I will mention is down the road from Dunmore in the town of Tuam, Trinity Primary School. The Minister might be familiar with it because we have engaged with her to a considerable extent in recent weeks. It is a DEIS band 1 school with 800 pupils. The school is an amalgamation of three campuses with the promise that a new school would be developed in the future.”
“I thank the Minister very much for the statement she has just read, which is very comprehensive and sets out an ambitious programme of work. I deeply appreciated her coming to visit my constituency of Galway East. She did a great honour to the teaching staff, parents and organisers of the €16,000 fundraiser that developed the sensory room in Barnaderg National School. The fact that the Minister arranged to visit the school and officially open the facility demonstrates her empathy and compassion. She did not just visit Barnaderg, she also visited Briarfield National School. A visit by the Minister, the person who is managing the Department of education, has a compelling impact on a school. That is a lovely story, but then we get calls from other schools. I refer to Dunmore National School, which I and others visited.”
“There was an acknowledgement today by the Taoiseach and there is always an acknowledgement from the Tánaiste that this is an area where greater investment and greater focus are needed. The relevant Ministers are dealing with it and I have no doubt that their empathy, compassion and support will improve things going forward. That is what I wish for and, of course, if that is not the case I, like others, will continue to be a champion for a better service and for better supports.”
“There is huge focus on children with autism regarding supports for schools and services but we must not forget for one second those children with Down's syndrome. That community also requires the same level of supports. Of course, it is only right and fair to think that anyone who falls into any of the categories deserves the best there is in society. The urgency for both should be the exact same. We owe it to the families and we owe it to the professionals who serve them. We need to act in a sustainable and ethical way to bring about the necessary change. Of course, all of the commentary that has been uttered here today is absolutely right. I would not like anyone on the Opposition benches to think for one second that we are not on the same page as them. We are all in this together.”
“You can imagine the frustration and the deep desperation felt by that family because all of a sudden, he will be out of national school and that is a deficit that is not right for him. Any delay to a child getting an assessment is a real disadvantage. Families are then forced to take the private route but that sector, too, is exhausted. The importance of early years intervention is always outlined to parents and the parents want the best but they suddenly find that the support and intervention services to match that are not really there. The assessment of need process will only function as intended when the people delivering that service are supported, trained and, of course, valued.”
“Obviously, every parent wants the best for their child. In turn, I wanted to bring what I believed to be the priorities of the people of east Galway to my own parliamentary party. Hand on heart and to be fair about it, it certainly has been and continues to be one of our priorities. I am heartened by our leader and the emphasis he has put on that sector, notwithstanding some of the commentary I have heard about how there would be very little talk about this if not for the events of today. That is not to say the issues out there are not chronic. In my own constituency of Galway East I encountered a young chap in sixth class who was granted assistive technology to support him with speech and language. Of course, that fell into the special education section within the Department of education. That happened a year ago.”
“It is a remarkably decent and generous thing that Cara Darmody has done for this island in terms of bringing this to a level where nothing else has been discussed today, and rightly so. When I was campaigning in my municipal authority of Tuam in the run-up to the local elections last year there were lots of issues discussed, such as housing, homelessness, migration and childcare, and, of course, early years intervention was one of the priorities. Then at the back end of last year when we had the general election campaign the same issues were raised, only this time it was within the constituency of Galway East. I found it staggering when I spoke to the many parents who were desperate to get answers and find a pathway for their child who badly needed that intervention. To be brutally honest, I found it very distressing.”
“Resources are the biggest issue we have. In that regard, I would ask the RSA to do what the Minister of State has suggested, that being, to improve capacity and turnaround times and ensure that the people who are waiting for far too long can avail of a driving test so they can get that first job.”
“We should not be expecting people to travel considerable distances to avail of a driving test. The backlog needs to be tackled head on. I applaud the Minister of State for saying that he will do just that. We need additional testers, extended testing hours and a properly resourced plan from the RSA to bring the numbers down quickly. In the meantime, we cannot ignore the alternative, which is public transport. Ever morning in my constituency, we see students and workers heading into Galway city shoulder to shoulder in a two-carriage train service at maximum capacity. This should not be the case and we need to work with Irish Rail to improve capacity, particularly on morning services. We all know there is an issue with delays but it would be fundamentally wrong to blame Covid-19 for all of these ills.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber because this discussion is timely in view of the fact that so many of us have been bombarded by constituents. I support all of the contributions made so far. A total of 80,000 people nationally are waiting for tests. That is quite a substantial number, consisting of young people, students, and people wanting to get access to education or employment. Not being able to avail of a test places a restriction and real burden on people. In recent times, there have been targeted advertisements on social media encouraging people to travel abroad to sit their driving tests. Regardless of whether this is a legal or viable pathway forward, it speaks volumes about the level of frustration people are feeling. We have to be honest.”
“The proposed flagship campus in Galway will deliver a full college experience, enabling the expansion of programmes and apprenticeships that current facilities simply cannot accommodate. In my constituency of Galway East, FET is delivered in Headford, Tuam, Dunmore, Athenry, Loughrea, Gort and Portumna. Some of the buildings in those institutions are outdated and unsuitable for education. Some use prefabs that are 20-odd years old or repurposed structures that are no longer fit for modern needs. In 2024 alone, over 4,700 learners accessed those FET locations, yet we continue to expect students to learn in these facilities long past their functional use. GRETB is doing all it can to maintain these spaces but the capital investment available falls far short of what is required.”
“I understand the Minister is coming to visit Galway this week. I assure him he will be most welcome. Over the past three years, the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, GRETB, has grown significantly. In 2022, there were 17,000 beneficiaries. In 2023, there were 20,000 beneficiaries. In 2024, there were 24,000 beneficiaries. This shows the level of growth in the demand for services and educational investment, which must be matched by investment in facilities and infrastructure. Across our 40 centres, we need fit-for-purpose buildings that reflect the quality and ambition of our services. Without them, we limit access and the potential for learners across our region. A business case for a further education and training, FET, college was submitted in January this year.”
“That is Europe in action: local impact supported by shared solidarity. At the same time we must recognise that EU policies, particularly in such areas as agriculture, shape the realities of everyday life in Ireland. That is why it is so important for Ireland to stay engaged, to bring our lived experience to the table and to ensure the voices of our rural and farming communities are reflected in the decisions made at European level. Europe must be a place where no one is left behind. We should be a leading voice in that regard and we should share our vision of reality. It has been mentioned that challenges lie ahead in areas from climate change to sustainability, digital transition and unity. On this day we recommit to that vision.”
“Programmes such as Erasmus have expanded their horizons, encouraged cultural exchange and opened the doors to educational opportunity right across the continent. Every year, thousands of Irish students take part in that programme. The benefits ripple far beyond the classroom to building lifelong links, broadening knowledge and expanding minds. Rural Ireland too has felt the difference. Through the LEADER programme, the EU has helped to reinvigorate communities by supporting local enterprise, tourism and innovation. One such example in east Galway is a fourth generation family farm, Kylemore Cheese. With EU support, the business has diversified to include artisan cheese production. It has opened its gates to visitors, thereby not only creating jobs but also reconnecting people with food and farming.”
“Europe Day is more than a date on the calendar; it is a moment to reflect on how far we have come as a continent and indeed as a country. In an ever-changing Europe, unity remains the greatest strength. Unity is not about sameness but a shared purpose. Ireland's journey within the European Union has coincided with our transformation into a vibrant, open, knowledge-based society. As an active contributor to the European project, we have seized opportunities to connect, to grow and to assert our voice in our island nation. Our values align very well with those of the EU - democracy, human rights and solidarity - and we bring our own distinctive perspective in shaping them. Europe has been particularly important to our young people.”
“You will not be afforded the dignity or the privilege of getting that. That is pretty much it. I do not want to add any more to that. An awful lot of contributions have been made all day long. The first story I told the Minister of State was a real one. The second one is a real county crisis and a county pressure. That information I share with him comes from a reputable source and is beyond dispute.”