Réada Cronin
Kildare North · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“A united Ireland will change that and unlock an all-island economy that would work for everyone who lives on this island. Every Irish county would finally have a government whose only priority is Ireland.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht seo inniu. Many myths exist about a united Ireland. I believe the biggest one is the alleged cost it will be to the Twenty-six Counties.”
“I always wonder why this was even cited as an issue because it is exactly what already happens to pension recipients in Spain, France, Ireland and wherever a retired British worker resides. The truth is that even if the economic case was more challenging than it is, Irish unity would still be the right thing to do.”
“It has already been made clear that a reunited Ireland would see the North automatically return to EU membership, creating enormous opportunities for growth across the entire island.”
“In doing the right thing, we also create a stronger economy and a better future for generations to come. Then it is not simply good economics, it is the fulfilment of our national potential. When I came across to the Chamber today I walked through the hall and I looked at the Proclamation again.”
“Molaim mo chomrádaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, as an rún seo. An Teachta Ó Snodaigh has done Trojan work for the arts community for many years, and I am sure we have plenty more years to look forward to. Ireland is well-known around the globe for its music, arts and literature.”
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“I will work within my party to banish this relic of British colonialism affecting our native wildlife. To Sinn Féin members and supporters, the vast majority of whom oppose blood sports, I say that we will change things by organising. We will not win by walking away. We will act collectively because we know division is the gift that the right does not even need to ask for in a political system designed to divide us. It is easy to have solidarity in your party name; it takes a bit more solidarity to actually have solidarity in your politics. When we succeed in changing our party policy on fox hunting, we will bring forward a carefully drafted Bill, a Bill that will protect our beautiful, intelligent native Irish fox, ár maidrín rua, ár sionnach álainn.”
“It strengthens the status quo and existing power structures. Sinn Féin will continue to confront the system itself while acting collectively as a credible alternative government, but not by attacking other parties of the left. My duty as a Sinn Féin TD is to our local communities, who need us to act as a team to provide an alternative government to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Yes, I disagree with my party policy on this issue. I have said it loud and clear. My party does not expect me to pretend otherwise. I did not join Sinn Féin to rid Ireland of blood sports. Yes, I would love that to be a little benefit on the side, but the principal reason I joined Sinn Féin was to play a part in uniting my country. Item one on my agenda is unity, not to split. I promise my constituents who detest fox hunting as much as I do that this is not over.”
“It is a regrettable tactic for any Opposition party on the left to direct more fire at another rather than at the conservative forces that actually block change. It speaks to something else. It reflects divisive politics about personal purity before progress. The right must love it, because that is how it keeps winning.”
“I am not after anybody and indeed I had a friend who used to shoot rabbits and eat them because he could not live on the amount of money he receives in social welfare from the Government. I do not have a problem with that. I am not a vegan, I am not a vegetarian, and I am not a hypocrite. Another odd thing is that people keep sending me social media posts directed at Sinn Féin, some of which target me and other Sinn Féin TDs personally. I appreciate engagement, even spirited engagement, but this odd level of focus on Sinn Féin highlights a wider issue. If it were really about getting this Bill passed, the focus would be on where the power lies, namely with the Government, with its overwhelming majority. It is the Government that decides whether legislation is passed or blocked. I do not need other parties to be my social conscience.”
“I accept that hounds on a trail hunt can get scent of a live fox and give chase, but so too can dogs that are out for a walk with their owners or dogs out walking the land with a farmer. The central issue with fox hunting is the cruelty of the chase and the killing of the fox using a pack of hounds. That is the core concern and everything else is political theatre. I am sure we have all seen the emails about mission creep, the slippery slope and the thin end of the wedge. Some people seem to think we will be coming for their fishing rods next. I notice that the Minister, Martin Heydon, tried to add to that scaremongering; his slip is showing. Let me reassure people that this is not a conspiracy. My focus is on cruel bloodsports.”
“The Bill does not mention the legitimate humane killing of diseased or injured foxes, for instance. The Bill does not mention poisoning, which is a far more cruel form of killing an animal, resulting in the slow and painful death of the poor fox. There is no clarity on whether farmers could shoot a fox if they come upon it actively attacking wildlife or free-range poultry. The Bill does not even mention banning hunting on horseback with hounds by the tally-ho people who come over here from England ever since fox hunting was banned in Scotland, Wales and England, not to mention our own homegrown hooray Henrys. Also including trail hunting complicates the Bill unnecessarily. It is completely superfluous and not central to the real issue.”
“In urban and rural areas, they are the animal kingdom's equivalent to the Tidy Towns, eating dead and decaying birds and roadkill. Urban foxes also play a good part in cleaning up waste outside junk food outlets. However, foxes no longer have a natural predator and are a threat to ground-nesting birds, such as the curlew and the partridge. Having a humane regulated cull for the purposes of conservation is very different from blood sports. I acknowledge the intention behind the Bill and an Teachta Coppinger's animal welfare credentials, which I share. However, the Bill is sorely lacking in practical detail. It appears to ban all fox hunting without clearly defining what kind of hunting it refers to. To be fair, section 2(c) does indicate that trapping and snaring the foxes would be prohibited but is silent on key issues.”
“Sinn Féin is a democratic grassroots party and our policy is decided at our Ard Fheis. I have tried to change that party policy several times and I will try again. Sinn Féin does not do free votes. We believe in real solidarity and we walk the hard road together. Before addressing the Bill, I want to speak up for our native Irish foxes. Foxes are not a significant threat to vulnerable livestock and free-range poultry. Domestic dogs - our family pets that were all named during last week's debate - and the hounds used in live hunts are a much bigger threat. Foxes play a really positive role in biodiversity and the ecosystem. The Minister talked about pest control and the fox is a natural pest controller of rats, mice and rabbit populations, and an ally to arable farming.”
“Calling it a sport implies that both sides have a chance, but if the fox escapes the hunt and gets back to its den, the bloodthirsty redcoats send their hounds in to invade the fox's home, its den, dig it out and tear it apart. There is nothing sporting about that. Most people, urban and rural, do not think that is sport and there are lots of rural pursuits that go on. Jesus, I do not want to hear that phrase again; it is too much for me. Some 72% of people support a ban on fox hunting which rises to 75% in working-class areas, our base. However, today I am bound by the Whip, not because I think that banning fox hunting does not matter but because I believe in something bigger than myself. I believe in collective struggle, social justice, equality and a united Ireland.”
“Every politician has days when their personal beliefs collide with their obligations as a party member and today is one of those days for me. It is no secret that I want to change my party policy on fox hunting; that is on the record. However, as a member of a political movement, I am not a solo act. Grandstanding over an issue I feel very strongly about might feel righteous for a day, but it weakens us in the struggles that change and improve the lives of our constituents. Let us be clear: fox hunting is abhorrent, cruel, savage and barbaric with no regard for animal welfare. I genuinely do not know why it is called a sport.”
“I urgently ask the Minister of State to reverse, not just pause, this decision to withdraw funding for this essential service and give our people peace of mind over Christmas. I was a community first responder. It is really handy, if you are attending somebody's house, that the first thing you can check is their blister pack. You will then have a fair idea of what medication they are on. It is a false economy to withdraw this.”
“Maureen used to organise her daughter's medication in the little pill boxes for many years but now the home care provider has mandated that staff can only use medication from blister packs. This leaves her daughter worried that she might have to stop her medication, give up independent living and move into a nursing home, which would be a lot more expensive with her already inadequate disability allowance. These charges are punishing those who want to live independently. It is our most vulnerable who will be affected by this. This will further push them into poverty by a Government that is really testing the limits of just how much they can squeeze out of them. Sinn Féin raised this concern back in October. We knew this was going to affect people. I listened to the contribution of the Aire.”
“We have seen some very bad policy decisions made time and time again by this Government but this latest stunt is the most thoughtless. Over the weekend, amid the confusion and chaos, many people got in touch with me to tell me how this was going to affect them or their loved one. Vulnerable users of the blister packs such as older people managing multiple medications, people living with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease or people with arthritis find blister packs really handy. This will directly affect their health and safety. One woman in north Kildare named Maureen told me that her daughter has cerebral palsy and lives independently with 24-hour support.”
“If we can build a consensus and bring communities with us on this climate journey now and for generations to come, the world will be a better place. I believe this is the moment for Ireland to show it is serious about a just transition. I disagree with the Government opposing the Bill. It is a good Bill that would show communities that climate action can make their lives better. It can result in cheaper electricity. It is a real pity the Government is opposing the Bill outright.”
“It might be easier to just say it is not true, but we have to contradict that. The Government has to counteract that by including workers and communities in the green revolution now, not later. We know the climate transition will impact every community and every sector and each of our lives and livelihoods. We know it will affect countries and cause increased migration, an issue that is very topical now. I believe that everybody loves their own homeland and would prefer to stay at home. We need to do what we can in the developed world to make sure people can stay in their own homes if that is what they want. There is now a need for a national just transition strategy, a clear actionable plan that shows how climate will benefit every community and every worker, especially those at risk.”
“Engagement and planning must happen before the transformational changes arrive. Engagement here is key because we live in a different world from did five years ago. I was on the climate committee with Jennifer Whitmore in the last Dáil. We were never looking for Senators to come in to have a quorum. It was the one committee that worked really well across all the parties. It is completely different this time. It is not because there are fewer Green Party members on it, but because there is less interest. While we want climate action, the world has not been so receptive because the world has changed. We only have to look at America. The President of America is anti-climate and anti-science. He has talked about climate change as a scam. These are really easy lies to peddle because people will always look for the easy option.”
“To get that we really need universal buy-in and equality of outcome. Putting a just transition i lár gach aon rud is essential if we are to achieve this. People should not be punished for doing the right thing. It is clear that there is an appetite for ambitious climate action in Ireland across different regions and life stages. That means that we have a unique opportunity to engage and empower communities to shape, lead and benefit from the transition. It should be seen not as a hindrance but as a golden opportunity. We can deliver climate solutions that not only cut emissions but also enhance people's lives, by creating better jobs, warmer homes, cleaner air and a more resilient society. We cannot wait until after communities or sectors are impacted to talk about fairness.”
“That is a pity. Ba mhaith liom an Teachta Whitmore a mholadh as an mBille seo a chur os comhair na Dála. Molaim an Dr. Sinéad Mercier freisin. Is bean iontach í. It is essential that we talk about climate action and a just transition. When the climate committee was working on the climate Bill, we were desperately trying to get a proper definition in that. People did not feel that a just transition was in order or that it was actually about climate action through justice for people and workers. The climate and biodiversity crisis that we face across this State and worldwide is existential. We need a radical change in how we do business if we are to reach any of our short- or long-term climate goals. It will require buy-in from everyone if we are to collectively reduce our emissions and convert to a greener, cleaner and more just future.”
“People cannot afford to pay the bills they are getting while they see data centres and other large energy users getting a reduction. We need immediate and tangible action from this Government to ensure people can keep the lights on this winter and ensure data centres are not allowed free reign over our grid capacity in the future. Government really has to get to grips with the energy costs. We are going to see it in all our constituencies. The cafes, hairdressers and restaurants will have to pay increased electricity costs. The worst thing is customers are also seeing less money in their spendable pay and will not be able sustain these small ordinary companies because this Government give favourable treatment to data centres. It is not fair.”
“Large energy users, on the other hand, such as data centres will see their bills fall by 3% to 18% under Price review 6. We know data centres are already consuming about 22% of all our electricity in 2024. This is set to rise to 30% in 2030, the equivalent of 2 million Irish homes, which we are not going to get under this Government. What is worse is new data centres are in direct competition for electricity connections with new homes. The first-come first-served policy does not and cannot work. We saw it in Grange Castle in west Dublin, where the houses meant to be connected to the grid did not get it because the data centre did. Why are data centre energy costs going down while ordinary people's energy prices are going up? We have to invest in the grid in the coming years but these charges need to be distributed fairly.”
“According to information found by my party colleague, Lynn Boylan MEP, officials claimed that without government supports, average households would be hit by an extra €321 in electricity costs but it ignored them. The pre-election giveaway budget of the past year is firmly in the rear view mirror of this Government and it has now resorted to austerity when people are at their most vulnerable. Not only has Government cut those vital lifelines for people this winter, it has refused to do anything substantial to stop electricity companies from price gouging. Price review 6 is ultimately going to see another increase in electricity charges for ordinary people, with a 21% hike for households with the annual cost rising by almost €500.”
“We are seriously reaching a crisis point with the cost of electricity and energy. Sinn Féin asked in September in the lead up to the budget to extend the energy credits introduced in 2022 at a time when the cost-of-living crisis was at its worst with fuel and food costs, with electricity companies announcing price hikes to customer bills and with more than 300,000 people - and growing - already in arrears with their electricity bills. We warned the Government this was going be a particularly difficult winter for people. The energy credits are needed now more than ever to get people through a dark and very cold winter. However, the Government did not listen to us. It did not listen to its own officials in the Department of energy either who warned Government electricity and gas prices were rising for the first time in years.”
“My question is for the Minister for Health and concerns the free HRT scheme and the situation for women with cancer who cannot take oestrogen. While the free HRT scheme is certainly welcome, there is a vacuum for women surviving cancer. I asked about this previously on Questions on Policy or Legislation and the reply by the former Minister, Paschal Donohoe, was quite promising. I have also asked the Department of Health about it via parliamentary questions. Veoza is very expensive, with many women unable to afford it. During the cost-of-living crisis, it really is unsustainable and completely unfair on women who have won the fight of their lives in fighting cancer. Will the Minister give real consideration to including this drug under the free HRT scheme for cancer survivors who cannot take oestrogen?”
“It is essential to protecting victims and ensuring their right to privacy between their counsellor and themselves. It was indicated in the House this morning that the Minister is looking to introduce legislation that would finally end this practice. I very much welcome that. I urge him to ensure it is airtight and leaves no grey areas. Níl aon saoirse ann gan saoirse na mban.”
“I take this opportunity to talk about Teach Tearmainn, which is the only refuge centre in Kildare for women and children experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Unfortunately, the demand for its services has increased dramatically over the past number of years. In 2024, more than 32,000 women contacted Women's Aid. In Kildare, we currently only have four refuge units for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. That is not just for north Kildare but for the entire county. Their incredibly dedicated and hard-working case workers offer outreach services but they need more support and more spaces. It is vital that the disclosure of counselling notes in court is banned. I spoke in favour of an Teachta Coppinger's Bill a few months ago in this regard.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh na mná sa Gallery. This is a specific and important Bill. The crime of sexual violence and the scar it leaves on its victims are severe and devastating. It scars the person and impacts severely on their family and friends as well. I listened to the Minister's speech. People scarred by a perpetrator should not be expected to haul themselves back through the courts to obtain a restraining order or barring order. The Bill would empower the courts to impose such measures instead of placing the burden on the victim to do so. A couple of days ago, a judge in our courts placed that requirement on a person found guilty of such a crime. Molaim mo chomrádaithe an Teachta Carthy agus an Seanadóir McCormack as an mBille seo a chur os comhair na Dála. Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.”
“Our solidarity must lie with Irish family farmers, with the indigenous South American people defending the world's richest ecosystems and with the generations who will inherit the consequences of the decision that has been made. The Mercosur deal is not about trade; it is about agricultural vandalism.”
“That is an area the size of France. The Taoiseach made a virtue out of attending COP30, which is taking place in the home of the Amazon rainforest, to show other leaders how seriously Ireland is taking climate action. We cannot call for climate action and biodiversity protection at COP30 one week and wave through rainforest destruction the following week, all for the sake of a pat on the head from German car manufacturers. Mercosur is going to hurt Irish beef and poultry farmers. The meat that will enter the EU market will not be subject to the same regulations as those that apply here, which means that there will be few or no safety standards. We need to ensure high standards across the board in the context of food quality and maintain our binding commitments.”
“I thank na Teachtaí Kenny and Newsome Drennan for bringing forward this motion. I welcome the farmers to the Dáil. This Mercosur deal has been dubbed "the cows for cars trade deal" by many who rightly believe this trade deal will overwhelmingly contribute to a climate crisis that is already out of control. Those who did the cows for cars deal do not care about the programme for Government. This deal is completely incompatible with our commitments under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C, a target we are already set to miss. It will significantly boost trade in goods that have a high environmental impact, such as soya, poultry and, in particular, beef, and contribute to widespread deforestation. Between 2001 and 2020, the Amazon rainforest decreased in size by over 54.2 million ha and lost almost 90% of its trees.”
“I did my own thing because I always believed in a united Ireland as well. This is my last point and we have to take it very seriously. We are currently in a world of political extremism where young people can be easily sucked into a world view that is built on misinformation and deception. Young people who use the Internet a lot are particularly susceptible to this world view but I really believe that we can inspire young people to engage in the world around them by showing them their voice is as important as ours. Not only that, but they will have a genuine say in what they think the world should look at in the next few years. As the old saying goes, mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.”
“They have opinions on issues like everybody else, whether it is the arts or social justice, yet their opinions are essentially dismissed by us when we tell them they have to wait and they do not have a voice until they are 18 years old. Caithfimid éisteacht le daoine óga agus tacú leo freisin. One of the best things I always remember from when I was young was how in a hurry I was to grow up because of the thoughts of being able to go into town on my own, being able to go to the disco that was only for the older people or whatever it was. We always had one eye to the future. I believe that if you extend the responsibility of voting to people of 16 and 17, they will take that with great seriousness and genuinely think about who they want to vote for and why.”
“Not only did they take action to overthrow their Government, but they also continued to raise their voice and shape their own future by holding a vote online to decide who they thought should be the next leader. This is democracy in action and was carried out by young people who were previously thought to be too online to actually be engaged in politics. However, these stereotypes continue at home. I mentioned my two transition year students earlier. They are in here on work experience with me. They are from Confey College in Leixlip. They are only delighted to get the opportunity to come up today to Leinster House and see democracy in action. They have ideas. They care about housing. They care about climate change. They care about being heard.”
“These are issues that directly affect them and they want to lead the conversation on these topics, not be talked down to by politicians like the Minister of State or me. If we look at the international perspective, the evidence of young people engaged in politics is even more obvious. The Gen Z protests in south-east Asia shocked many when young people organised online to bring down corrupt governments in Nepal and elsewhere there. Nepal was particularly striking, as there was rampant corruption among Nepalese Government officials. It was well known but little action was taken. It was only through a server on Discord that young people convened and decided that enough was enough.”
“Our Taoiseach has said that he travelled to Brazil to attend COP to show Ireland's commitments to climate resolutions. He also said he went to demonstrate to other countries that were absent that Ireland was serious about tackling climate change. I hope he talks to some of his members on the climate committee and makes sure they are not absent from the climate committee and actually engage on this issue, considering how important it is. How can he possibly say this when his Government has failed to meet modest national targets set at home? We are not taking climate change and climate action seriously. Young people know this best. They know this because they are politically engaged on issues like this and social justice.”
“The young people of today are more political than any others I have seen before. They are learning about the effects of climate change every day in school and understand that this issue may not be top of the political priority list for today's politicians. You would know that if you attended any of the climate committees. It was full to the brim in the previous term. Unfortunately, we are lucky to get four or five members this term. It is really important for our young people that we make sure we deal with climate change. As we speak, COP30 is underway with leaders of the world attending in the hopes of building consensus around actions on climate change. How many more COPs must we have before we see genuine action taken, not just words, on that issue?”
“I welcome the young people to the Gallery. It is great to have so many people in the gallery on a Thursday afternoon. I give a special mention to Paul Minnock and Charlotte Minnock, who are with me on work experience. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála inniu. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil guth ag daoine óga sa lá atá inniu ann. It is very important that young people are heard and not simply seen. Their involvement in politics can be inspired from a young age. I salute an Teachta Farrelly, my north Kildare comrade, for tabling this Bill. It is the young people, after all, who will face the consequences of the actions we take inside this Chamber more than any of us. They are acutely aware of that fact.”
“Just the other day, I was talking to a constituent, David from Celbridge, who had got in touch with me. He does not want me to mention his surname because he is worried his insurance will double again. He is aged 47 and his premium has gone up from €450 to €850 in the space of two years. He has had no accidents, he said, no claims, no points received in that time, yet he is having to face that kind of hike. We cannot afford to continue without any action from the Government. I call on the Minister of State to act now. I thank An Teachta Daly for his motion. The Minister of State should support it, stop these proposed toll increases and stand up to the insurance companies to ensure fair and stable car insurance costs and address the disproportionate profits they are making.”
“The Minister of State has said that there are factors involved in the increase in toll fares that are out of his hands but this is not the case. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has the power to stop this increase in toll prices. He could stop it tomorrow if he wanted to, but he does not want to and he does not stop it. Much like everything else with this Government, it is not a lack of ability but a lack of political will that has people facing this cost-of-living crisis. An Teachta Pearse Doherty has repeatedly told the Government how it could properly deal with the rip-off premiums that insurance companies are charging. We know that they are blaming false and exaggerated claims as a reason for hiking up their premiums. We know it is actually all about them protecting their massive profits.”
“The crisis in the cost of living is out of control. Every day in this Chamber, the Opposition comes to the Government with solutions to the issues that people are facing every single day. People are having to choose between lighting and heating and are paying through the nose for insurance, toll costs and petrol and diesel. The Minister of State knows these issues are facing people. Tá a fhios aige faoi na fadhbanna atá acu. He knows the people are at the pin of their collar with inflation that the Government has failed to get under control. Sinn Féin has proposed ideas that would at least start to give people some respite from a never-ending slew of rip-offs in grocery, housing and car costs. Our motion tonight is one of the many things that the Government could do right now to end this rip-off.”
“This Bill can fix that. This prohibition means that comedians cannot apply for bursaries while their counterparts in theatre acting, for example, can. Festivals funded by the Arts Council may platform comedians but there are no direct supports provided for them. I ask that this Government not delay this Bill for 18 months but allow it to go to the next Stage as soon as possible.”
“We are born storytellers and entertainers, yet our craic is completely unrecognised by the Government. I know people might not necessarily describe what happens within these walls as much craic at all but it is important we recognise those who are good craic, including the many incredible stand-up comedians who have graced the Moate Theatre in Naas. I was there recently with a few of my friends. We saw Jarlath Regan from Kildare and we had a great night with plenty of laughs. This Bill pays proper respect to comedy as an art form and recognises that it should stand among its cultural counterparts such as theatre, literature, music, dance and film. Currently, the Arts Council can fund art forms that are not mentioned in the Arts Act but it explicitly prohibits stand-up, sketch and improv, and I really do not know why.”
“These are what might be considered the traditional arts that Ireland is well known for globally, what is typically plastered on the walls of Irish bars in Tokyo, Washington, Berlin and Sydney, fud far na cruinne. A hurley stick or a bodhrán with a picture of Pádraig Pearse on the wall of your bar in Barcelona and you are halfway there. Above all else, however, our internationally recognised oozing talent aside, it is our humour that is most well known among anybody we meet from overseas. It is unique. It is so cute and devilish that we had to give the particular Irish form of comedy its own word: craic. No one does it quite the way we do it, and this craic is invaluable. It is part of the fabric of who we are as a people - storytelling, talking, caint, scéalta a insint.”
“Molaim mo chomrádaí an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh as an obair ar fad atá déanta aige ar an mBille seo. Irish culture is much revered around the globe, from our music, our poetry and our plays to our dance. Our culture is synonymous with our identity as Irish people both at home and abroad. Our old rebel songs give us insight into our past, honouring those who came before us, ag troid ar son saoirse na hÉireann. Our poets and playwrights are well renowned, and works by Beckett, Joyce and many others are still performed to much delight to this day across the world. The Feis competition of Irish dancing is as competitive as ever, with young boys and girls competing every year.”
“I believe no funds should be used for new data centres. We just do not have the energy there and the data centres are insatiable. The more we produce, the more they look for. Meanwhile, we need to start building houses. Energy affordability has to be protected to make sure that households are not forced to pay for this through higher bills. I would like the Minister to reconsider amendment No. 2 in particular.”
“I am disappointed that the Minister is not accepting our amendments in whole or in part. About 21% of our electricity goes towards data centres. I think I read recently that was set to increase to 30% by 2030. In France and Germany, it is around 3% or 4%. We have to make sure that the increased investment in the grid goes towards the public good. More importantly, amendment No. 2 deals with €1.5 billion in public funds drawn from the Central Fund rather than borrowed. The fact that this money is not voted by the Oireachtas means that there will be limited scrutiny of it. I believe the Sinn Féin amendment helps to close that gap to ensure that there will be transparency and accountability in how that money is spent, and to ensure that the investment goes towards renewable capacity, network upgrades and the public good.”
“I was talking to somebody a few weeks ago and they were saying that we used to have the cheapest energy in Europe and now have the dearest. It makes no sense. We absolutely support the need for investment in the ESB but we have to make sure that it is done for the public good and not to supply more data centres with energy. I hope the Minister will look at that and that he agrees there has to be oversight on the expenditure of public money in the ESB.”
“I was saying that when you go away on your holidays, no matter how lovely the hotel was, when you come home and you get into your own bed with your own pillow, there is nothing like it, and we have now passed the point of 5,000 children homeless. The Government is shameless. We have to make sure that by investing in the grid, we are making sure that it is for houses and not data centres. We have to treat energy as a public good and not just about increasing the data centres. In subsection (4B), we want to strengthen the transparency and oversight. We were not happy about not having pre-legislative scrutiny. We have to make sure that the ESB publishes its annual reports and spending outcomes and price impacts. Subsection (4C) prohibits the higher household electricity tariffs.”
“First, we support the need for this Bill but objected to the fact that there was no pre-legislative scrutiny. I hope the Minister will look at our amendments in good faith. The ESB must focus on the public good. The Minister will have heard me on several occasions, here and in the planning committee and the infrastructure committee, talking about the need to strengthen the infrastructure to strengthen the grid but that it cannot be just for data centres. We have to make sure that the grid is fixed. It has been weakened by decades of lack of investment and we have to make sure that we are prioritising the grid to make sure that we can deliver the homes we so need. I was talking in the infrastructure committee today where we had the construction workers in.”
“Now they are being forced to fork out hundreds of additional euro on their bills. On top of this, the Government has cut the electricity credits that were helping many families to get over the line at Christmas. Thousands of families are now facing into a bleak winter with no respite in sight. We need to ensure that the ESB will submit annual reports detailing borrowing, project allocation and consumer price implications. If we do not, we will find ourselves in the same situation down the line without grid capacity to build the infrastructure and homes that our country desperately needs. I know we will be discussing this in the Dáil tomorrow night and I hope the Minister of State really looks at some of the amendments that Deputy Daly and I have put forward. I ask him to accept our amendments and to invest today in our future.”
“This is why Sinn Féin has demanded that any borrowing by Government to invest in projects must exclude grid infrastructure for connections to data centres. We have also highlighted the impact that any new investment will have on electricity prices for families. We are currently paying the highest prices in Europe for electricity and very little is being done by this Government to address this. People have now endured decades of inaction and of rolling over for energy companies, which is at the heart of this crisis. Over the last few months, Energia, Flogas, Bord Gáis Energy and SSE Airtricity have all announced double-digit increases in the cost of electricity. We are all hearing it in our constituency offices, as I am sure the Minister of State is in his. Workers and families are being hammered with soaring prices at every turn.”