Robert O'Donoghue
Dublin Fingal West · Labour Party · Ireland
“This is not an isolated incident. I hear it repeatedly from parents across my constituency. On top of that, the Government has brought back State examination fees. School transport charges have doubled, particularly for people going from zone 1 to zone 2, for kids in Rush and Lusk accessing the Loreto Secondary School in Balbriggan.”
“It is the airtex tops, the school trousers, the crested uniforms and the voluntary contributions that we know are not voluntary. Then comes secondary school and the bills get even bigger. Parents are expected to buy Chromebooks, laptops and iPads, often designated through one supplier at inflated prices.”
“There is an issue that has come to me in Dublin Fingal West, although it affects the country at large. I refer to the spiralling cost of summer camps and the financial burden it is placing on households earning lower to middle incomes. One parent told me that they were paying €160 a week for three hours over four days.”
“This motion could not have come at a better time. Last week, a constituent was on to me. She told me that her child had finished school on Tuesday, 30 June and the next day the first payment request from the school had landed in her inbox. That is not the end of it.”
“Education is supposed to be free but for too many families it no longer feels that way. The cost of sending a child to school has become one of the biggest financial pressures for working families. Parents are doing everything they can but they cannot keep being treated as the Department of education's funding model.”
“Horticulture is under enormous pressure. We are facing some of the most serious challenges we have seen in years, including increased input costs, energy costs and labour costs. We are still importing fruit and vegetables that we could grow ourselves. I live in north County Dublin, the market garden capital of Ireland.”
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“Will the Department examine the introduction of a means-tested summer camp subsidy in budget 2027 so that no child misses out simply because his or her family cannot afford summer camp fees?”
“There is an issue that has come to me in Dublin Fingal West, although it affects the country at large. I refer to the spiralling cost of summer camps and the financial burden it is placing on households earning lower to middle incomes. One parent told me that they were paying €160 a week for three hours over four days. If a family has two or three children, that cost may put these opportunities completely out of reach. I raised this last week as a Topical Issue but the response focused on childcare and the national childcare scheme, NCS. With respect, that missed the point I was trying to make. Summer camps are effectively run by the likes of sports clubs. Nobody is asking for camps to be made free. We recognise that providers face genuine costs. They deserve supports for the valuable services they provide.”
“Education is supposed to be free but for too many families it no longer feels that way. The cost of sending a child to school has become one of the biggest financial pressures for working families. Parents are doing everything they can but they cannot keep being treated as the Department of education's funding model. It is time for the Government to recognise the reality families are living with and take meaningful action to reduce the cost of education, instead of shifting more and more of the burden onto parents.”
“This is not an isolated incident. I hear it repeatedly from parents across my constituency. On top of that, the Government has brought back State examination fees. School transport charges have doubled, particularly for people going from zone 1 to zone 2, for kids in Rush and Lusk accessing the Loreto Secondary School in Balbriggan. For families in Dublin Fingal West, particularly Ballyboughal, the situation is worse. The school bus service that goes from Ballyboughal to Lusk Community College forces parents to drive their kids to the outskirts of the town, absorbing fuel costs. That bus needs to go through the village so that students can walk to the bus. That should be looked at in the coming year. The message parents are getting is simple: at every stage of their children's education, they are met with another bill.”
“It is the airtex tops, the school trousers, the crested uniforms and the voluntary contributions that we know are not voluntary. Then comes secondary school and the bills get even bigger. Parents are expected to buy Chromebooks, laptops and iPads, often designated through one supplier at inflated prices. One constituent mentioned to me that she had just paid €980 for her daughter who was starting secondary in September. The device cost hundreds more than it would have in Power City. Then she has to buy Microsoft Office, again, even though she already owns it. I do not understand why the Department has not established an IT service for schools. These devices are now mandatory, more or less, yet parents are carrying the full burden. It feels like the company Wriggle has an exclusive arrangement and no real competition.”
“This motion could not have come at a better time. Last week, a constituent was on to me. She told me that her child had finished school on Tuesday, 30 June and the next day the first payment request from the school had landed in her inbox. That is not the end of it. Between now and August, parents will receive email after email or app notification after app notification reminding them to pay. Sometimes, these reminders come twice a week. Then, throughout the school year, every time the parents open the school app, there is a request for more money. This is not the fault of schools, which are trying to operate with inadequate funding. The families are being asked to bridge the gap and the costs just keep mounting.”
“I welcome phase 2 of the pilot. We have a problem in that the average age of growers is probably over 60. We need targeted supports to encourage new entrants and generational renewal in the sector. Horticultural is a viable career but we need to expand the horticultural apprentice scheme and invest in our youth. Finally, the Minister of State and I will agree that we all need to buy more Irish produce. We need to strengthen the policy on identifying Irish produce. We need better regulation of labelling. If we do this, the consumer can make more informed choice by buying Irish, supporting local growers and sustaining the industry.”
“If we are serious about food security, rural employment and supporting Irish growers, then we must give the horticulture sector the support it needs and deserves in order for it to survive and thrive.”
“Horticulture is under enormous pressure. We are facing some of the most serious challenges we have seen in years, including increased input costs, energy costs and labour costs. We are still importing fruit and vegetables that we could grow ourselves. I live in north County Dublin, the market garden capital of Ireland. We produce approximately 47% of Ireland's field vegetables. We need to keep supporting the sector. We cannot allow it to shrink further. There are huge opportunities in horticulture; we just need to unlock them. I know first-hand the hard work involved in growing. I picked and packed every fruit and vegetable under the sun in Rush and Lusk. Many of the 18,000 jobs the Minister of State mentioned are in my constituency in north County Dublin.”
“Budget 2027 needs to support the growth of Ireland's horticulture sector through targeted investment in growers and targeted supports to attract new growers and encourage generational renewal. Investment in start-up grants, financial assistance with access to land, investment in education and training to upskill our workforce, investment in mentoring, and capital supports will help remove barriers to entry to the sector. Supporting new entrants is critical to maintaining domestic food production, driving innovation and delivering the ambitions of the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023–2027.”
“A third priority is democracy, rule of law and respect for human dignity. These are not simply aspirations but the foundations on which Europe was built. They have delivered peace across a Continent that tore itself apart for thousands of years. That is why EU enlargement is crucial. In a world full of conflict and uncertainty, we must develop our own defence capabilities. As we begin this Presidency, let us approach it with confidence, champion policies which strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, protect its security and uphold its values. Let us continue to show that a small nation like Ireland can provide meaningful leadership through partnership and co-operation. Ireland has always achieved more by building bridges rather than building barriers. I believe the Minister of State has a similar outlook to me on this.”
“The Savings and Investment Union, the 28th regime, has huge potential to boost competitiveness. That is all from the Draghi report mentioned by Deputy Ó Cearúil. I hope the Government is going to vigorously pursue these proposals during our Presidency while also protecting workers' rights. Security has taken on a new meaning in recent years. It means supporting peace and stability across our Continent, standing with Ukraine as long as it defends its sovereignty, and strengthening Europe’s resilience against threats to our energy supply, critical infrastructure and democratic institutions. Ireland will play its part, consistent with our values and long-standing commitment to peace and international co-operation. That is why we must continue to put pressure on Israel to stop its destruction of Palestine.”
“I welcome the vote in the European Parliament banning Aughinish Alumina sales to Russia, albeit it was a non-binding vote. Any party that voted against that ban should be condemned. It is a shocker. Our Presidency will be guided by the three clear priorities, namely, competitiveness, security and shared European values. Competitiveness means ensuring that Europe remains in a place where businesses can innovate, workers can prosper and investment can create opportunity in every region. Ireland knows better than most that access to the Single Market has transformed our economy. It has helped create jobs, attract investment and provide opportunities for generations of Irish people. Our task now is to ensure Europe remains competitive in an increasingly global economy while reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and supporting innovation.”
“Rather than being diminished by standing apart, our voice carries greater weight because it is amplified through co-operation in the EU. That is vital in a multipolar world. This is not about celebrating another country's difficulties or reopening old debates. The UK is one of Ireland's closest friends. Our relationship is deep, historic and enduring and we want it to flourish. Nonetheless, it is entirely appropriate to recognise that Ireland's decision to remain fully engaged in the European project has strengthened our economy, enhanced our influence and secured greater opportunities for our people. This month, we assume the Presidency of the Council of Europe at a defining moment, both for Europe and our country. It is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, build consensus and advance the interests of Ireland and all Europeans.”
“Investment has been affected and opinion polling suggests that the British public consider it to have been the wrong decision. By contrast, Ireland has chosen a different path. We remain fully committed to our place at the heart of Europe. We worked constructively with our European partners through the challenges of Brexit. Together, we protected the Good Friday Agreement, safeguarded the integrity of the Single Market and defended Ireland's national interests. Our economy has continued to grow and employment has reached record levels. Ireland remains one of Europe's leading destinations for international investment. Our exporters continue to enjoy frictionless access to the Single Market, which comprises hundreds of millions of consumers.”
“I will start with a comparison. There is perhaps no clearer illustration of the value of European membership than the experience of our nearest neighbour, as mentioned by the Taoiseach in a different speech yesterday. A decade has passed since Brexit. Of course, that decision was for the British people, and we respect their democratic choice. It is equally important, however, to recognise the lessons that have been learned. The warnings of economic disruption, barriers to trade and increased costs were dismissed by some during that campaign. Today, however, many of those concerns have become a reality. Businesses face additional burdens and trade has become more complex. Some British SMEs no longer export to the EU.”
“It is about dignity, security and giving families the peace of mind that their loved ones will have a place to call home. I urge the Minister to help Remember Us to fund this pilot and to roll it out in communities across Ireland.”
“Families have also raised concerns about the growing reliance on private, for-profit residential services. They want something different. They want their sons and daughters to live as independently as possible in their own communities with choice, dignity and personal autonomy at the heart of every decision. Ireland has committed to the principles of the UNCRPD, including the right to independent living and community inclusion, but there remains a gap between those commitments and the lived reality of too many families. That is why I want to recognise the Remember Us campaign regarding its Homes for Us pilot proposal. It offers a community-based model where people have their own homes, the supports they need and the opportunity to remain close to family and the communities where they belong. This is not simply about housing.”
“I thank Deputy Quaide and the Social Democrats for bringing forward this important motion. I also want to acknowledge the Before We Die campaign in my own constituency of Dublin Fingal West and the Remember Us group from Balbriggan, which continues to campaign with such determination. I have met families in my constituency and listened to their very personal stories and I thank them for sharing them. Those conversations have stayed with me. I have heard the fear and anxiety of parents in their 70s and 80s who have spent their entire lives caring for their sons or daughters and now ask one heartbreaking question, "What will happen to my child when I’m gone?" These families have spent years navigating services that are fragmented and under pressure while housing supports remain inadequate.”
“Will the Minister of State commit to engaging with summer camp providers and family organisations to examine what practical support schemes specifically for summer camps can be introduced ahead of next summer? If we genuinely believe every child deserves an equal start in life, we must also believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to take part in activities that help them learn, socialise and thrive during the summer months.”
“I thank the Minister of State. It is good to see the Department is aware of the issue. The NCS is a good scheme but it is generally for childcare, and I am asking more specifically about summer camps. I am not sure if the NCS is usable in summer camps, though I am open to correction on that. We are looking for targeted supports. Like the NCS, we support school meals, childcare and school transport because we recognise the barriers families face. Why should summer activities be any different? I am not suggesting every family should receive a subsidy. I am asking the Minister of State to examine targeted, means-tested supports for those who need them the most. Summer activities keep children active, connected and engaged. They support their well-being and ease the pressure on families during the school holidays.”
“Each child deserves the opportunity to enjoy the summer, make friends, learn new skills and participate in activities that contribute to their development. Children's access to these opportunities should not be solely based on their family's financial circumstances. I hope the Minister will give serious consideration to this proposal and work towards a practical solution with family support groups and the summer camp organisers delivering these valuable summer programmes.”
“No parent wants to tell their child that they cannot take part simply because the family does not have the money. For this reason, I ask that the Minister consider introducing or extending a summer support scheme to help families with the cost of summer camps. We already provide support in many areas, including, in particular, childcare through core funding. I believe this is another area where targeted assistance could make a real difference. Could the Department examine the possibility of a means-tested subsidy or a voucher scheme for summer camps to be included in the budget for 2027? Such a measure would support families, help providers maintain services and, most importantly, ensure children are not excluded because of their family's financial circumstances.”
“These organisations are providing valuable services and deserve to be supported. This is exactly why we need to look at how the Government can support families rather than expecting community groups or camp providers to absorb these costs themselves. The reality is that many children are spending the summer watching their friends attending sports camps, arts camps and activity programmes, while they are being left behind simply because their parents cannot afford the fees. This exclusion can be incredibly difficult for a child to understand. They do not see budgets, household incomes or finances. They only see that everybody else gets to go and they do not. I have been contacted by several parents in the constituency who have described to me these conversations with their children.”
“I raise an issue brought to me by my constituents in Dublin Fingal West, primarily in north County Dublin, namely, the rising costs of summer camps and the impact this is having on middle and lower income families. For example, the cost of one four-day summer camp is running at €150 per child. For families with two or three children, this quickly becomes impossible to manage. Many parents are juggling household bills, food costs, the cost-of-living crisis and everyday expenses. For those relying on social welfare or on low incomes, summer camps are just out of reach. No one is suggesting that these camps should be free or that providers are charging unreasonable prices. We recognise that staff must be paid, halls must be hired, insurance must be covered and materials and equipment come with costs.”
“One of the most concerning aspects of this issue is the apparent lack of interest from Government Ministers. They seem to have no clear position on the potential sale of a valuable State asset at a time when the State is spending enormous amounts leasing buildings and office space. If Ministers have no vision for safeguarding strategic State assets like this, then they are failing both the local community and the taxpayer. At the very least, they should be setting out a clear plan to ensure that buildings of such historic and public value continue to serve the public interest rather than being disposed of without any meaningful scrutiny.”
“If we take that approach, we will not simply preserve our post offices; we will strengthen them, ensuring they remain at the very heart of communities across Ireland for generations to come. The best way to protect the post office is not simply to subsidise it but to give people more reasons to walk through its doors. I will finish with an example of how the Government is missing the mark regarding post offices. I want to credit Deputy Ivana Bacik’s work on this as well as the work of Councillor Dermot Lacey and Councillor Fiona Connelly. Rathmines Post Office is a historic public building with significant potential, yet the Government cannot even give a commitment that it should remain in public ownership or be protected from being sold off for purely commercial use.”
“The success of public services should not be measured simply by how many transactions are completed online. It should be measured by whether every citizen, regardless of age, disability, language skills or digital skills, can access the services they need with dignity and reliability. The Labour Party warmly welcomes this Bill and the investment it represents. I also hope it marks the beginning of a wider conversation about the future of the network. Let us see our post offices not only as places to post letters or collect parcels but as trusted community hubs where people can access Government services, receive practical assistance and remain connected to the supports they rely on.”
“The postmaster or postmistress knows the community, notices when someone has not called in and provides reassurance that cannot be replicated online. That community value cannot be measured in financial terms. This Bill provides welcome financial support but funding alone will not guarantee the long-term future of the network. The future of post offices depends on their continued relevance. If we want to protect them for another generation, we must give them an expanded role at the heart of service delivery. Doing so would improve accessibility, strengthen local communities, reduce pressure on other services and provide the additional footfall that will help sustain post offices into the future. This is not about resisting technology. It is about ensuring that technology serves people rather than excluding them.”
“This would not mean post office staff making decisions on applications. It would mean providing practical assistance so people can access services that they are entitled to. The principle should be simple - digital, where possible, but not losing access to personal, where necessary. Every Deputy knows that constituency offices all over the country spend time helping people upload documents, verify identities, complete forms and navigate online portals. Much of that support could be delivered closer to home if our post offices were properly equipped and empowered to do so. There is also another reason this matters. The local post office remains one of the few places where people regularly meet face to face. For many older people, it is an important source of social interaction as well as practical support.”
“They already have trusted staff, secure premises and a presence in communities across Ireland. They have something that no website or app can ever provide, namely, trust, human interaction and a friendly face. People will often tell their local postmaster or postmistress something they would never type into a computer or a chatbot. That trust has been built over generations, and we should be using it to make public services more accessible, not allowing it to disappear. I encourage the Minister of State to explore expanding the range of Government services available through post offices. They could become places where people receive assistance with MyGovID verification, uploading documents for social protection applications, renewing transport passes, accessing online Government services or simply getting help to complete applications.”
“He simply needed somebody to sit down with him, explain the process and help him submit the application. On another occasion, an elderly lady came into us because she could not upload the photograph needed for her new bus pass. Again, this was a somewhat straightforward online task that had become a source of real anxiety and frustration for her. These are not unusual cases. They are repeated every day in every constituency office across the country. This is why we cannot assume that because a service is available online, it is genuinely accessible to everyone. Instead of asking people to travel long distances or rely entirely on digital systems, we should be asking how we can bring those services closer to the communities they serve. This is where our post offices can play an even greater role.”
“Online services can be quicker, more efficient and more convenient, but we must also recognise that digital access does not always mean accessible services. Every week, as public representatives, we meet people who struggle with systems that many of us take for granted. They may be people who need additional support, people whose first language is not English or people who are without reliable Internet access. Others simply find Government websites confusing or overwhelming. I saw this recently in my constituency. A gentleman with very limited English came into my clinic because he could not complete an additional needs payment application online. He also needed help with the Residential Tenancies Board and Threshold. He was not looking for special treatment.”
“I mention the post offices in Dublin Fingal West that continue to do a great service for their communities and our postman, Leo Bissett, who has been a pillar of the community for many years. While this Bill protects the network with funding, we also need to ask a bigger question - what is the future role of the post office? This is not the first time I have addressed this issue in this Chamber. As I have stated before, we need to future-proof our postal services to breathe new life and new initiatives back into our local services. The Labour Party is pushing for a transformation of the post office network into genuine community hubs that are not relics of the past but pillars of the future. Government services are becoming increasingly digital. In many respects, that is a good thing.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. In the Labour Party, we support this legislation because it recognises something that many of us recognise from our constituencies. Our post offices are not simply businesses; they are part of the social fabric that knits our communities together. They are places we can trust. In many towns and villages, they are one of the few remaining public services, providing far more than somewhere to post a letter or collect a parcel. The additional funding provided for in the Bill is therefore very welcome. It will help secure the future of our post office network to some degree and provide certainty for postmasters and postmistresses who have served their communities with dedication for decades.”
“The 33 bus timetable should be aligned with train services, and the location of Rush and Lusk train station, which is not in Rush or Lusk remains a significant barrier to people accessing public transport on the northern commuter line. A dedicated Local Link service connecting surrounding communities in Rush and Lusk to the station would greatly improve access and encourage greater use of public transport. I am hoping these issues can be resolved so that my constituents in Dublin Fingal West can have a public transport system they can rely on.”
“If we wait around long enough in here, two opportunities can come in a day - much like the 33 bus, which I am going to again raise in regard to its reliability. I acknowledge that the Minister's priority is to make the route more reliable rather than increasing the service this year. I also recognise that recruitment challenges and traffic congestion have contributed to cancellations across the 33 fleet. However, these are not new problems, and this is not the first time I have raised these concerns. I continue to receive emails from frustrated constituents about buses that are simply not turning up on a daily basis. We need to improve the integration of our public transport network across the north county.”
“We both know that Europe works by consensus and that there is only so much we can do to facilitate as an honest broker. While competitiveness is incredibly important, with the capital markets union and the 28th regime coming forward, workers' rights were not mentioned once yesterday at the event in Dublin Castle. This gives us an opportunity to bring the Irish people with us rather than this Presidency just being felt within the bubble of Leinster House. I am not sure if people outside these walls understand its importance or understand it will directly affect them. This question is at national level rather than supranational level, but what concrete milestones does the Government have in mind for us to achieve during the six months we have the Presidency that will benefit Irish people outside the walls of Leinster House?”
“Will Ireland support institutional reform of the EU to ensure that decisions on issues like Palestine and enlargement of the EU bloc can happen quickly? Does the Government support the EU having new revenue sources to fund new priorities? Will it ensure that the next EU budget continues to fund food security? Will the CAP be protected?”
“The Government must insist that new priorities be funded through new EU revenues, not through cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. Ireland must place food security firmly on the agenda. This means protecting agricultural land, supporting family farms and ensuring that Europe remains capable of feeding itself. Food security is no longer a future issue. This summer, Europe is once again experiencing prolonged droughts and extreme weather events, damaging harvests and reducing output. Europe cannot allow itself to become increasingly dependent on imports of food while simultaneously reducing its own capacity for production. Ireland must firmly stand against attempts to weaken the CAP and undermine investment to protect Ireland and Europe's long-term food security. I have four questions.”
“Ireland, rightly, strongly supports Ukrainian membership. However, enlargement must be accompanied by reform. We must streamline how the EU institutions make their decisions. We have repeatedly seen how a single veto can paralyse the European Union. If Europe is to become larger, it must also become more effective and make decisions faster. The most important challenge that the Government may face is the multi-annual financial framework, MFF. There are growing demands to increase funding for security, research and competitiveness, all of which is understandable, but with that comes pressure to divert funding from agriculture and cohesion, which Ireland has often pulled from. As a significant net contributor, Ireland has influence. We must use that influence wisely.”
“The EU Presidency gives Ireland the opportunity to set the agenda, lead discussions and influence decisions that will be felt across Europe, including Ireland, in the coming years. We should use that opportunity ambitiously. Over the next six months, there will be hundreds of meetings and countless headlines, but for the families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis here and with issues like accessing childcare, none of this will matter unless we can deliver results that work for them. The Government has identified priorities, including strengthening competitiveness, enlargement, security and delivering an EU budget. The decisions taken over the coming months will shape Ireland and Europe more widely for years to come. A major objective is advancing EU enlargement, and President Zelenskyy coming yesterday underscored that.”
“An expanded Union cannot survive on solidarity, pretty speeches and well wishes. During our Presidency, we must push the conversation forward by integrating the practical, financial realities of expanding the Union into our MFF discussions, and we must seriously look at how we simplify decision-making across the bloc. Ireland knows first-hand how the EU can transform a nation from a peripheral, economically depressed state into a thriving, globalised hub. We understand the immense mutual benefits of this project, but with that privilege comes a profound responsibility to lead. I hope that we will.”
“We are facing a paradox: the demand for shared European investment in security, economic competitiveness, the CAP, cohesion funding and myriad other competing areas. This demand has never been higher, yet the overall budget remains intensely constrained. As impartial chair of these negotiations, Ireland must balance our desire for traditional cohesion funding and agricultural support with new, critical industrial investments. The reality is that we are looking at increased and competing demands while not increasing our spending. Frankly, no group is going to be happy with the outcome. There are a number of potential areas, long mooted, that we can examine at an EU level, including levies on online gambling, on digital services and big tech, and financial transactions or capital gains from crypto assets.”
“We are missing targets, embracing LNG and ignoring opposition on it to boot, and we have an energy grid that is falling apart from years of underinvestment. On both those fronts, the jury is more than out on whether this Government can deliver. The next six months will be vital with regard to the direction Europe takes. I urge the Government to push Europe beyond what it is, and towards what it can be. With my remaining time, I would like to address another challenge the Presidency faces, which is the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and the realities of the tightness of the European budget. Let us be realistic about the resources at our disposal. The MFF is arguably the most demanding task that the Government will face over the next six months. The Minister of State knows that.”
“This needs to be a Presidency that is prepared to be bold and dynamic and to rip up the rules that the EU has in place where the US and China have pulled away from us economically. The Government is saying a lot of the right things on the competitiveness front - simplifying rules, a more integrated Single Market, accelerating the energy transition - and if all these happen, I will be the first to put my hands up and say well done, but nothing this Government has shown in running this country gives me confidence that it can drive these objectives at a European level. The Government does not have a history of simplifying rules. Just look at the new rural housing policy or the new rental rules - the list goes on. We are the furthest away from achieving an energy transition.”
“We have a generation who according to the ESRI will be worse off than their parents and because of that, as sure as night turns to day, we will continue to see a breakdown in societal resilience, not just in this country but across Europe. We need a radical reset, and that means State intervention in the housing market and State building, but more than that, and this Presidency gives us the opportunity to say this, we should be looking at the EU taking a much bigger role in housing across Europe. Supply is the only way that we will drive prices down. We need big institutions to be playing bigger roles. Ireland has the opportunity now to get the ball rolling in that direction.”
“The website that has been set up for the Presidency states, "We will work to support a socio-economic model that emphasises societal resilience, inclusion and cohesion, and will take forward initiatives on employment, supporting quality jobs within modern labour markets." Societal resilience comes from equity in opportunity, so I ask that as part of the values portion of our Presidency, Ireland focuses on housing. There is no equity in opportunity between the older and the younger people living in Ireland. Thirty-year-olds are stuck living in a box room at home, or paying €2,500 for a studio apartment in Dublin.”
“Will Europe pressure the US to stop the blockade and the subsequent starving of the Cuban people? I am a proud European, but we need to acknowledge the hypocrisy the EU can display, and the need for a new direction. A Cuban life should not be worth any less than a Ukrainian or Palestinian life. All life is the same. Our values are on display on the international stage while we hold this Presidency, but our values at home and how we bring them to the Presidency are equally important.”
“I welcome the Government's willingness to double down on European support for Ukraine, including its accession to the EU and the ongoing accession of Moldova and other countries. The more nations that want to join the EU, the more it shows that while Europe might be bruised, it is not beaten. We sit at a window of opportunity now that this State has to deliver not just in security, which is a key component, but also, as the Government has outlined, on our values. What are those values, and will we apply them universally? The EU is rightfully vocal when it comes to Russia and its illegal invasion of Ukraine, but that conviction disappears, certainly in many member states, when it comes to criticising Israel and the genocide it has committed in Gaza.”