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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“I attended the Social Justice Ireland presentation in the audiovisual room earlier. The statistics presented are increasingly concerning for the agriculture sector. The average farm income was just under €20,000 in 2023. Some 68% of farms earned less than €30,000 per annum. This data highlights clear challenges. It is clear that farming by itself is not enough to provide an adequate income. I am committed to these farmers and to working with the Ministers to make sure the challenges posed by increasing energy, labour and environmental-compliance costs can be overcome to ensure long-term stability for Irish farming.”
“Farmers are caught in the crossfire of trying to make a living, trying to do the right thing to ensure the grants are-----”
“The geopolitical circumstances that have occurred to date make food security all the more important. In my constituency of Dublin Fingal West, horticulture is a crucial part of the farming sector. We produce 15% of potatoes nationally, 47% of field vegetables and 37% of fruits, vegetables and nursery plants, making it one of the most important counties in the country for food production. Many farms in Dublin Fingal West supply fresh produce to local markets, supermarkets and for export, contributing to employment and our overall GDP. It plays a significant role in food production. Like all farmers nationally, they want actions to address barriers for farmers, particularly the next generation of farmers who are just as important.”
“The increase in food production costs in recent years means many farmers no longer find it sustainable. As their costs directly affect consumers, we must tackle this. Dairy farmers report a near 20% rise in production costs in the past year alone. We need to address challenges posed by increasing labour, energy and environmental-compliance costs to ensure the viability of the farming sector, especially in my area of Dublin Fingal West where horticultural producers are under intense pressure from retailers on price.”
“I hope we can bring a lot of our laws up to date such that people can be protected and to avoid cases dragging on for years and decades going through court, especially when they involve people who do harm to others. There are people who are known for their criminal activity. We need to give the powers to the people to police this country and make it safer. Independent Ireland will support the Bill and, again, I acknowledge the work done by the Law Reform Commission on this.”
“Independent Ireland will support this Bill and the idea of simplifying the law to make it more accessible to the general public. The aim is to reduce compliance costs for businesses and bodies which interact with our legislation regularly. It is the stated policy of our party to achieve this across the public sector and beyond. I wish to record our admiration for the sterling work of the Law Reform Commission on the statutory law revision programme in bringing forward this seventh Bill on the area. With 3,367 instruments to be revoked, I can imagine the detailed scrutiny involved. These are laws from 1821 to 1861 and we are only now bringing them up to date.”
“Many of them might wonder why such a rich country failed to house its people or provide them with adequate public services, but those are arguments for another day. At least we are in agreement with the Government on this legislation. The Labour Party is happy to support the Bill.”
“The public and other interested parties were invited to participate in this process and it has led us to this point in the framing of the legislation that is to be commended. It is a Bill with wide support. The ultimate aim of the process is to create a clear, concise and accessible modern Statute Book fit for the times we are living in now and the circumstances that will prevail in the country in 2025. In working towards this aim, we have learned a lot about our past, who we were and where we have come from. If we propel ourselves into the future and imagine the Dáil sitting 150 or 200 years from now, one wonders which laws we are enacting today will seem weird or wacky to the sensibilities of the 22nd century or 23rd century TDs.”
“Interestingly, the commission found that only a handful of secondary instruments from this period should be kept on the Statute Book and these relate to boundaries on the River Shannon which were judged to still be valid. The commission stated the process has contributed to legislative clarity in numerous areas and has also proven to be a useful exercise for historians, amateur and professional, with an interest in this period of Irish history. This period has long been a focus for historians and encompasses the years of the Tithe War, Catholic emancipation and the Great Famine. It was a time of great upheaval and some of these laws reveal a whiff of desperation from the empire as it tried to keep a lid on the revolutionary rumblings from across the Irish Sea.”
“It has been an important process that has reckoned with our past and sought to modernise our Statute Book. It is progressive legislation and my Labour Party colleagues and I welcome it. Previous Acts have repealed all obsolete primary legislation enacted before Independence and revoked obsolete secondary legislation made up to 1 January 1821. This tranche of repeals will take us up to the 1860s, so our work in this regard may not be finished just yet. The process which brought us to Second Stage of the Bill involved an exhaustive review of entries from this period on the Statute Book carried out by the Law Reform Commission. It went through some 40,000 secondary instruments to find out if they were obsolete and whether they needed to be repealed or retained.”
“There are Famine-era laws which, thankfully, we do not need anymore and, although the Bill seeks to erase these redundant laws from the Statute Book, we should never forget the circumstances that led to their enactment. The history of this era, the trauma that resonates through the generations from that time, the impact on our population and the emigration and death that flowed from the events of these years will not be wiped away by any piece of legislation, nor should it be. While it is time to put these laws from this era to bed, we should work just as hard to preserve the history in order that we can learn from it and never return to those dark days. The process that has led to this legislation has been exhaustive and anyone who contributed to it should be congratulated.”
“The same article details another proclamation seeking to apprehend the culprits who broke open vaults in the churches of St. Andrew and St. Mark in Dublin and opened several coffins, extracting teeth from the bodies within. Until these laws are deleted, it will still technically be illegal for any of us to attend a particular meeting called by Daniel O'Connell in 1843 which never actually took place. As you read through the laws being deleted by this Bill, you get a window into the past - a past where food was so precious that breaking eggs amounted to a high crime and where people took a beating with nettles for the sake of a couple of potatoes.”
“Unless those culprits have almost two centuries of living under their belts, it is unlikely that any of them are going to be caught at this point. The crimes range from setting fires to houses, ricks of hay and barns and mills, to beating people with sticks and stones and even nettles. Rather oddly through modern eyes, it seems that breaking eggs was judged as harshly as arson in this period. Perhaps less surprisingly, there are a lot of proclamations related to potatoes, a commodity we know defined this dark period in Irish history. According to an article published in The Irish Times last Saturday, the aforementioned beating with nettles took place in 1834 in Mayo after attackers ordered two men to sell potatoes on credit.”
“Deleting obscure, outdated and often bizarre laws is something we are pretty good at in this country. We are world beaters, in fact. Between 2003 and 2016, we got around 60,000 of them off the books and this legislation will remove over 3,000 more laws and proclamations that remain on the Statute Book as a legacy of empire and a reminder of some of the country's darkest days. The orders and proclamations that are being removed from the Statute Book by this long-overdue legislation date from between 1821 and 1861 and point to decades in Irish life that were cruel, grim, violent and rife with starvation and poverty. More than 2,500 of these proclamations offer rewards for culprits of long-forgotten crimes.”
“Let us commit to the young carers we met and the 67,000 other young carers in Ireland. Their contribution to society is too valuable to ignore. When they say "Give me a break" our response must be a resounding "Yes".”
“By taking this joined-up approach, we can ensure young carers are not left behind and no one falls through the cracks. As previous speakers mentioned, young carers deserve opportunities and our recognition and support. It is our duty to ensure they receive this support. This means better respite services, flexible policies and financial assistance for families in need. It means acknowledging their contributions and easing their burdens. I want to shout out to Benjamin, Sarah Ann, Lucy and Conor, the young people we met in the audiovisual room earlier, who shared their powerful stories with us, both positive and negative, and the struggles they have to endure. I also acknowledge the work of Family Carers Ireland, especially Niamh Finucane and Elayne O'Hara.”
“Young carers juggle school, home duties and emotional burdens that many adults would struggle to bear yet their needs go unrecognised. Many experience stress, social isolation and difficulties in education or employment. They often miss out on the simple right just to be young. Supporting them cannot fall on one sector alone. It requires a cross-departmental approach. The Departments of children, Education, Health and employment must work together to identify and support young carers from early on. Schools and colleges need dedicated trained staff to recognise and assist young carers. They must ensure that young carers are included in care plans and have access to mental health support. Employers should create pathways for young carers to access work opportunities with flexible arrangements that acknowledge their responsibilities.”
“I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Mark Wall, on bringing forward this important motion. I stand here on behalf of thousands of young carers throughout Ireland, children, teenagers and young adults who take on immense responsibilities at home, often at great personal cost. They provide essential care for family members with disabilities, illness, mental health conditions and addiction. Their contributions too often go unnoticed. This year's Young Carers Action Day on 12 March carried the theme "Give me a break". This is more than just a theme; it is a call to action, which my colleague Deputy Wall has taken up for the Labour Party. It reminds us all of the sacrifices, struggles and needs of young carers and that acknowledging them is not enough. We must push for meaningful legislative change.”
“This has been a problem since the beginning of the school year. Can additional 33X services be considered for commuters in Rush and Lusk to get into town to work?”
“I would like to talk about infrastructure in north County Dublin. As the Tánaiste knows, Fingal is the fastest growing and youngest local authority area in the country. Rush has doubled in size and Lusk has quadrupled in size in 20 years. I was delighted to invite my former students from St. Joseph's Secondary School here. They are a genuinely lovely bunch. However, they and the teachers are using buildings that are decades old and not fit for purpose. We are lucky enough to be at the planning permission phase at the moment. I ask the Tánaiste to ensure, should we receive planning permission in the next couple of weeks, that this school project will be constructed as soon as possible. Will he also assure my constituents that additional bus capacity will be added at peak times to get my former students to school on time?”
“This week made me reflect on my own use of language. Eu falo Português du Brasil. Je parle Français. Ora studio Italiano. I have used these phrases in the wild, in Dublin, during the past 12 months than I have ever used Irish, up to this week really. It has made me reflect on my use of the language which I intend to be a lot better if I am making this speech next year.”
“It is also great to see schools and youth groups organise talent shows and exhibitions, giving young artists performances so that they gain confidence and experience both with the language and with their art. Whether one is fluent or just starting out I would encourage anyone to take part in Seachtain na Gaeilge. Tá an Ghaeilge beo beatha inniu, in ainneoin easpa acmhainní agus tacaíocht ón Rialtas, ach a bhuíochas le dúthracht agus díogras cheantair fud fad na tíre. Tá dualgas orainn ár dteanga dhúchais a chosaint. Iarraimid ar an Rialtas an teanga a chur chun cinn trí pholasaithe, maoiniú agus leasuithe oideachais. Molaim do gach duine an méid Gaeilge atá acu a úsáid le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge. Ar bharr sin, molaim do gach éinne a ndícheall a dhéanamh cúpla focal a úsáid ó cheann ceann na bliana.”
“At last year’s Oscars, “An Cailín Ciúin” was the first film as Gaeilge to be nominated, and Kneecap has further renewed excitement and interest in the language, making it cool. Many Irish musicians and artists who use the medium of Irish struggle to get the same exposure as their English-speaking counterparts. Seachtain na Gaeilge allows them to take full advantage of putting the Irish language – particularly Irish language music, poetry and visual arts – into the spotlight. This is especially so for those who play folk or trad music. They benefit from increased demand for their performances during Seachtain na Gaeilge. This helps to support their careers financially and encourages venues to book Irish acts outside of Seachtain na Gaeilge.”
“Seachtain na Gaeilge is not just about promoting Irish. It plays a huge role in uplifting our musicians and artists. The week creates opportunities for people in creative professions to both use Irish and bring it into their work. It provides a platform for many organisations who are working to support the language, such as Conradh na Gaeilge, TG4, Foras na Gaeilge to use this time to highlight their initiatives and resources. The impact of Seachtain na Gaeilge is not just national but global, with Irish enthusiasts and communities around the world getting involved and showcasing that Irish is a global language that connects people across continents through a shared love of language and culture. Art and music are powerful tools for cultural expression and Seachtain na Gaeilge reinforces the connection between language and identity.”
“One of the most important benefits of Seachtain na Gaeilge is that it inspires people to learn more and improve their Irish. Many people who may be hesitant to use the language feel encouraged to give it a go during this week in a friendly, non-judgmental atmosphere which helps to build people’s confidence. For many people, their experience of Irish has been limited to the classroom where it can be seen as something to endure. When we have the opportunity to speak and celebrate our language it changes the perception by showing that Irish is a vibrant and living language that can be used in music, sport or comedy. Events such as concerts, storytelling sessions and céilís make learning and speaking Irish more enjoyable. When people see the language being used in a positive way they are more likely to embrace and use it.”
“Social media and technology have helped us to grow our grá for Gaeilge by making it accessible and bringing it to a whole new audience. Irish is the most popular language on Duolingo in Ireland. The Gaeilge hashtag has more than 120 million views on TikTok with influencers making the language cool and helping to banish the shadow of Peig. Seachtain na Gaeilge is also an opportunity to build on these successes and encourage schools, businesses and communities across the country to create a positive and accessible atmosphere around the language. Like our language, art is at the heart of our national identity and cultural heritage. Speaking our language reinforces our connection to our past while showing the valuable role it creates in the present and will ensure its survival into the future.”
“Whether someone is fluent or just knows a cúpla focal, this celebration encourages everybody to use and appreciate the language more. One of the big challenges facing the language is its lack of everyday use outside of Gaeltacht areas – out in the wild. Despite spending 14 years learning Irish many people, including myself, leave school without the ability or confidence to speak it. This may be down to policy, to the method of teaching or to inadequate resources. I know from my own secondary school that, every year more and more students opt out of learning Irish. It is clear we need a new approach to prioritise practical learning, which improves people’s accessibility and competence. Despite these issues it can be said we are in the midst of a Gaelic revival.”
“Is mór an onóir dom a bheith ábalta labhairt faoi Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Gabh mo leithscéal nach bhfuil Gaeilge líofa agam. Is cúis náire dom é nach bhfuilim lán-ábalta mé féin a chur in iúl tríd ár dteanga dhúchais. Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla cliste mar a deirtear. Is ceiliúradh ár dteanga náisiúnta í Seachtain na Gaeilge. Anuas ar sin, tugtar deis dúinn an Ghaeilge a chur chun agus tacaíocht shuntasach don Ghaeilge a lorg ón Rialtas. Seachtain na Gaeilge is a celebration of our national language but it should be more than just a festival. It could be a national movement that celebrates our language in a positive way. People of all ages have different abilities when it comes to speaking Irish but there should be an opportunity each day to engage with the Irish language in a fun and inclusive way.”
“Only by working together as allies can we return to some semblance of the rule-based order under which Ireland has flourished so successfully economically and tackle the big issues of the day. We are faced with scenarios now that were unthinkable at Christmas, all of which will be costly, be they paying the additional cost of aiding Ukraine, to continuing the fight for independence or fulfilling the objectives of the Treaty of Rome. While we will always stand in solidarity with Ukraine, these scenarios must be considered carefully in this House.”
“As no single member state can shoulder the cost of such integration we will have to look at the likes of eurobonds and that will probably have a knock-on effect on EU fiscal policy, which will affect this country. As a country, we must figure out who our reliable allies are and who are not, and what is in our interests and what is not. Anyone who thinks we can go back to the old normal is ignoring the fact that geostrategic alignments are changing rapidly. We cannot wait another four years for the next incumbent of Pennsylvania Avenue to be more accommodating to the Irish cause and the Ukrainian cause. The EU was forged in crisis. I commend Ukrainians on their progress towards EU membership.”
“While I accept that the current administration has not yet given up on Europe, as Europeans, we must evaluate all options in the best security interests of the EU, its expansion, and Ireland's economic interest within it, through securing the Single Market from aggressive expansionist states to our east. In the absence of the US security backstop, many commentators are suggesting Europe's soft power may need to be complemented by a harder power dimension, regardless of how that affects Irish neutrality. We must think through how that might play in regard to our neutrality and to our interests in the world, and that of our EU partners. If that is the road Europe chooses to go down on common defence, be it in support of Ukraine or to defend the integrity of the Single Market, we are looking at a large step towards European integration.”
“Members should make no mistake; we are now living in a different world. The vote in the UN this week and the sidelining of both Ukraine and our EU allies in the talks in Saudi Arabia have put a definitive end to the idea that history ended with the downfall of the Soviet Union. The world has changed and we should not ignore that. America's pivot to Asia flagged that guaranteeing common European security was no longer the priority it might once have been. This is being exacerbated by the current US Administration, which has caused an existential crisis within the EU in recent weeks.”
“The average age of farmers now is 60 and that is not sustainable. We need to push for change before it is too late. The future of our rural communities depends on it. I look forward to working with the Minister in this regard over the course of this Dáil term.”
“However, the supermarkets will not discuss pricing until June, at which point the crop is in the ground and any leverage the farmer has to get a better price for his produce is minimal. He either has to take what is on offer or let the crop rot in the ground. Large supermarket chains and food processors have significant control over pricing, sometimes paying farmers less than the cost of production. Meanwhile, input costs such as fuel, feed, and fertilizer continue to rise which cuts into the margins of small farmers in particular. If we want a strong and sustainable future for Irish farming we must support the next generation of farmers, especially young people trying to get into farming. Farming has long been the backbone of our rural communities. The issue in my area is that there is only one bunch of farmers who are younger than I am.”
“We can do this by: bringing small and medium farms into the twenty first century by upgrading technologies to improve their competitiveness; initiating a Government campaign to publicise the importance of high-quality, natural food production for the health of the nation and encouraging the consumption of less ultra-processed foods; and supporting farmers in setting up processes to add value to their produce, as has been done in Ballymore Foods in my constituency. Finally, we need to protect farmers from being squeezed by the supermarkets. I spoke to a parsnip farmer at the weekend who explained to me that he puts his crop in the ground between March and May.”
“We need to protect the long tradition of the family farm and send a clear message of support for the Irish family farm which is not just an economic unit but a vital part of our national heritage. We must push for CAP reforms that will protect our rural heritage and family farms while at the same time innovating our way to delivering secure, long-lasting, sustainable rural jobs. CAP payments should support small farmers but in reality they are often disproportionately funnelled into larger agribusinesses. We need to reform CAP so that it directly benefits the smaller farmer.”
“We must secure the future of the agrifood sector by protecting family farms, rewarding small farmers and ensuring fair income distribution for small and disadvantaged farmers. The decline of the family farm in Ireland highlights the growing challenges small farmers face due to Government policies, corporate interests, and environmental regulations that often prioritise large agribusinesses over smaller, sustainable farms. As small farms disappear, rural Ireland suffers. Local economies weaken, traditions tied to farming fade, and younger generations are forced to leave their communities in search of better opportunities. The average farm income is only €29,000 per year and once young people leave, it is very hard to get them to return to the land.”
“This means working with farmers and developing policies that protect the environment and our food supply. We need to grow the horticulture and tillage sectors with an improved tillage incentive scheme and new horticultural schemes. In that context, I thank the Minister for his recent announcement of €1.9 million in baling assistance payments. We need to develop a national food strategy to ensure everyone can afford nutritious food and we also need to transform Teagasc into a food security and sustainability agency. The EU has always put food security at the front and centre of it policies, even prior to the Treaty of Rome in 1958. In the EU budgetary talks which commenced recently on the next EU budget from 2028 to 2034 the CAP is likely to remain the largest single budgetary item.”
“The Irish Farmers Association argued at the end of 2024 that the Mercosur Pact will threaten Irish agrifood exports, especially beef. While Mercosur will likely be a good deal for goods and services, it is sacrificing agriculture at their altar. I am glad to see this is ringing alarm bells in Ireland and France, in particular, both of which have strong and mature agriculture sectors. The Labour Party offers a fundamentally different vision for Ireland's farming future. The role of farmers is indispensable but a lot of farmers and growers that I speak to in my local constituency think that their contributions are undervalued. We want to engage with farmers and rural Ireland to bring future-proofed jobs back into our farming communities.”
“While the EU asks Irish farmers to set aside land for nature restoration, it simultaneously incentivises habitat destruction in South America. This contradiction undermines the credibility of the deal. The agreement completely undermines efforts toward sustainable food production and tackling the global climate crisis. Addressing these concerns requires robust enforcement of environmental protections and harmonisation of food safety regulations to ensure that trade expansion does not come at the expense of ecological integrity and consumer health or put Irish farmers on an unlevel playing field. The country must balance sustainability goals with maintaining high food production values and fairness for farmers.”
“From grass-fed beef to organic vegetables, Irish farmers are renowned worldwide for producing the highest quality, sustainable food. However, current Government policies are creating an environment where family farms struggle to survive while large agribusinesses continue to thrive. The EU Mercosur trade deal presents significant challenges related to environmental sustainability and food safety standards, particularly in the cattle industry. Farmers in South America are not held to the same standards of traceability, animal welfare, and health and safety as their Irish counterparts. I welcome the Minister's comments on Mercosur. Even more concerning, South American beef production is responsible for two thirds of tropical deforestation.”
“Energy prices heavily impact and influence food production costs on farms, from farm machinery to transportation and refrigeration. In my constituency Welgro uses gas to heat its glass houses to produce fruit and vegetables but war-related energy price shocks and inflationary pressures on gas prices in 2022 posed a significant threat to the viability and continuation of its business. From recollection, there was not much aid made available to it at the time. Climate change and biodiversity loss is another critical factor affecting food security. Weather extremes such as floods, droughts and storms have had a severe impact on the production of agricultural output in my constituency. Farmers are still struggling after a winter of storms which has affected everything, including disrupting planting cycles and damaging polytunnels.”
“It has a multimillion turnover which feeds into the more than €18 billion in exports that Ireland produces each year. The north county has some of the best, if not the best, land in Ireland for horticulture, underscoring the importance of this sector to both Dublin Fingal West and Ireland. However, as others have said, the agrifood sector faces a number of challenges both in the short and long term. Ireland’s ability to secure its own food supply as well as its exports is crucial in an increasingly uncertain global landscape. International political uncertainty coming from the war in Ukraine and the sidelining of Europe by the US and Russia in the ongoing talks to end the war poses a significant threat to global trade, supply chains and food security and this will impact us.”
“I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his new role. It might seem odd that the Labour Party spokesperson for agriculture is a Dublin-based TD. However, I assure members that I am from Rush in the north county. It used to be known as the market garden capital of Ireland because of the importance horticulture played in its economy. I have picked every fruit and vegetable under the sun during the course of my life and also worked in the supply chain for Fyffes for three years, so outside of those Members who are actively involved in farming, I have a decent take on how the agrifood sector works. The biggest employer in my local area is County Crest which employs over 400 of the 171,000 people working in the agrifood sector.”
“I did listen intently last week to be Tánaiste when he stated we need a whole-of-Oireachtas approach for solving the housing crisis. I genuinely welcome that sentiment. The Labour Party has brought forward today proposals and solutions for the housing crisis and in the vein of bipartisanship we would be happy to see them implemented.”
“I refer to the tenant in situ scheme, which provides critical funding for the likes of Fingal County Council to purchase homes to protect people at risk of homelessness. To meet that end we need sustained Government funding and it is essential that this must remain a priority. I am surprised that the allocation of that funding and unit acquisition numbers have not, as far as I am aware to date, gone to our local authorities. I am dealing with a growing number of landlords and tenants being put at risk as a consequence of these numbers not being allocated. We know housing is the issue du jour . As an emergency measure, we should be looking at extending the tenant in situ measures and, indeed, the Housing First scheme for people exiting homelessness. I therefore urge the Government to get those numbers to the councils as soon as possible.”
“Homelessness is traumatic for anybody who experiences it, but the 4,600 children in this situation will be living that trauma for the rest of their lives. In the Labour Party, we are aware that there is no silver bullet to solve this problem. I am sure everyone has heard the same stories from builders around the country where in the sector we continue not to have enough workers. This is going to impact the delivery of numbers at the end of next year. We need to grow the construction workforce and start with a wage for craft apprentices. I urge the Government to consider this proposal seriously.”
“However, unsurprisingly, the provision of housing is the number one issue in my constituency and for my generation. Policy is failing making homeownership unobtainable for a generation of young adults now stuck in their childhood bedrooms or pushed into exorbitant and unsustainable rents, hemmed in like boars between archers. It is a policy that has delivered record numbers of homelessness. We are aware that the figures for homelessness are significantly higher than those reported. We do not take into account women and children who are in domestic violence refuges, individuals accessing homeless services not provided by the State, people in direct provision, people couch-surfing or relying on the kindness of family and friends.”
“Go raibh maith agat. As this is my first time speaking in the Dáil, I would like to take a moment just to thank my family, my ma and my da and my three brothers, the Fingal Labour Party branches and my friends who helped me to campaign during the recent election to get here. Most importantly, I thank the good people of Dublin Fingal West who have put their trust in me for the duration of this term to advocate on their behalf for the essential services they need. Fingal is the youngest and fastest growing area in the country. As a result of this pressure, sadly, my area is not able to deliver the services needed for the people there. Again this morning, the 33 bus was stretched beyond capacity when it came to Lusk. We need to look at additional capacity for the services.”