Ruairí Ó Murchú
Louth · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“It was hardly a shock to me and many others that he decided that the simplicity that was asked for by Sinn Féin last week, such that we would consider preparations for Irish unity, was not acceptable. Most people would see this as a possibility, even those who do not necessarily like the idea.”
“I welcome that. I have spoken previously to the Minister about the necessity of providing Mr. Delaney's report on the incident to Natasha and the wider family.”
“We will all be very interested to see what the new circular is. The Minister of State said it will be announced in September. A needs-based system is what we need. I would like to think the young boy I talked about would be able to avail of this. I will use him as an example. The correct assessments were carried out.”
“We just need to make sure that the circular is fit for purpose and that the young primary school child to whom I refer will be given the supports he requires. I will just finish reading from the communication to which I referred earlier.”
“We need to ensure that the engagement with Lebanon is ongoing. Are we happy with the interaction with the UN? There had been some issues relating to the coroner's court. Everyone needs to do everything that can be done to ensure truth and justice for the family of Private Seán Rooney.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for all the flexibility she allows in this Chamber, and hopefully that will continue as we speak. I welcome an awful lot of what Deputy Devlin said.”
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“What does the Government propose? On 1 March we will have a complete reset for all new tenancies and market rate is what people will be charged. We can just imagine what market rate is in a broken market. Many speakers for very obvious reasons have brought up a cohort of people who have been abused for many years. I refer to those with disabilities. I again commend Disability Federation Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Access for All for driving home the idea that there is a need for an emergency cost-of-disability payment. I am going to repeat what I said previously. In providing one-off payments, the Government accepted there was a need for a cost-of-disability payment because it made it.”
“Many others have said how there are a number out there who are in very good circumstances who are constantly looked after, whether that is developers with their tax breaks, those in the highest echelons of semi-State organisations and all those others. There is no cost-of-living crisis for them and there are no worries about increases for those people. That is the problem. Yesterday, this House went through the disaster the Government is going to impose on an absolutely dysfunctional housing market and housing crisis. In my constituency the average cost of a three-bedroom house rental in County Louth is around €1,966. People would probably struggle to get that price if they go onto daft.ie at the minute. I did it yesterday and I do not intend to go through it again. In Dundalk there were only about 20 properties that were available.”
“It is about the cost of everything and how it has gone through the roof. I do not think the Minister of State will be shocked to hear they are not generally impressed with the actions, or lack of action, of the Government. I think of those who work in EuroGiant and the particular issues they are facing at the moment. That is 77 stores and 640 workers. We do not know how liquidation and the whole thing will go but they are people who might be facing far worse circumstances than they anticipated. I am thinking of those in my home town of Dundalk who work for EuroGiant. We need to ensure that whatever supports are necessary are done. Unfortunately, we do not have all the safety nets for all those who fall into worse times.”
“I also add my voice in relation to those who have been injured and offer condolences to the family of the man who has died. I have spoken too many times over the last short period about absolute tragedies. It is obviously disappointing to see this on the streets of Dublin. Too many times have I had to commend those who work in the emergency services. As Deputy O’Reilly said, we do not always think through what they do on a day-by-day basis but, as she says, they always show up and we are very glad they do. I thank Deputy Healy for doing this but the fact we are putting down Private Members’ motions on the cost-of-living crisis in one of the richest states in the world says something. We talk to constituents and constituents come in to us. We hear the conversations in shops or the odd time when people are in bars or anywhere else.”
“We do not have time to get into arguments about what the Irish Government could have done to oppose the Mercosur trade deal, which is a lot more. The fact is - we heard it from the commissioners recently - that the Commission can allow for the provisional application of the Mercosur deal, which would undermine democracy and the vote that already happened in the European Parliament. We need to ensure this does not happen. There are huge worries about Brazilian beef and poultry, that is not up to the same standard as European, and particularly Irish, farm produce. There is a particular issue in Bord Bia around this at the moment. What will the Government do to ensure there is no provisional application of the Mercosur trade agreement at this time? It would be utterly unacceptable to Irish farmers and the Irish people.”
“The question relates to governmental engagements with the European Union and the European Commission. I was at the committee during the week when we met with Commissioners Hansen and Serafin. I will ask specifically about Mercosur. We can have an argument about how strong the Government was in its opposition to it but what the Commissioners said was that it is within the EU's gambit, if it wants, to allow for provisional application of Mercosur. We know the huge issues there are, particularly from the farming sector and beyond, about Brazilian beef and other issues. What will the Government do from the point of view of ensuring there is not provisional application? We await the outworkings of the Court of Justice.”
“When we talk about this policy and implementation, it is good to see there is a timeline but when we talk about the social enterprise policy, as I stated, there have been a number of milestones that have been missed and that needs to be looked at. With regard to the national procurement strategy that is being looked at, there might be the possibility there of something that can be somewhat more sustainable. There is that idea of seed funding that makes social enterprises sustainable. I know that is only one small part but it is just on the basis that I spoke to Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, SERI, lately.”
“We all engage with the community and voluntary sector on a daily basis. Generally that is on the basis that these people can deal with some of the issues that sometimes one cannot get deal with the State agencies, particularly when we are dealing with more complex issues in communities - everything from addiction to mental health services and the supports that are required. I mention the likes of The House, the Redeemer Centre, Muirhevnamor Community Centre and Cuidigh Linn but I would also mention Creative Spark, Kilcurry Resource Centre and Haggardstown and Blackrock Community Centre. Some of these centres face incredible difficulties surviving. They fit into different brackets.”
“The idea would be that certain grant aid could be provided by enterprise, which is not necessarily available to social enterprises. I think they would speak about a number of milestones in relation to them that are needed but have not happened yet. Will the Minister of State comment on that?”
“I appreciate the timeline with the caveats the Minister of State provided. The element of engagement with the stakeholders is all very well and good but it is a matter of actually putting a plan in place and then operating it. Like any plan, it will be up for and will need review. We were talking about sustainability. We have all dealt with individual projects from time to time when the pressure is on. I had a meeting with Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, SERI, which represents social enterprises. It would talk about the fact that sometimes social enterprises can fall by the wayside. We know we need to make sure that those operating, particularly in what would have been called RAPID or DEIS areas, are given support. We know about for family resource centres. I would have heard about the issues when we talk of whole-of-government.”
“Could the Minister provide an update on the development of the new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector 2026 to 2030? When we talk about the community and voluntary sector, that takes in a whole range of things. I am talking about everything from Muirhevnamor Community Centre through to the family resource centre, FRC, that was set up in Dundalk Counselling Centre. I hope another one will be set up in the Redeemer Centre. We know the work that is done and the support that is necessary.”
“Let us be clear about what it is going to do. We also met Commissioners Piotr Serafin and Christophe Hansen, and we know the dangers of provisional application. I have not seen what the Government will do to oppose Mercosur or deal with the possibility of more Brazilian beef, with hormones and antibiotics and without the traceability that applies to Irish beef, being imported here. That is what we need to see. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, said that explaining global food supply chains and contingency planning does not make for good social media clips. Does this contingency planning include the importation of Brazilian beef? The chair has to go. What happened is unacceptable, and the Government has been a disgrace.”
“This is not Sinn Féin deciding that Larry Murrin needs to go. Farmers were on to us, as they were on to the IFA and other organisations, to say that it is not okay to import Brazilian beef, that doing so is an absolute conflict of interest and that we are talking about marketing Irish beef. The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, spoke about dangers in the future. There will be reputational damage done by the chair of Bord Bia taking in Brazilian beef. In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, stood up in relation to the Mercosur deal. I know he is under pressure this evening. He stood up in respect of the Mercosur deal and, at the last minute, the Government decided it would, sort of, oppose it.”
“We need to state the facts straightforwardly. Larry Murrin is chair of Bord Bia. Bord Bia has done a fine job in marketing food, drink and horticulture from Ireland. However, let us also be clear that Larry Murrin is the co-founder and CEO of Dawn Farms. Am I correct in believing that Dawn Farms imported Brazilian beef into Ireland? I do not think there is any question about that. How can someone not see that this is a huge conflict of interest in the context of trying to sell and market goods and wares on the basis of the work done by the farmers in the Gallery and throughout the country? I am talking about farmers in Knockbridge, Kilkerley, Sheelagh, Omeath, Reaghstown and other areas across County Louth. I did not grow up on a farm, but my father did. I worked on many farms. My uncle is a farmer and my cousins are farmers.”
“I do not see any solutions here for affordable and social housing. I do not see anything to stop the increases, or any move towards what we are calling for, which is a ban on rent increases for at least three years.”
“We are talking with a lot of young people - but they are not all young - who are in severe circumstances, where they are about to be put out of their home. In some cases, the landlord is leaving and does allow an element of overholding. If it were not for that, we would have had a complete disaster. Did we ever imagine we would be looking at the current homeless figures? We used to be shocked when we were talking about 5,000, then it was 10,000, and now we are talking about 15,000. That is before we talk about the disgrace in relation to the percentage of children.”
“Obviously the protections we did have were insufficient. I can only imagine what we will be looking at next year. I dread to think. We see the usual stuff when we check daft.ie . In Dundalk, the cost of a three-bedroom house is €2,100 per month. It is €1,150 per month for a studio apartment. It is €1,850 per month for a three-bedroom house. A two-bedroom house is €1,550 per month. It goes on, but not that far because the other thing we realise is that nobody can get a rental. Another issue is that all of us are inundated with people who have received notices to quit in the past while. We know the issues that arise for Louth County Council and other local authorities in trying to find a solution.”
“We are talking about a complete reset to market rents. I would have thought we all accepted - certainly I would accept, as well as a considerable number Members present and people outside on the street would accept - that rents are absolutely through the roof. They are utterly unaffordable. Now we are talking about resetting rents with no protections whatsoever. We talk about improved protections into the future, but how do we deal with the fact that rents are utterly unaffordable at the minute, yet we are allowing for new tenancies that are going to be at market rent? A long time ago we all thought there would have been some control on the market, but I cannot see it. The average price of a three-bedroom house in Louth in the third quarter of 2025 was €1,966, which was an 8.7% increase on the year before.”
“It is hard to call this anything other than the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rent-hike Bill. This is going to allow vulture funds and big landlords to hike up the rents of 60,000 people every year. That means thousands of euro extra will be paid in rent from 1 March. It is hard to believe. In fairness, Deputy Ó Laoghaire said it earlier. Whatever about the setting of the rules, there is a huge level of confusion on the part of landlords and we are going to have confusion from tenants right through to landlords. The Minister is starting as if we are dealing with a fully functional market, whereas I thought we all accepted that it is utterly dysfunctional, broken, and not working for anybody out there in any way, shape or form. Whatever small protections were provided by the rent pressure zones, they are gone.”
“A proposal has now gone through to address the parking problem for the new school and two proposals have gone to the Department. I would like to think there will be support from a governmental point of view for delivery on that. That is before we start talking about the issues that need to be delivered in Dundalk as regards flooding, which may involve catchment flood risk assessment management, CFRAM. On the overpumping capacity Louth County Council has for the River Blackwater, we now need to make sure there is constant capacity. Beyond that, we need to make sure wastewater capacity exists in my part of Dundalk, where it does not exist at this point in time. We need the coast road updated and a treatment plant because 2033 is far too late.”
“We need to deal with the planning and delivery of infrastructure. I have received a letter from the parent of a child attending junior infants in St. Mochta's National School in Louth village. The parent writes that two classes are currently being taught in the school hall and special education teachers are teaching in a cupboard, in the staff room and in a corridor due to lack of space. I have previously raised Monksland National School on the Cooley Peninsula, where teachers are taking their lunch in their cars or in a shipping unit. I do not think any of that is up to scratch. There is a lack of SEN offices, a GP room and all of the rest. I dealt with Louth County Council's design team for Ardee Educate Together.”
“The water builds up and pools in estates such as ours as a result. It is not just water, however, because we are talking about a combined system. The problem gets even worse at high tide. People living in Cluan Enda and the Bay Estate now check for when high tide will occur. We really need to see long-term fixes, with upgrades through CFRAM. In the short term, there needs to be a solution. There was heavy rain in other parts of the country that caused devastation. Some of the problems can maybe be mitigated but a lot of them cannot. We could definitely mitigate the issues we have in Dundalk, particularly those that impact the people who live in the Bay Estate and Cluan Enda. We really need a solution.”
“We need to see CFRAM work being done in relation to the Blackwater, but, first and foremost, it must be accepted that we do not have the necessary capacity in the wastewater treatment system in Dundalk, including in the estate where I live. Where I live is not the worst part. I spoke to a man earlier today who, as the water dissipated, is looking at sewage on his property. That is because it is a joint sewerage and storm-water system. Therein lies the problem. The water treatment plant cannot take it. The Coes Road pumping station is where the blockages occur. There is WuXi and a huge number of industrial operations and estates from where the water literally shoots down. It fills the pipes to absolute capacity. This causes a logjam in the system, which then cannot be pumped out.”
“I appreciate that the senior Minister cannot be here, but I do not think it is a good enough to say that Uisce Éireann has operational responsibility. We all accept that from a technical point of view. I have no problem with it, but there is an absolute need to have a review with regard to why this has happened. This has happened - it always happens - when we have heavy rain in a particular part of Dundalk. Talk to anyone from the local authority or to any of the engineers who are out doing great work and they will say that they are looking for over-pumping capacity for the Blackwater. That, at least, might mitigate some of this. Hopefully, it can be done over the weekend. We need to look long term at some of the mitigation works that can be carried out.”
“We have the likes of WuXi and other companies operating in the area, and we do not have capacity. The pumping station at Coes Road cannot deal with the amount of water coming through. It will be 2029 before it is upgraded. The treatment plant on the Point Road has a design capacity for a population equivalent of 71,000. This is going to be upgraded to 120,000, but that could take until 2033. When the local authority handed the plant over to Uisce Éireann - it is operated by the EPS Group - it had capacity for 169,000 but under different rules. Water lies there in the Bay Estate, around Holly Park, Oak Vale and even in Cherryvale, but particularly in the part where it comes in from the Alphonsus Road. It is incredibly dangerous, and we need to deal with it.”
“I have dealt with people on the Ardee road who were flooded because the River Blackwater was over-full and spilled into their property, although some work has been done there. There is a need for mitigation to be introduced in that area. I want to focus on my part of Dundalk, in particular, Bay Estate, Cluan Enda and Greenwood Drive, and I include areas like Greenacres, anywhere on the Red Barns Road and St. Alphonsus Road. Those roads would have been the subject of a number of closures and severe flooding. We are being impacted in the context of wastewater infrastructure. We are talking about an area that has infrastructure dating back 20 or 30 years and even longer. There has obviously been an increase in the number of houses - and we need to see more of that - some have been affected by the lack of wastewater capacity.”
“A yellow storm warning is in place, and I am told the storm is due sometime between Friday at 9 a.m. and midnight on Saturday. Because everything has been so waterlogged, and because the infrastructure is so backed up, my fear is that we could be in a similar circumstance, particularly in Dundalk. I have dealt with a huge number of people who have had flooding around their properties, in some cases where the water has come directly into the house. I still say we have been very lucky. One brutal fall of rain during that period would have meant hundreds of houses were flooded in the general Dundalk area. There were problems right through mid-Louth and into north Louth, and even in the area where Ravensdale connects with Jonesborough. Councillor Antóin Watters has spoken to me about particular issues in Jenkinstown.”
“The recent Storm Chandra has caused chaos and disaster across the State. It shows the issues we are dealing with, and the need to make sure we have all the mitigations and flood protections in place that we possibly can have. I will deal with some specific issues in Dundalk and particular parts of Dundalk. I first want to commend the local authority staff, particularly those who were out dealing with these issues, and those in the fire service who were out for hours. I know that third parties were brought in with regard to the use of tankers, and they did vital work to ensure people were not flooded. In saying that, a huge number of people were in a very precarious scenario. We have already been through a yellow storm warning, with the possibility that we could face the same again.”
“That will be the last reference. I thought we might have been having a row about other issues. I had another question on Bord Bia that might have been taken but we will leave that for another day. I accept what has been done is working for a significant number of farmers. I ask the Minister to meet farmers on the whole piece on renewables to a greater degree. Deputy Kenny, who I nearly called "Minister", has spoken - and we have spoken before - about the need to streamline schemes and facilitate people. The Minister spoke of the perfect scenario of having one scheme to deal with everything. We need a piece of that done, both technically and from an administrative point of view. Can we look at a review of everything from solar to wind turbines and what works for all farmers and wider society?”
“I suppose I would agree with the Minister's commentary. It was a lot less contentious that time. I would probably have agreement from my councillors, Antóin Watters and Fiona Mhic Conchoille, on the necessity for support. At times, the county of Louth probably did not get the support and recognition for St. Brigid's close connections.”
“I have been at many meetings of the IFA and I know farmers sometimes get hammered in relation to their position. A huge number of them want to do more. Can we review this to provide the best solutions for farmers and renewables? That will bring real benefits in the future.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I appreciate most of what the Minister said and am doing my absolute best to ignore the disgraceful commentary he made at the beginning. I commend the work being done to remember St. Brigid by the community in Faughart. Dundalk BIDS and Martin McElligott have done a great piece of work. We need to ensure not only Kildare but also Louth gets Government support in relation to that. I welcome the information the Minister has provided on TAMS 3. I have heard anecdotally of issues. We have all heard farmers say they want to ensure the majority of the ground they have that could be used for solar, particularly sheds and so on, is used. That could be of benefit to farmers and the wider environment. I would also ask the wider question about wind turbines.”
“I am delighted the Minister has recognised the huge importance of St. Brigid from Faughart, not to get into a contentious issue. The Minister dealt earlier with the question of using AI to develop a carbon map. Sequestration is something I would support. We need to get to grips with renewables. We are talking about solar schemes that work for farmers. We know they have issues at times when the best of land is being used. Regarding other renewables, relations of mine have spoken of issues around getting wind turbines, particularly replacement wind turbines. That is everything from planning right through to the schemes that work for farmers.”
“We really need to see that proper and adequate procedures are in place. We have all talked about faster processing. I also want to ask him about the 12-week time limit for the first instance and appeal decisions to be completed for certain categories of applicants because he has also spoken previously of six months for the initial application and six months for appeal. We really need to get to grips with this because it is not fit for purpose.”
“The fact is we are talking about the further imposition of fines and infringement proceedings. There has been huge unease about international protection. That is because communities that were not communicated with very well and have lost hotels and other amenities saw an element of chaos. The Government has spoken about how it is going to remedy this. I accept that over the years it did not have the same number of people who are now applying for international protection. I also accept that people, who are here, apply for international protection and fit the criteria in the sense that they are fleeing persecution and war, should be looked after. They should not be languishing for years. Processing should happen fast, but if you do not have a right to be here, you should be gone. The Minister has put many proposals forward.”
“I am deeply disappointed that the Minister and the Government did not consider the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice's recommendation that we have a determination. We could have looked at an opt-out for the considerable parts of this pact that do not suit the situation that exists in Ireland at the minute. Unfortunately, these are not the circumstances we are in. Others have spoken about the issues around the civil legal aid system and Tusla. We are talking about systems that are absolutely stretched and under pressure. We really do not see how this is going to be fit for purpose and going to work. The Minister is under pressure timewise because he has to deal with ensuring the 12 June deadline happens. I am not quite sure that all of the ducks are going to be in a row beforehand.”
“The reason I am standing here today is that, like my colleagues, I am utterly committed to the removal of this particular border, which as we know is very porous, as do the many who have tried to cut off some of the approximately 300 border crossings. It is an impossibility. While accepting that we can do a lot better, having a fully-fledged and proper immigration system in operation in Ireland would need to remove said border and create a united Ireland. The Minister may be in a position to do more in the near future, but we really need to see a move to Irish unity and the preparations that are necessary from this particular Government. We are dealing with legislation that was agreed to by both Houses.”
“It is fair to say that the EU migration and asylum pact does not take into the account the issues that persist in Ireland, including the fact that we have a shared border and, unfortunately down to British jurisdiction, that means a shared border with a state and entity that is not in the European Union. That was Britain's determination not ours, but, in fairness, it has never done anything that has suited Ireland. We saw the recent near imposition of the Brit-card, an absolute defiance of logic, the peace process and all of the hard work that has been done. Let us be absolutely clear that we are dealing with this common travel area and it greatly pains me that this particular border exists in Ireland.”
“Not only do we need CFRAM action taken in this regard and short-term mitigation given the possibility of storms in the future, but we also need to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure. Waiting until 2033 is not going to do it. We were very lucky just over two years ago, and we are just about lucky enough at the minute, but that is not good enough for an awful lot of people.”
“Many of us have spoken here many times about infrastructural deficits. In this regard, unfortunately, we see chickens coming home to roost across the State at times. I will speak about County Louth, particularly Dundalk. While we did have heavy rains, undoubtedly, we are impacted in some parts of Dundalk owing to infrastructure, including for wastewater treatment, that is not up to scratch. We are dealing with joint infrastructure, which means both sewerage and storm water infrastructure. We do not have enough capacity, which meant that the likes of Bay Estate, Greenacres, Avondale and Cluan Enda, and basically anywhere in the surrounds of Red Barns Road and St. Alphonsus Road, which were also blocked, had huge issues. We hope we will not have serious rain in the near future.”
“The Minister is doing the right thing in relation to the review process, looking at exactly who gets paid a cost-of-disability payment and looking at the amount it needs to be. That is grand for next year. At the moment, however, there are people who cannot afford to pay their bills. I cannot get away from the idea that some weeks it is a toss up between food or bills as there is nothing left. We know the issues, which I brought up with the Minister previously, that need to be addressed in making it easier for those with a disability to be employed, because the numbers in this State are not up to scratch, and they are improving the WSS, the reasonable accommodations, workability and employability, work and access and so on.”
“In fairness, the Minister is going to hear an awful lot about a choice between eating or heating because we have heard it directly from those who are impacted by the lack of a payment - up to €1,400 if we compare it with last year. That would be a slash in relation to anybody's means of paying for their needs. People are absolutely at the edge in relation to payments. We have all heard from the wheelchair users who cannot afford to charge their wheelchairs at times. They have to decide on individual payments and on what they can and cannot do. This is straightforward. I commend the work of the Disability Federation of Ireland, DFI, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Access for All on highlighting this issue. I thank the Social Democrats for bringing this motion forward. What we need to see is action.”
“This is straightforward. It is not the first time that we have had this discussion. The fact is the Minister has straightforwardly accepted that there is a cost of disability. I can also say that the Government accepted, when it was giving out one-off payments, that in providing a cost-of-disability payment, and for the first time recognising that, it realised there is a huge issue for those who are disabled in relation to the day-to-day cost and the logistics, whether it is the extra cost of transport, availing of healthcare, or a million and one things that we all take for granted that cost a lot more and are a lot more difficult to do.”
“Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the development of equine therapy facilities at the Toghermore campus in Tuam, County Galway. Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss enhancing public transport links between Lucan and the airport. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss core funding for Ballyfermot youth service. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the Cork events centre project and the new tender process. Deputies Gary Gannon, Rory Hearne - To discuss the enforcement measures against scrambler bikes nationally. The matters raised by Deputies Gary Gannon, Rory Hearne, Séamus McGrath, Conor D. McGuinness, John Clendennen and Pádraig O'Sullivan have been selected for discussion.”
“Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the shortfall of special educational needs, SEN, primary school places in Shankill, County Dublin Deputy Eoghan Kenny - To discuss public transport projects in Cork city and county. Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss the delivery of level 2 general palliative care services in the community, including clinical nursing services outside normal working hours in County Louth. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss funding to bring the main N70 in Cahersiveen town and the footpaths up to a safe and acceptable standard. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss commercial rates bills for Waterford childcare providers participating in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme. Deputy Pa Daly - To discuss the expanded use of the discretionary medical card.”
“I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy John Clendennen - To discuss the need for additional primary care resources and elective surgery capacity in the midlands. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss recurring electricity outages in north Galway. Deputy Séamus McGrath - To discuss section 254 licence applications in relation to telecommunications infrastructure and proximity to residential properties. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss an enhanced influenza vaccination for older persons. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan - To discuss the ongoing use and misuse of e-scooter vehicles in urban areas. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss prepay customers facing involuntarily disconnection over winter.”
“I think we were all taken by the words of Siobhán when she spoke about her daughter, Grace Lynch, an absolute loss to the family and wider community in Finglas. There is a huge level of anger about what has happened on many working-class estates, not only in Dublin but in my county of Louth, particularly in Dundalk and Drogheda. There are a huge number of scramblers and e-scooters, some of which have been modified and are technically illegal, but we also hear of drone units that cannot be put into operation and guidelines that are not in place. While the Minister might say a lot has been done, not enough has been done. We need an answer. None of this is good enough. The community and the country demand action. We cannot let this go after the loss of Grace Lynch.”
“We need to see the primary care setting to ensure the community services we have are at least in appropriate accommodation.”
“That is what we need. We have our own particular issues in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and mental health services have spoken to hospital management. Hopefully, and this is not the first time I have brought this up, an arrangement can be made later this year that there will be some sort of 24-7 facility within the hospital for proper assessments. At times, people get sent over to DDOP in Crosslanes and the problem is that is an operating hospital, so people may have to wait a huge length of time and that does not work. The Minister met the group regarding Maxi’s law. We need to see not only community and early interventions but we also need to see emergency beds as we do not have a sufficient number in our area. There are ten beds promised as an extension. That needs to happen in relation to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.”
“I think we have all been in emergency rooms. I have yet to be in an emergency room where staff were not dealing with a number of cases where people had particular drug issues and where people had mental health issues. In some cases, it was across the board. That is that unfortunate place where people are Venn diagrammed and it crosses over. The fact is it is not the place for them. It is not the place for others who are there. We have often been there with our children and none of it works, which puts incredible pressure on staff. The Sinn Fein motion put forward by Teachta Clarke is absolutely straightforward. It means that we have adequate staff 24-7, because many of the cases we deal with, particularly psychosis, happen late at night, and that we have an appropriate setting, away from the absolute chaos that is emergency medicine.”