Ruth Coppinger
Dublin West · People Before Profit-Solidarity · Ireland
“Next Wednesday, the trial continues of the Ulm five, including the Irish citizen, Daniel Tatlow-Devally. A delegation of TDs and Senators, including me, will attend the trial in Stuttgart next week.”
“This man said of one woman that he would attach her to a concrete block. He said of another that he would set fire to her. Should this person be getting a pay off from the Army? No, of course, he should not. He should have been put on trial.”
“I have very little time left, but I want to put on record that the woman in question was abused by an Army officer using military equipment and surveillance technology, which is extremely scary. She made a complaint, which has never been pursued.”
“When is the victims of crime Act 2017 going to apply the Army? The Women of Honour have pushed for change so that if there is abuse within the Army there will, we hope, be mechanisms to deal with that, but what about women who are abused by Army personnel who are not in the Army?”
“This officer was involved in a GoFundMe campaign, where rapists' names were used as a joke by the various men who contributed to it. I do not think rape is funny and the Army should not either. That GoFundMe campaign was left up for a long time. Why is the Army a law unto itself in relation to gender-based violence?”
“The victim's belief is that the military prosecutor has evidence of a very dangerous man but for some reason, the Army does not seem to be concerned because it has not prosecuted him on those charges. Why would the Army not want to prosecute somebody? Are we at war or something? Why is it so secretive?”
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“For many, counselling and therapy provide a vital means of working through the trauma, supporting to find a route to regain control of their lives. It is therefore bizarre that we have to table a Bill to eliminate something which is potentially preventing people from seeking counselling, namely the therapy records of a plaintiff who goes to court being accessed by the defendant and their legal team. The context of this is that we have an epidemic of gender-based violence, acknowledged by the WHO, the UN and so many other agencies as being the biggest threat to women, girls and the LGBTQI community, yet it is the lowest reported and prosecuted crime. Among the reasons is the brutal misogynistic courts system we have, a patriarchal system that is full of victim blaming, rape myths and so on.”
“I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 in the interests of balancing the right to privacy, the right to healthcare and the functioning of the criminal justice system, to prohibit the disclosure of counselling records in criminal proceedings in criminal trials for sexual offences; and to provide for related matters. I welcome survivors, therapists and relatives of victims to the Gallery to hear this. Sexual violence and abuse are deeply traumatic for victims and survivors. The impact can be wide-ranging and life-changing. It can be a root cause of mental health problems, eating disorders, self-harm and suicidality. It can affect family and personal relationships, the ability to work and long-term educational attainment.”
“Uisce Éireann is talking about this excessive charge yet one data centre, for example, in Dublin uses up to 4.5 million l of water a day, the same amount as Dundalk. There is another in Clonee that uses the same amount as Athlone. There is a policy of excessive water use by data centres yet the Government wants ordinary people and householders to pay. It does not make sense. This will be an austerity tax if the Government succeeds in reintroducing it.”
“I wish to mention the excessive water charge that has been talked about as being 213,000 l per household, with a cap of €500. That is very generous. As if €500 was not a lot of money for a lot of people. The average house uses 125,000 litres so it is very easy to see how the Government can decrease that again and again if it gets away with it, like the brown bin, the green bin and all the other things. I remember the slogan back in 2003, "You only pay for what you throw away". Now you pay for absolutely everything. I also wish to mention data centres. Of course the water system needs massive investment. Some 500,000 people use at-risk water in this country. We recognise we have to invest in the system with wealth taxes, a financial transaction tax and increased corporation taxes.”
“It seems the EU is twisting the Government's arm once again to reintroduce water charges. I recall ten years ago in this very spot the Government swore blind it never intended to privatise the water system. I recall saying that people on that side of the House would privatise their own mothers if they had the chance. They were hawks for privatisation. Yet again, the Government had the chance to put a provision in the Constitution and it has not taken it. We have to warn people the Government has every intention of introducing water charges. We are going into more tumultuous times in the world economy; the cash cow of tax haven status is being taken away, potentially. The Government will look to make ordinary working-class people pay.”
“We should mark that this time ten years ago, we were in the thick of the battle against water charges. Let us put it on record - it was the most successful anti-austerity campaign at the time when all the austerity was heaped on working, working-class and poor people. This week and this month the Minister swore blind that the Government has no intention of reintroducing water charges. The Taoiseach said the same thing. This week, the Government had a chance to show it meant it by voting for a Bill put forward to repeal the clause the Government left as a safeguard at the time of the effective abolition of the charges. Those of us who campaigned against the charges and organised in our communities warned that a safety measure was kept in by the Government. Ten years on, it has refused to take it away.”
“The Taoiseach made that comment when speaking at a data centre-linked company called Hanley Energy. There are two issues. Most of AI is utterly useless in terms of the impact for humanity, in comparison with actually dealing with climate change issues. There is no question most AI is not necessary. There is no effort by any of the companies to get people to reduce their online storage, which could be done easily. Most of us could do that. The Taoiseach has said emissions will be offset by renewable energy. It seems the LNG terminal is the Government's solution. That seems to be what is proposed. The Minister of State did not answer how this State will face into paying billions in EU fines when we also face into economic turbulence in the times ahead.”
“That is all very interesting, but if we have such a love-in with data centres we are not going to reach our emissions targets. We are already set to have a 57% shortfall for emission reduction for transport, buildings, waste and agriculture and a shortfall of 12% for renewable energy production. We face €26 billion in fines. How are we to pay that? How is the State to deal with that because of the policy of attracting data centres? The Taoiseach has been quoted as saying we are "demonising data centres" in Ireland with our commentary, but there is a lot to demonise them for. Just one Meta data centre in Clonee uses 2.5 million gallons of water per day. That is the same as Athlone, which is a town of 21,000 people. How will we make up that shortfall in water and electricity?”
“I want the Minister to report on the impact of data centres on us reaching our climate change targets. As he knows, 21% of all metered electricity use is now coming from data centres, whereas all residential dwellings create 28%. It has increased five times in eight years. It is the dominant driver of increased electricity demand in Ireland according to the SEAI. How can we reach our targets with this amount of data centres?”
“Survivors have written and are joining a growing movement now. They wrote to the Minister for Justice seeking a meeting to progress that plan, in particular regarding the issue of counselling notes which the DPP has said are not necessary. I ask the Taoiseach when we can have that meeting with the Minister for Justice.”
“Kate spoke on RTÉ radio about her trauma of being raped by three men and then the trial that followed and the intimidatory atmosphere at it. Sophie was interviewed on "Prime Time" about her abuse as well. Kate said that we have an epidemic of gender-based violence and that people are being retraumatised in the legal system as well. The manosphere is operating unchecked and unregulated and is spewing violent misogyny such that 54% of men believe power and control over women is very important, and 46% believe they should not care about a woman's feelings. Two out of five men have trad views. The Taoiseach's Government accepted a motion that I put in Private Members' business time on a ten-point plan on gender-based violence. Did he actually mean to leave it to gather dust or is he serious about this very serious pressing issue?”
“I refer to water charges and one-off payments. All of the things that are threatened should be resisted. I believe that they will be by communities and workers as well.”
“Pharmaceuticals and tech are sectors that can provide socially useful essential goods and services. They must be repurposed and geared towards satisfying the needs of people, here and internationally. We need State intervention to defend and create jobs. We cannot rely on multinationals and the profit motive to deliver jobs and security. Essential industries should be taken under public control to defend jobs as well. In no way should ordinary workers pay the price. The Irish trade union movement has not responded in any way to this threat. To use Trump's phrase, it is time for the unions to make themselves relevant again. Even where workers are not in unions, they should come together and discuss how they can organise against what is likely to face them down the line in workplaces and also in communities.”
“Not one cent should be taken from public services such as health, disability, education and welfare. None of these services should pay the price for the crisis in global capitalism. Every job should be defended and there should not be pay cuts or price gouging, although we are very likely to see that. Prices have already started to increase. The Government must intervene. It has the legal power to control prices. It refused to do that during the recent cost-of-living crisis, but it must do it now. Instead of relying on the private sector and on multinational companies to come here, we must have a programme of public investment to create jobs where they are needed – in health and housing. We need a model of economic development that protects the environment while ensuring a rapid and just transition.”
“When we go to any other country in Europe we are embarrassed by the public transport system that we have. The idea that the economic model of relying on foreign direct investment, paying low or no tax in this country, has worked for the majority is not correct. Houses are completely unaffordable. Young people are taking the decision to emigrate. It is vital that we begin to see workers who are threatened get organised. All workers are threatened but those in these industries are especially threatened. We reject the notion that workers should pay for the crisis in the form of their pay and conditions. The interests of ordinary people are not the same as those of the industrialists. We must also ensure there is a strong movement to oppose the neo-austerity measures that the Government will implement.”
“The main threat is expected to be internal challenges such as the housing crisis. The cost-of-living crisis is very likely to get much worse. Already, we have seen the Government put forward ideas like water charges, and it has removed the reduction of €1,000 in third level fees. There has been talk of taking away the one-off payments for electricity that helped some families in the most desperate situations. How has the economic model that is so lauded by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in particular, but also many other parties in the Dáil, delivered for the majority of people in Ireland? We have a massive housing crisis. We have Third World disability services in many cases. Children with scoliosis have been suffering continuously for years. We do not have a decent public transport system.”
“In terms of the impact on jobs in the Irish economy, it has been estimated that 30,000 of the 50,000 people who work in pharma here work in US plants. Paschal Donohoe has noted that between 50,000 and 80,000 jobs could be on the line, although this includes jobs that could be created going forward. It should also be noted that one company, Pfizer, has invested €7 billion in plants in Ireland, and it is expanding, so any impact is unlikely to be immediate. In a separate internal Government economic model seen by The Sunday Times , it was estimated that between 56,000 and 60,000 fewer jobs would be created. This will have a massive impact in rural areas as well. Davy stockbrokers estimate that tariffs are expected to slow down the economy, in particular in the pharmaceutical and food and drink sectors.”
“It is disgraceful that the trade union leadership in the US has supported Trump in these plans because the interests of workers and the interests of the broligarchy that Trump has around him are completely and utterly different. I welcome the fact that protests have started to bubble up from the ground in many cities against Trump's attacks on democracy and economic rights. Tariffs of 46% have been imposed on Vietnam. It is pure folly to think that workers in the US are going to accept the pay and conditions that are forced on workers in Vietnam. The Irish economic model is the topic of this motion. The game is up on the bubble in tax receipts and the tax haven economy that has been developed by successive governments over a period. Foreign direct investment is now under pressure and this model is in decline as a way forward for people.”
“What we are seeing in the world economy right now is a historic turn-away from free trade and globalisation to protectionism, but it is a trend that has been under the surface for some time. The context for this is that post 2008 when the financial system collapsed and capitalist growth slowed, there has been an economic malaise in general and increased competition between the US and China. The multinational companies that Trump hopes will relocate to the US have done very well from globalisation but, nevertheless, the US economy has plummeted in recent years. The MAGA strategy is to bring industry home, to reindustrialise, and to trigger a ruthless pursuit by capitalism of a share of world markets over rivals.”
“I would like to jump in. I would like to register that people from big parties who have loads of opportunities to ask questions have been jumping in all night on these questions, meaning that people from the smaller groups get pushed down even further. It is a little inconsiderate of those parties, including Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and all of them, when there are so many questions on the agenda.”
“Could I clarify whether any Deputy can just jump in on anyone's question? Does that mean people like me who have listed a question and waited all night to ask it might not be heard tonight? Is that the case?”
“Has anyone been turned back when they reached the US? Has the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, who is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, lodged any protest with the authorities in the US over this policy? I do not know if the Taoiseach raised this matter in his discussions with Trump when he met him. A small percentage of our population now live in fear of this and cannot travel to the US.”
“It is important to mark a situation where the right to travel of all citizens no longer exists. Trans and non-binary people were issued with a warning in the past ten days from the authorities in Ireland that if travelling to the US, the traveller's biological sex at birth should not differ from the sex on their passport. They were told by the authorities here to contact the US Embassy if they are such a person. We campaigned and voted for marriage equality and, by extension, for trans and non-binary people to have the right to exist in this country. Yet, with Trump's executive orders and the official policy of the US declared to be one of only recognising two genders, we have a situation where people in this country are now fearful to travel to the US and may be turned back from the US. Has that happened to anybody yet?”
“It is not only that but also the unnecessary hip operations that have been carried out on a number of children. Some 561 patients in Temple Street and Cappagh hospitals have been recommended to be recalled. Parents are asking for a statutory inquiry. Nothing less than that is needed. We cannot have another review. There are questions which the Taoiseach and the Ministers with responsibility for health must answer.”
“I, too, want to formally send our very best wishes to Deputy Boyd Barrett. I want to ask what kind of monitoring there is on the well-being of children, particularly disabled and vulnerable children, in our children’s hospitals. Will there be any accountability by successive Ministers for the fact that the HIQA report published today outlines how there was no written approval for springs that were used in children’s bodies yet there was a post-holder for new treatments; no engagement with the ethics committee; poor process and communication; lack of formal multidisciplinary structures; no formal safety checks; no purchase order number for the equipment; a deviation from decontamination procedures; and parents not fully informed of bespoke and experimental procedures?”
“Ireland is meant to be regulating this on behalf of the EU. Boys and men are finding the manosphere when they look for help on health and fitness. We need the Government to act and not just leave it up to parents to deal with this.”
“Some 46% said that real men should not care about women's opinions or feelings. Why has there been no response to this real threat? Where is the Government education programme? We had a sex education Bill in 2015 in respect of which no real action, including the training of teachers and so on, has been taken. We cannot leave it to parents and teachers to compete with a well-funded manosphere. Parents and teachers are no match for the social media companies. It is estimated that X, for example, previously earned £10 million a year from Tate-generated traffic. There is a clear ideological connection between Musk and Tate. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook has argued for more masculine energy. What regulation is taking place? Why has the EU Digital Services Act not been brought into play to stop this hate and violent misogyny at source?”
“On the impact this is having, a survey on traditional views of manhood indicated that these were much higher among younger men. Two in five men overall had these views among 67% of younger people. This is extremely worrying. We know that Tate is facing sex trafficking charges. In a survey carried out in 2023, eight out of ten 16- to 17-year-olds had viewed Andrew Tate's social media. Almost half of 16- to 24-year-olds had a positive view of him. This is not just imagination; it is very real. Half of young fathers had a very positive view of him as well. In a survey done by the Rape Crisis Centre, 46% of men believe women exaggerate sexual violence and rape. Women's Aid conducted a survey which found that 52% of men believed they should dominate and control in a relationship.”
“In this debate on youth crime, there has not been much emphasis on the huge danger of violent misogyny and the targeting of young boys to essentially hate women and blame them for the situation they face. "Adolescence", a series on Netflix, has opened up a big discussion in society around this. The plot is very reminiscent of the horrific killing of Ana Kriégel in this country. We have to say that sexual crime among under-18s has rocketed. It has increased approximately sixfold. Fifty per cent of 13-year-olds have viewed pornography. The manosphere, led by the likes of Andrew Tate and company, has operated unchecked for years, promoting rape and violence against women. Sixteen- to 18-year-olds who set up accounts are, as has been found by research, targeted within 23 minutes if they are seen to be young men.”
“I am demanding that the Minister makes this a priority. He should be identifying land banks such as this, bringing in the local authorities and asking them what they need to get this started. That is the only way the housing crisis will be resolved. The other scam is Government citing figures that the private sector is building. Journalists should not even be giving this any credence. They are not Government houses; they are private homes most of which are completely and utterly unaffordable. The only figures should be public housing. That should be the Minister's focus. Will he bring in Fingal County Council and ask it what it needs in this regard?”
“Meanwhile, young people in their bedrooms or who are emigrating are sitting looking at this. There was an article in The Irish Times yesterday that stated Fingal County Council will seek €200 million from central government to try to develop this land bank. It is waiting for a fund to be set up so it can do this. What an absolute joke. The idea of a State company would have prioritised these huge land banks to provide affordable and social housing. I am not a fan of cost rental at all. It is a scam where the rent is so high it is not affordable. However, I refer to social and affordable housing. When I went back onto the council I pushed this and Fingal County Council has it as a long-term policy to develop it. This should be developed in the short term - in the lifetime of this Government.”
“We have a school in our area, the Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 area, that has begged parents to provide spare rooms for teachers. It cannot employ teachers because of the housing crisis. I have had letters from school students in the area as well. We have one in three vacancies in the CDNT area because people cannot afford to live here, which is adding to the waiting lists here on autism awareness day. I bring this to the Minister's attention and ask him what action he has taken about this. In Fingal County Council, one of the biggest councils in the country, and the Blanchardstown area - Blanchardstown being the fifth biggest population area in the country - there is a massive land bank sitting idle that the council has said could provide 7,000 homes.”
“I commend Deputy Healy on bringing this motion seeking to make housing an emergency. I am gobsmacked. Here we are again looking at a sole face over on the backbenches. Not only is housing not an emergency for the Government, it is not even a priority. The Minister did not even use his full time. He had three minutes left. None of the backbenchers who have been talking about wanting to speak even bothered their barnies coming in and taking up the time the Minister did not care about. Two-thirds of under 35s living with their parents in the back bedroom, the back garden, which is the Government's latest measure, or abroad, which is where most of them are, are absolutely disgusted at the election result and the fact that we are here again with a Government that simply does not care.”
“I see this as part of a process that is happening in Europe. It is not accidental that the Taoiseach talked about the difficult times we are heading into. There was a lot of hyperbole about arson and so on, but it is the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil who have taken this decision to change standing orders to quell the Opposition. Let us be clear: there have been two days when the Dáil was disrupted. The way Government Deputies are going on, one would think it is every day of the week. The rest of the days have been padded out with irrelevant statements on things like diversion of youth from crime, to be taken this week, not tariffs, not Ukraine, not Palestine, not any of the pressing issues Government Deputies claim to want discussed.”
“There has been a halving of Taoiseach's Questions, a halving of the Order of Business and extra time for a special group, the Michael Lowry group. I remind the House that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste took the decision to ram through last week's discussion without debate. Michael Lowry, a taker of bribes and of workers' money, is welcomed back into government. Let us be clear as to what the deal was. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael could not bring him into the Government because that would be a step too far. That would be the Rubicon crossed. Michael Lowry therefore insisted on getting this special arrangement of Leaders' Questions, the office of Ceann Comhairle and the other lot as special Ministers of State. Intellectually, he towers over some of them, so I assume that is why that deal was done.”
“If I could just say this, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle: why did the gardaí ask the women why they were supporting Hamas? Obviously, they are not supporting Hamas by objecting to a genocide. Why did the gardaí also ask: "What do you think would happen to you if you were outside the White House right now?" Is this an international policing memo that is being sent, emanating from the likes of Germany and the White House?”
“Why did this happen at a very peaceful vigil, with displays marking a memorial, in effect, for the people who have been killed in Palestine? These women are nothing but peace-loving. I know many of them personally; one or two live in my constituency.”
“They then proceeded to arrest the eight women who were having a peaceful sit-down protest. The Taoiseach heard from other TDs that some of those women were strip-searched, and one was subjected to a cavity search. These are deemed sexual violence actions by Amnesty International. Why did that happen?”
“The national security of our country is being breached by increased requests for weapons flight exemptions. However, it seems that mothers are the biggest threat to security judging by the actions yesterday. I, too, want to put on the record the utterly outrageous treatment of mothers who gave up Mother's Day to peacefully hold a vigil. I was actually going to attend it myself. They had pictures of children who have been brutally killed in Gaza. They had what they call pillow babies, which are wrapped in swaddling clothes like a baby corpse. Gardaí arrived at the gate at 5.30 a.m. Nobody needed to use Leinster House at that time by the way. They took the pictures. They kicked the pillow babies in one case, which people found very offensive and insensitive.”
“----- this Government into. This is the first time we will have the cordoning off of time purely for pro-Government TDs to speak, not to be accountable to the Opposition in any way this week. I absolutely do not agree.”
“I will just finish by saying that this cannot go through as it currently stands because it is discriminatory. I ask the Minister to look at it again. I believe it will be legally challenged. When we bring forward Bills, the Government often says that they will be legally challenged because they are unconstitutional. This Bill goes against the judgment that brought it about in the first place. It is incomprehensible. I will also say that somebody can be separated or divorced but maintain a good relationship with the other person. The children can be looked after by both parents financially, emotionally and in every other way. That will be completely pulled apart by the death of one of those parents, even if they are separated, and the Minister is proposing to discriminate against them.”
“We all know that the cost of a funeral can go into the thousands depending on the type of funeral arrangements you make. Will that also go? At this current moment in time, that is linked to the bereaved partner's grant. Another issue I will raise with the Minister relates to a section in the Bill that talks about people being in intimate relationships. The Minister or the Department is to make a judgment as to whether people are in intimate relationships. Are interviews to be conducted with them or what?”
“The O'Meara judgment mentioned “the rights of all children, and obligations of their parents, irrespective of the status of their parents", so the Minister is going against that judgment as well. I am absolutely gobsmacked that the Minister would try to justify this. The financial impact the death of a parent has on families is great. It is difficult to see any justification for the introduction of laws that treat children in different ways. We are now going to discriminate against children whose parents are divorced or separated while accepting children whose parents were cohabiting. What is the Minister's rationale for this? It really defies belief. Another thing bereaved partners are entitled to if their children are in full-time education is a funeral grant.”
“This Bill came about because of a case being taken on grounds of inequality and now the Government is introducing another inequality. I ask the Minister to look at this a second time because it will be devastating for many bereaved partners. FLAC has commented on the Bill. It welcomes the expansion of the entitlement to social welfare aimed at cohabiting parents and their children, which it fought for. However, it believes the Bill goes against the Chief Justice's judgment in the O'Meara case and the recommendations of the Oireachtas social protection committee. It notes the committee recommended "retaining the current entitlement of divorced and separated partners to a survivor’s pension and ... [expanding] it to surviving qualified cohabitants". The Minister is doing the exact opposite.”
“It should be borne in mind that such people may have been coparenting, sharing children who may be in full-time education, and that their income will be dramatically affected. They may have had shared arrangements regarding custody and care of children. That partner dying is a great loss. It is probably exactly the same as if they were married. The Minister is now proposing to discriminate against such bereaved partners and their children. People who were in a relationship or who were cohabiting and who did not have any children will now be able to get this payment. I completely and fully agree with that. However, people who do have children but who were separated or divorced will not be. How does that make any sense? What is the Government's rationale for this? I do not see how it is even legal.”
“I am sharing time with Deputies Boyd Barrett and O'Gorman. I, too, took a huge interest in this Bill when I saw it come up because of people I know who have been in this situation. I am delighted that there will be a change whereby cohabitees will now be considered equal to people who are married because they feel the exact same impact from a bereavement. I really welcome that. We need to see other changes along those lines. Of course, that change only came about because somebody took a case. That was a very brave decision; fair play to him. He was supported by FLAC. I am absolutely gobsmacked and deeply disappointed that a new discrimination is going to be introduced through this bereaved partners Bill. A person who was divorced or separated will now not be able to get the bereaved partner's pension.”
“I want to finish by saying this is in line with anti-democratic measures that parliaments are taking across Europe. They are using their majorities to cut across the right to protest and democratic rights. They are doing it in the UK today cutting welfare rights-----”
“Hundreds of Taoiseach's questions will not be asked. For example, personally, in that slot, I have raised repeal when nobody else in this Dáil was interested. I raised trans healthcare and many other topics that there is no way any of the Taoiseach's backbenchers will ask him about. We heard a lot about the terrible plight of the lonely backbencher. My heart was bleeding until I remembered that these backbenchers have direct access and an inside track to Ministers. They frequently organise meetings in constituencies with Ministers to which they do not invite Opposition TDs.”
“-----and does not answer the question about Michael Lowry and doing business with him. Michael Lowry who, as I said, was found by a tribunal to have received payments in the order of at least £180,000 from somebody he gave a mobile phone licence to and who is now a multi billionaire. You do not get more corrupt than that and the Taoiseach has no qualms.”
“This is someone who gave two fingers to the public yesterday and then went and gaslit the population that he did not actually done it. Someone who can lie at the drop of a hat like that – has the Taoiseach any qualms at all about doing business with him? This Government is becoming very good at gaslighting. It is reciting a mantra of “eight minutes”. Why would the Taoiseach die on a ditch over eight minutes?”