Sarah O'Reilly
Agricultural Panel · Aontú · Ireland
“I support Senator Harmon in everything she has said. I want to raise the ongoing crisis in assessments of need and the impact this is having on families in Cavan and Monaghan. Earlier this year, I was helping a mother whose young son had been offered a place in an early intervention preschool.”
“In Cavan and Monaghan alone there are 578 overdue assessments. I commend Cara Darmody on continuing to shine a light on this issue. She is absolutely right when she says children are missing the window for early intervention. We all know that the earlier a child gets support, the better the outcome. These early years are precious.”
“Parents should not have to pay out of their own pocket because the State has failed to meet its own legal obligations. Disability teams continue to be short-staffed while many newly qualified therapists and psychologists cannot get the supervised placements and recognised experience they need to practise.”
“She has already had two near misses, as she calls them, that left her badly shaken. She describes Cavan's footpaths as being like a racetrack and says she dreads leaving her home now. That should not be the case. This is not just about an inconvenience.”
“I also welcome the delegation from Canada. They are very welcome. I have three sons living and working in Manitoba, Souris and Brandon. I bring up the issue of e-scooters. Imagine being afraid every time you step outside your own front door. That is a daily occurrence for a visually impaired woman living in Cavan town.”
“People had to take long detours just to get to school. The Department said that inspections carried out in March 26 found around 130 roads needed complete reconstruction, 440 had significant damage and several bridges could no longer be used. I believe those figures cover the entire country. My question is simple.”
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“Farmers have been vocal in saying that the programme is not working and yet, only last year, the then Minister, Deputy McConalogue, rejected very valid criticisms of the TB programme. The programme was failing for a long time. Instead of putting its hand up and admitting it was not working, the Government continued to pour millions into it. That is shocking. We now have another launch, that of the shiny new TB action plan. To be honest, however, this action plan is weak at best and watery at worst. We have to ask what is going to be the difference with this action plan. The IFA, the Irish Rural Association and the ICMSA have said there is no agreement with farmers on this plan. Under Australia's model of TB eradication, farmers and that country's department of agriculture work together and launch the plan.”
“Brazilians are protesting this deal because they know it will lead to further deforestation. Irish farmers have jumped through hoops when it comes to sustainable farming and now the EU wants to import Brazilian beef when we have the best quality produce right here. You could not make it up. If the Minister of State believes that Europe cares about Irish agriculture, he is a fool. I highlight the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Government's TB eradication programme. The total spend on the programme is 76% more than the original estimate and yet, in 2024, we had the highest incidence rate in over 20 years. Since 2018, we have seen the incidence rate gradually getting higher and higher.”
“Does he support the rearmament of military forces within the EU, because that money has to come from somewhere? Farmers are not stupid. They know that, once money is not safeguarded, the agriculture budget can and will be reduced to make way for new priorities. It is the same with the Mercosur agreement. This deal does not benefit the Irish agriculture industry at all. The Minister estimated that it will only cost the Irish beef industry €50 million but Meat Industry Ireland has estimated that it will cost €100 million to €130 million. I remind the Minister of State on the record that fishermen and Government officials were assured by Europe that Brexit would not affect Irish fishermen. That was a lie. I ask that the Minister of State to take note and take heed of what is being said.”
“Sadly, I can see the same thing happening again. It is happening in slow motion in front of our eyes, but this time it is happening to our farmers. The motion is correct in stating that there are thousands of jobs in farming, agriculture and food production but these jobs are not being protected by the current Government. The proposal by Ursula von der Leyen to remove the ring-fenced nature of the CAP is a direct threat to farmers' livelihoods. What is the Government going to do about that? Fine Gael says it is on the side of farmers and, in fact, many Fine Gael Senators and TDs are farmers and genuinely care. I hope they are not naive enough to believe that the system which obtains here and in Europe can be easily changed. If they believe that, they are in the wrong party. The Minister is not here, but I have a question for him.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming in to discuss this important motion. I thank the Fine Gael Group for putting it forward. The motion reads lovely and sounds nice. It notes the importance of agriculture to the Irish economy while totally ignoring the fact that this Government and those that preceded it have put Irish farmers to the pin of their collars through over-regulation and policy demands. I am a member of the fisheries committee. Every week I listen to the stories of heartbroken fishermen who have a real love of their industry, which is now in total breakdown as the result of over-regulation. It is widely believed, including by some Members on the Fine Gael side of the House, that the fishermen were betrayed. They were let down at every turn by the Irish Administration, by weak politicians and by quiet voices in Europe.”
“The Donegal Centre for Independent Living is an incredible facility that allows people with disabilities to attain their independence while knowing that support is there for them. Will the Department prioritise residential places and assisted living facilities in the next budget? Only having 18% of the residential places we need is just not acceptable for a country as wealthy as Ireland.”
“The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 put in place by the Government outlined that 900 people require residential support but budget 2024 and budget 2025 only allocated 166 of these places. There is no long-term care plan available for these vulnerable individuals if their caregivers die or no longer have the capacity to look after them. The truth is that there is little reassurance the Government can provide for these families. It is hard to understand why there is such a lack of future planning. I understand that the Department has to respond to emergencies as they happen, but surely there should be a focus on future-proofing. The blueprints for residential units already exist. They do not require the Department to reinvent the wheel.”
“Many of us listened to parents speaking on RTÉ radio this morning on their worry about what will happen to their children with additional needs or a disability after they die. It was difficult to hear and I cannot imagine what it is like to hope that your child will pass away before you in order that they will not have to be moved into emergency State care. These circumstances are, unfortunately, quite common. In our office, one of my colleagues, Saoirse, has a younger sister with additional needs. Her family, particularly her mother, have to deal with the stress of trying to plan for who will care for her sister in the future. There is a vacuum of information and these families do not even know where to turn for advice or support or to plan.”
“I understand that the Department is awaiting the submission of the stage 2b report from the design team. The school has made two requests to the Department in June and August for the design team to commence the prequalification process of the project, but it was denied both times. Time is money when it comes to increasing costs, be that inflation or year-on-year increases in the cost of material labour. In that context, I genuinely cannot understand why, other than for nonsensical bureaucratic reasons, this process cannot commence. I know the Department has to follow due diligence, but we are almost a year on from when planning permission was granted and we have no clear idea as to when we can expect to see the extension completed.”
“In March 2021, further accommodation was approved under the additional school accommodation scheme. This approval included four general classrooms, four special education rooms, an art and music room, a science laboratory, a library and dining facilities. This shows the Minister of State the extent of the need required in Bailieborough Community School. In December 2024, planning permission was granted for a significant three-storey extension. We are five years on from funding approval announcements and we still have not broken ground yet. I am curious as to why there is not more urgency when it comes to advancing this project. Now that planning permission has been approved, I would expect to see faster progression of commencement works on the extension.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important matter. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber. I ask for a clear timeline for the completion of the long-awaited expansion to Bailieborough Community School in County Cavan. This school has rightly been described as being the victim of its own success. That is good. My Cavan colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, raised the issue with the Taoiseach as far back as 2020, pointing out the pressure on space and the impact on students and staff. At that time, the school already had over 650 students enrolled. Today, enrolment has reached 700. Five years ago, €2 million was approved for an extension to provide additional classrooms, a multimedia room, a new science laboratory and preparation area.”
“Men are at a higher risk of premature death than women. What is shocking is how men in Traveller communities face significantly higher rates of premature death. The All Ireland Traveller Health Study was published in 2010. As a result, the data relating to this matter is 15 years old. This significantly limits our understanding of more recent trends and data. Without a clearer picture, we cannot target supports where they are most needed. I urge the Government to follow through on a previous commitment to the national men's health policy in 2009 and allocate an initial €10 million in the upcoming budget. We need to know if they ask for help there will be real accessible supports for them.”
“Nearly one quarter of the GPs surveyed shared that they were not confident treating men presenting with suicidal behaviour. In this regard, they cited a lack of crisis services, poor access to mental supports and the difficulty in getting honest communication from male patients. We have positive examples of how to tackle these issues. What we are missing is the investment to grow and expand the services that are required. Initiatives such as the men's sheds show how vital community spaces can provide men with a space to connect with one another. Out-of-hours crisis supports like the Solace Café could play the same role and offer immediate help when men most need it. People with lived experience of suicidal ideation have spoken at length about how just knowing they had a place to go made a critical difference in their lives.”
“The Real Face of Men's Health report is a major report that was commissioned by the Movember Institute of Men's Health. We are all aware, especially after Covid, how disconnected and lonely many people can feel. Too often, men struggle in silence. They are less inclined to open up about their problems. The term "toxic masculinity" has been used as a catch-all explanation for young men's frustration and isolation. This label is too simplistic. Beneath the surface, many men are wrestling with a profound absence of belonging, identity and purpose. This report lays out the stark reality of men's physical and emotional health, particularly those of young farmers. I know young men who have battled mental health difficulties and who felt they had nowhere to turn or no one to open up to. Even healthcare professionals feel unequipped.”
“I ask the Minister to please listen to parents and teachers and put a pause on these guidelines until there is proper consultation. I ask her to come into this Chamber for a debate on the issue. We need to amplify the voices of SNAs, schools and parents. We cannot allow educational guidelines to be implemented that do not tend to the needs of children or prioritise their welfare. I would appreciate if the Minister will engage with these concerns and pay attention to those directly working with children.”
“I am concerned regarding the recent published special needs assistant, SNA, review process guidelines by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. Reading through the document, it feels like the focus is all wrong. Like many parents and teachers, I was disappointed to see an emphasis on limiting supports instead of increasing them. I have been contacted by a lot of people who are so frustrated seeing the needs of our children constantly put on the back burner. There is no point in talking about prioritising children and additional educational needs and then supporting guidelines that pull back that support. These new guidelines propose a narrowing of criteria, the unification of mainstream and special class allocations and a restrictive definition of "complex needs".”
“Even on a flight, you cannot bring a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on an aeroplane because it is likely to explode. Dublin Bus is banning escooters on buses because of the likelihood of explosion or fire. These are not small sites. They are massive. One battery storage site is the size of a 40 ft container and 20 of them will be left lying in a field after their lifespan. There are no decommissioning rules so there is a risk of leakage of lithium batteries into our water supply. The response here today is not good enough. Ireland needs a comprehensive regulatory framework. We need safety standards, environmental protections, decommissioning guarantees and proper oversight. There needs to be a moratorium on the grant of planning until all of this is sorted out.”
“I welcome the acknowledgement by the Minister of State of the importance of battery storage to our energy system. I am aware of its potential as an alternative source of energy, but what is missing from his reply is any real assurance that safety, regulation and accountability are being prioritised alongside the roll-out. I am aware of Ireland's electricity storage policy framework and the procurement of 1 GW of new capacity. Where is the framework for fire safety? Where is the requirement for decommissioning bonds? Where is the clarity for local authorities that are granting permission in the absence of proper national standards and guidelines? We now have 21 stationary BESS sites connected to the grid. These are not small pilot projects. They are major industrial installations yet regulation governing them is light touch at best.”
“When contacted, that office said it is the Office of Emergency Planning. When that office was contacted, it said it is the Health and Safety Authority. When it was contacted, it told us that the local authority is responsible. From experience, I know that the local authority is wholly unaware of any procedures, policies or regulations.”
“California is now forcing developers to contribute to a fire mitigation fund. That kind of fire mitigation fund only scratches the surface. It does not deal with the risk to people, livestock or the pollution and leakage that can poison soil and water. We need to pause the roll-out of BESS sites until we have a proper evaluation process in place and there is real, statutory regulation of BESS sites. We need mandatory decommissioning bonds, fire safety standards and clear departmental responsibility. Who is dealing with the oversight of these sites? In Cavan, it seems the site is totally unsuitable and yet it initially got planning permission, although that is now being appealed. The Department of the environment has said it is the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU.”
“At Shankill, there is no water access on the site and no decommissioning bond included in the planning permission. That means if something goes wrong or when the facility reaches its 35-year lifespan, it is the local people, farmers and families, and the local authority who will be left with a massive clean-up bill. International experts have repeatedly sounded the alarm. Professor Paul Christensen, who advises the UK's National Fire Chiefs Council, has said planners here simply do not understand the hazards of lithium ion batteries. Fires at BESS sites abroad have taken days to extinguish. It took 24 hours for a fire to be put out in Essex. In Liverpool, it took 59 hours to put out a major fire. Earlier this year in California, 1,500 people had to be evacuated after a major fire.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad this morning and attending the Commencement debate. I want to raise the lack of regulation of battery energy storage system sites, otherwise known as BESS. In July, the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy discussed BESS. Much of the discussion related to speeding up the roll-out. There was no meaningful focus on fire safety, environmental risk or proper regulation. That omission is worrying because communities across Ireland will be living beside these facilities with very real hazards and no real regulatory framework to protect people or the environment. In Cavan, permission has been granted for two major BESS facilities at Shankill Lower and Pottle, despite multiple objections.”
“Separately, I urge legislation be brought forward that would entitle the individual to have someone advocate on his or her behalf.”
“Mental Health Reform has called for a strict 72-hour maximum limit for an emergency situation. After that point, a child needs to be placed in an age-appropriate setting, where he or she can receive care from a paediatric psychiatrist. General psychiatrists are not trained to deal with children. There is no independent complaints mechanism outlined in the Bill. People are expected to complain to the very same service that is detaining and treating them. That is not independence and it will not build trust. An individual will not feel safe or confident having to report issues or abuse to the service itself. While the intention of the Bill is positive, it has lost a lot of substance that mental health advocates were hoping to see. There needs to be amendments to this Bill.”
“The Bill also removes previous safeguards around consent and capacity. A person may be treated involuntarily for up to six weeks before any proper capacity assessment takes place. Section 51 even allows treatment to begin against a person's will, even if he or she has capacity. That is a very low bar for such a serious interference in people's lives and rights. We cannot forget the treatment of children. The Bill continues to allow for children to be placed in adult psychiatric units, which is a direct breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I know the number of children being admitted to adult units is reducing at the minute, which is good, as such admissions are not appropriate and place children in an incredibly uncomfortable situation during an already distressing time.”
“We all remember the isolation of Covid when elderly and vulnerable people were left alone in hospitals and nursing homes without anyone to speak on their behalf or ensure their voice was heard. It is easy to say that this will never happen again, but without any concrete legislation that promise is of little reassurance. There are issues with the Bill itself. It still allows for involuntary admission and treatment on the word of a psychiatrist. There is no parity here with psychologists or others on the multidisciplinary team and treatment is defined so broadly that what one clinician sees as beneficial may be completely different from the person himself or herself. A person may wish to pursue another form of therapy or treatment but have no choice in whether he or she is prescribed medication.”
“I thank the Minister of State for attending. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. While there are some positive changes, glaring gaps are not addressed. One of the most significant omissions is a statutory right to advocacy. It is a very scary prospect to be faced with a multidisciplinary team when you are at your most vulnerable. People who face involuntary admission or treatment are left without an independent voice to stand beside them and look after their best interests. Families and advocates know the system and they can work alongside the medical teams to give that person reassurance and let them know they are supported. Scotland, England and Wales all have this protection in law. We should ensure that Irish people are afforded the same protection.”
“The establishment was afraid of Maria Steen getting onto the ballot paper. They wanted a three-way race to limit the chances of a candidate other than their own succeeding. Their will has been done. If you believe that your candidate is accomplished enough to be the President of Ireland, you should not shy away from their positions being tested by an alternative viewpoint. Maria Steen would have been a truly formidable addition to the presidential ballot and I can only presume that is the exact reason she was kept off it. The phrase "death by a thousand cuts" comes to mind.”
“Up until the last minute, people were contacting Senators and TDs to plead with them to ensure there was a candidate present at those debates who represents them and their views. I am heartened by the vast number of people who truly appreciate and support a candidate who stands for dignity and truth. Sadly, we have a political class who have ignored their electorate by dismissing the very councillors who voted for them. Having Maria Steen on the ballot would have allowed a large portion of society who feel unheard and unseen to be represented. We have lost an opportunity for respectful debate where ideas and opinions could be tested. Now that part of society will not have their voices heard throughout the presidential debates. It is sad for me to stand here today and see an entire section of society going unheard and ignored.”
“First, I commend the incredible work done by Maria Steen, her team and the various TDs and Senators who committed to signing her nomination papers. A huge range of Oireachtas Members had pledged their support to another candidate but recognised the importance of protecting and amplifying democracy by lending their signatures to her nomination papers. I thank them for that. There was demand from the public and across the political spectrum to see Maria Steen's name on the presidential ballot. It was impressive to see over 100 independent councillors sign a petition to nominate Maria. They had to work across the country to do that. It is truly a huge blow to me and to people who think like me that, despite this support, she has missed out on getting onto the ballot by only two signatures.”
“It is going to dramatically increase the monthly homelessness figures and cause huge tension on the ground and competition for resources. What is the point or logic in moving migrants from IPAS hotels into a local authority homelessness hotel? It seems the Government just wants to pass this problem to the local authority rather than deal with it. We cannot magic up services and housing. I cannot understand why that would be in any way controversial to discuss. If we want a functional immigration system, then we need to acknowledge the lack of capacity. The Government's current system amounts to stretching a single blanket across ten people and in the end someone is left cold.”
“Back in July, the Government said that 2,000 people currently in migrant accommodation, who have been granted asylum and are permitted to stay in Ireland, are to be effectively evicted from the IPAS accommodation they are in and thrown in the direction of county councils and emergency homelessness accommodation. The system is not able for that. We are saying clearly that this plan must be reversed. I want clarity today on whether the Government is proceeding with this. We cannot put 2,000 refugees on top of our homelessness system, which does not appear to have any spare beds the moment. It is a stupid and inhumane plan that is going to make migrants homeless. It is going to make locals less likely to get an emergency bed.”
“We need to look at the number of people coming into the country legally as well as illegally. The number of work visas issued has quadrupled, from around 10,000 a year ago to nearly 40,000. We do not have the capacity to keep up with the number of work visas being issued. Of course people are frustrated when planning applications for estates are overturned while a wealthy few are profiting off IPAS centres that are exempt from planning laws. The loopholes that allow IPAS accommodation providers to bypass the planning process must be closed immediately.”
“I sometimes think I am living in a parallel universe, sitting here listening to people make statements about immigration that some of us would have been lambasted for making a year ago. It is interesting to see Government representatives and others catch up with what the rest of us have been talking about for the last few years. We have the worst housing shortage in living memory yet we are seeing net migration of 60,000. That is equivalent to the population of Monaghan. Last year, the Government promised up to 40,000 new homes yet the CSO has confirmed that it delivered only 30,000. We see planning permission overturned for housing estates due to population targets and at the same time, hotels are quietly contracted for emergency accommodation, which has led to some devastating effects on our tourism industry.”
“They are moving from first class to second class to third class and all the while they are waiting for additional support that is constantly pushed back. We hear promises of new classrooms moved from the first quarter of 2023 to the fourth quarter of 2025. It is simply not good enough. I have submitted a Commencement matter on the issue of Bailieborough Community School as we are five years out since funding was announced for a new build and there is still no progress. The INTO’s prebudget submission is not radical; it is basic common sense. We need to reduce class sizes, properly fund special education, invest in school buildings and ensure fair pay to keep talented teachers in the classroom. Every single euro we invest in our young people is quite literally an investment in Ireland’s future.”
“This is holding students back and children with additional needs are missing out on the support they need to progress. It is concerning that, when we are seeing such pressure on schools, the Government is issuing warnings to the Department of children and the Department of education to cut their overspends. The Department is being told to cut overspend but this overspend is definitely not being seen in the lived experience of teachers and students. There are real gaps in funding and the gap is paid by parents, who are asked to voluntarily contribute to keep the lights on, and by teachers, who are digging into their own pockets to buy classroom materials. What the Government seems to forget is that, while it operates at a snail's pace, our children are growing up.”
“I too welcome Martin Hughes and wish him well in his role. I also wish Bridget Doody a long and happy retirement. Over the last month, I have been inundated with emails from parents, teachers and principals of schools in Cavan-Monaghan. They are all saying the same thing, which is that our education system is under severe strain. Ireland now has the largest class sizes in the EU. The average primary class here has 22.5 pupils, which can be compared with the EU average of 19. I have spoken to parents whose children are sitting in classes of nearly 30 pupils. No teacher, no matter how dedicated or skilled, can give each child the attention he or she deserves in those conditions. Last year, there were 40,000 primary school children in supersized classes of 30 or more.”
“According to the executive of Cavan County Council, it will take 40 years and €220 million to get our roads up to an acceptable standard. The Government is literally and politically patching over this problem. Rural communities like those in Cavan and Monaghan deserve more than token increases that barely keep pace with inflation. We need a serious sustained investment that addresses the backlog in funding and restores our roads to a safe reliable standard. I have asked for a Commencement debate a few times on this and it has never been picked. In the next term, I would like to have a Commencement debate with the Minister.”
“People should be able to commute to and from work without worrying about ripping the wheel of their car. People pay motor tax, fuel tax, tolls and full excise. The least they should expect is the roads they travel on are safe. There may be an increase in funding, but there is an actual reduction in the number of kilometres of local and regional roads being maintained. When I started in the council in 2016, we were doing 23 km in our municipal district. Last year, we did 11 km. These incremental rises in the early budget do not cover the increase in cost of materials or match the rate of inflation. Given the cumulative deficit in road funding during the 15-year period, there needs to be a much higher allocation in funding if we are to see our roads improve.”
“I raise the issue of the roads in counties Cavan and Monaghan. They are in such poor condition that drivers are getting seasick, particularly those who drive tractors and there are many of those. Earlier this year, I welcomed the announcement from the Department of Transport that there was an 11% increase in funding for rural roads in Cavan and Monaghan. This increase, however, does not allow for the shortfall in the funding between 2008 and 2023. Over this 15-year period, we saw a €105 million shortfall in the funding for our road network in repair and maintenance. Cavan has the highest NCT failure rate in the country with steering and suspension issues being the number one issue. These problems are directly linked to the poor condition of our roads. It is no coincidence that vehicles are failing where the roads are at their worst.”
“For example, the Government's terms mean that the commission, after the investigation is over, cannot come out and say that children were failed by the Department of education. If this is the case, why bother with the commission at all? We need to do right by survivors here today. The Government needs to listen to them and to Opposition parties before it fully nails down the terms of reference. Our first priority must be to those who were abused. I ask the Minister to inform the House today if any consultation with survivors of sexual abuse in schools was done before producing these terms of reference. Aontú is cautious of this proposal and certainly the terms need changes, amendments and corrections before we commit our full support. We need to be absolutely confident that the terms allow for justice to be achieved.”
“The other problem I have with the terms is that they permit the commission to come back to the Government to change the terms to allow for a time extension. It is so predictable that this will happen for sure. The final report will be delayed for years. Then we will have a long-drawn-out discussion about redress and most of these survivors will be deceased by the time any redress is available. In other countries, it is normal practice that when commissions of inquiry uncover criminal activity, they are mandated to report that to the police. These terms of reference provide no such mandate and go so far as to prohibit the commission from making statements of fact about organisations or individuals.”
“I thank the Minister for coming in today to discuss this important issue. I welcome that we are going to have a commission of investigation into sexual abuse in schools over several decades. I read the draft terms of reference for the commission of investigation last night and I am concerned about some of the wording and provisions in it. In recent weeks we have had legislation from Senator Eileen Flynn about the importance of language when talking about child abuse. People from across the political spectrum supported that legislation. These terms of reference provide a very strange definition of child abuse which is sanitised and shows a disregard for the victim. It is not appropriate to describe the sexual abuse of a child as an interaction for sexual gratification. That definition needs to change because it is disgusting.”
“The RSA, banks and other organisations and agencies know this is happening but cannot do anything to prevent it. There is a serious gap in our legal framework. ComReg and the Government must do more. This means tighter oversight of telecoms and payment systems, criminalising passing off and giving customers real-time warnings and better recovery tools.”
“One scam that has been going around recently is where a person receives a text saying, "Hi mum, I lost my phone. Can you send me some money?" Many people have fallen victim to this as it is a realistic message to receive. I know one person who fell victim to it and was conned out of €1,500. The payment was traced back to a bank in Longford but it could not be recovered. People are being scammed out of their hard-earned cash and these are not rare or isolated incidents. They happen every day. I was caught out by copycat websites, with one pretending to be the RSA with regard to paying for a driver licence, a hotel in Dublin and the Canadian Government with regard to an ETA. These companies mimic legitimate businesses to deceive people. Under Irish law this passing off is not treated as criminal.”
“I want to raise the issue of the increase in scams. Research conducted by FraudSMART shows that 78% of Irish adults are being targeted by scam text messages, emails, calls or online content at least monthly. I know of a woman who used an online portal for a job application only to realise it was a fraudulent website when it asked for her debit card details. We often joke about the early days of scam emails, when an individual posing as a prince or a millionaire would offer millions of euro if someone inputted their details. These were primitive and often it was clear they were fake but scams have become more convincing and sophisticated. They come in the form of text messages from Amazon, An Post, eFlow, customs and banks contacting people. Some of these messages are particularly targeted at parents or the elderly.”
“I have a document that set pout the timelines for when the other three services were to be implemented. They still have not been implemented although the date they were to be operational was quarter 3 of 2023. I therefore have a question for the Minister of State. There is still no direct route to Dublin from Bailieborough and there is no express or direct route from Cavan to Dublin either. When will the enhanced route 108, the proposed extension from Bailieborough to Canningstown and Cootehill be operational? I want a timeline for its commencement. It was proposed the new Local Link service from Cootehill, Shercock and Bailieborough to Virginia would commence in quarter 3 of 2023 and it is still not operational. I support Senator Blaney in what he said about the A5 and N2 routes, which are extremely important for the north west as well.”
“I also assisted the community and enterprise section of Cavan County Council to put together its submission, which clearly showed the huge gaps in public transport in our county. There was huge engagement by people. Cavan made 53 submissions to the public consultation while Longford made three and Monaghan made six. Cavan was to the fore in getting opinions out there about how under-served we are. The connectivity is very poor. The list of proposed new enhanced routes was launched with the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan 2023. It included six routes for Cavan, which was a high percentage of the planned routes. It was great news and we felt that it would be implemented. I had seen many plans come and go and felt this one really would happen. Of the six routes proposed for Cavan, only three have been implemented and are operational.”
“I was informed by the NTA in 2021, after four years of campaigning, that Bailieborough would get a Local Link service connecting the local towns of Shercock, Cootehill and Bailieborough with a regular bus service in Virginia that serves Cavan and Dublin. That was never implemented because the NTA decided a whole-of-Ireland rural mobility plan would be started. I felt at the time that if we were going to do it, we might as well do it right and appreciated it would take another few years. Cavan County Council held a special meeting with councillors in December 2021 and we put together submissions for the entire county. I was the lead on that and along with other councillors I also made individual submissions and encouraged local groups, such as development associations, men's sheds and hen's sheds, to do the same.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming. This subject is close to my heart. When I became a councillor in 2016, I realised that the two biggest issues in our county were a lack of roads funding and a lack of public transport. Since then I have not stopped banging on doors looking for what the people of Cavan deserve in infrastructure. I live in Bailieborough. It is the second largest town in the county and we had one bus service, a Link bus service, that left the town to go to Kells at 9.30 a.m. That departure time meant that it was not a service for students or people going to work, so I do not know what it was. I therefore started a campaign to expose how badly served the county was with public transport, bearing in mind that Cavan does not have any rail network.”