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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“What outcomes are being achieved and why are stocks continuing to collapse? To see fish kills happening in multiple lakes and rivers without any explanation is both unacceptable and unjustifiable. There needs to be more accountability from IFI. To move on to fisheries and the marine, the Minister of State referred earlier to extreme elements within Parliament. To what was the Minister of State referring? I have seen my colleagues standing up for fishermen and for fishing communities time and time again. Most of us get very passionate about it, which is admirable because it means that we really care. The real problem here is that the Irish fishing industry is being slowly phased out but the Government is more or less pretending that this is not happening.”
“More than two dozen whistleblower complaints have been made in recent years, leading to external investigations and deep concern among staff and stakeholders alike. In some cases prosecutions against polluters were dropped due to basic administrative failures. That is totally unacceptable and should be looked into. It is hard to place trust in IFI when it cannot seem to get its own house in order. We have seen multiple cases like Blackwater in Cork and Lough Sheelin in Cavan, where IFI was not able to detect a direct pollutant source. It is difficult for me, anglers and the general public to accept this or to understand how the IFI could be so unreliable. Habitat restoration has been set back years and the hundreds of thousands of euro spent on restoring fish stocks has just gone down the drain.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House today. At the moment there is a lot of frustration with Inland Fisheries Ireland because of its governance issues and the level of habitat destruction we are seeing in our lakes and rivers. Recent audits and scrutiny have revealed financial and governance failures in Inland Fisheries Ireland. For example, there were 52 staff credit cards in 2020 that totalled over €148,000 in spending. That figure has reduced somewhat in recent years but it is still excessive for an organisation of IFI's size. A fleet of IFI vehicles was found to have 15 hired vehicles that were uninsured in 2021 and when one of those was involved in a crash, it cost the taxpayer €230,000, all because of a failure to insure the vehicles.”
“He essentially asked if CEOs who are anti-Government or anti-immigration could be excluded from winning State contracts. Why should the best company be excluded from winning a State contract because it is anti-Government? We can protect children by banning smartphones and pornography and by embedding watermarks in AI content. Mandating digital ID to use social media is completely unjustified and opens the door to mass State surveillance and data breaches.”
“Instead of safeguarding children, the Government’s response is to introduce mandatory digital identification for social media. This will force people to hand over sensitive personal data to identity brokers that have no legitimate need to process it. We are told this is necessary for child protection but we are more than capable of protecting our data and our children ourselves. Irish and EU courts have repeatedly held that administrative convenience is not a sufficient justification for interference with our fundamental rights. The last thing we want to see is State-run social media where only one narrative or viewpoint is tolerated. At a recent AI committee, Deputy Ó Cearúil raised concerns about the values of CEOs who may tender for State contracts.”
“The use of AI to create sexual abuse material is wrong. The Internet is saturated with this material and there are no restrictions on who can access it and no protections for children. The fixation on X is totally missing the point. Banning, deleting or cancelling X will not stop child sexual abuse material from being created. A Google search will bring up far more explicit results. It feels like there is some scapegoating here, and it is targeted at one company in particular, instead of acknowledging Government failures to protect children. We have seen numerous cases of people getting suspended sentences for having child sexual abuse material. The Government could legislate for harsher sentences and it does not. Why all the focus on X when victims of child sexual abuse are being failed by the Irish courts?”
“Eight years of funding just to get to the stage where they can begin to review the relief measures. The Government has spun a web of bureaucracy and cannot seem to get out of it. The people in Cavan and Monaghan want to know why funding has been cut and if they will have to wait eight more years before flood relief measures are put in place.”
“In 2025, that figure fell to €463,000, a cut of €45,000. I simply cannot see any logic in that decision. Anyone who uses the roads knows they are not being improved. If anything, the condition is worsening and the roads are under extreme pressure. Then there is the Cavan flood relief scheme. This scheme was introduced in 2018 and eight years later, there have been no real deliverables on it. There have been workshops, plans and surveys, but nothing that will actually protect our roads, homes and businesses from flooding. Eight years on, we are still only at the development stage. This stage involves the review of all potential flood relief measures to identify a list of potential viable measures that could be implemented for flood protection. What is going on in the county?”
“The level of flooding we are seeing in Cavan and Monaghan is really sad. The reason it is sad is because it is preventable in the main. Homes are being flooded, businesses are being damaged and, in some cases, roads have been badly affected and are impassable. Basic routine maintenance is one of the easiest ways to help prevent flooding. Keeping drains and gullies clear should be a top priority. If we know bad weather is coming, these jobs should be stepped up, not scaled back. Running water causes damage to roads and the simplest way to limit that damage is to keep water off the roads in the first place. Does the council have the funding to keep up basic maintenance? By that, I mean the cleaning of gullies, drains and scheuchs and the filling of potholes. In 2021, Cavan County Council received €508,000 for ordinary maintenance.”
“Being warm saves people's lives. More people die of hyperthermia than of effects from air pollution. That is a fact. It is about clarity in the Bill. The Minister of State said the intention of the Bill is this, that and the other but everything comes down to interpretation. I am looking for guarantees that domestic users will not be prosecuted. It is not specified anywhere in the legislation who the regulatory powers are aimed at. Maybe I am very stupid. That is what this comes down to. How do we guarantee, unless it is copper-fastened in legislation, that homeowners will not be pursued eventually down the road in years to come?”
“In rural Ireland, they are keeping so many of our traditions and heritage alive, including lighting a fire in the family hearth. I urge the Minister of State to support this amendment and to let rural Ireland know that the Government is not targeting families using solid fuels to stay warm. There is no clarification in the legislation that differentiates between householders, homeowners and commercial or business interests.”
“It does not specify if it will be for industry or commercial purposes or if individuals lighting a fire in their own house could be liable. That is the problem. This is particularly concerning for older people and people living in rural areas. I am conscious that this could be interpreted in a way that brings ordinary householders within the scope of enforcement measures that were never intended for them. My amendment ensures that this legislation is not designed to criminalise or unfairly target individuals who are heating their homes, often out of necessity, and often because they have no viable alternative. We must distinguish between rogue commercial operators who are flouting the law and families who are simply trying to keep their homes warm in the context of rising energy costs and fuel poverty.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I will reiterate the discussion I previously had with him. My amendment relates specifically to section 53B. It is intended to bring much needed clarity to householders and local authorities. As the Bill is currently drafted, it is not clear whether the regulation on burning fuels is intended to apply to ordinary domestic households or whether it is confined to commercial operators and large-scale suppliers. During the previous debate, I appreciate that the Minister of State made remarks and clarifications that this would not apply to ordinary homeowners trying to heat their home, but there is a lack of clarity when the Bill speaks about regulatory powers concerning the burning of fuel.”
“I move amendment No. 2: In page 22, line 34, after “fuels” to insert the following: “; other than the domestic use or burning of solid fuels for the purposes of home heating in a private dwelling, including in rural areas and in households where no affordable alternative source of heating is available”.”
“The level of misinformation they put out is shocking and often goes totally unchecked. Many teachers are simply not comfortable using anything other than a student's given name and biological pronouns. No publicly funded guide should lead teachers to believe that they will be referred to the WRC for acknowledging biological reality.”
“The guide was produced so people can know their rights but it has no basis in Irish law. I do not think the taxpayer would consider this money was well spent. Not only were parents and teachers given advice that was false, but the guide is completely inflammatory. It advises gender-questioning students that if they are unhappy with how their school processes a complaint, they should take things further and go to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. To me, that is outrageous. Teachers have legitimate concerns regarding gender-questioning students and they could find themselves referred to the WRC if they will not use preferred pronouns. NGOs like Transgender Equality Network Ireland, TENI, ShoutOut and Belong To are not elected bodies, but they shape policy and public debate. They are being backed by huge amounts of taxpayers' money.”
“There is a guide being circulated by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, that educates gender-questioning students on their rights within school. It would be one thing to focus on the need for respect and tolerance, but this guide offers very troubling and contradictory information. It tells schools that teachers have a legal requirement to use students' preferred pronouns. Only after a statement from the Department of education did schools, teachers and parents learn that there is no legal requirement for this. Questions must be asked. First, why has a guide that is factually incorrect been circulated by the ICCL? Second, why did the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is a publicly funded body, provide €18,000 for a misleading publication?”
“The Government is always worried about being the best boys in Europe, but we can still be in the gang with strong leadership that puts Ireland, our citizens and their interests first.”
“We do not want to support the purchase of arms or weapons. Humanitarian aid is important, but there must be a limit. If the Government is unable to support people with disabilities because of budget constraints, I suggest we have met that limit. I understand there are mechanisms in this loan to prevent corruption but people who are embezzling money rarely stand up and announce it. Ukraine has well-documented corruption, including the recent €100 million embezzlement scandal linked to Zelenskyy's friend and former chief of staff. There is no guarantee for Irish taxpayers as to where or how money is being spent overseas. I cannot support the approval of this loan.”
“I support Sinn Féin's amendment because to me it is clear that we should not support or ratify this loan. We have no guarantees regarding how this loan will be spent or its potential to be spent on military equipment and arms. We have a long-standing history of neutrality. Time and again, every opinion poll has indicated that the Irish public puts immense value on our neutrality. Instead of signing off on loans that could contribute to further military warfare, we should be facilitating peace talks and being a diplomatic presence in the midst of worldwide global instability. We have done our bit for the Ukrainian people and for Ukrainian refugees. Only a few months ago, in December, the Taoiseach gave €125 million to Ukraine for humanitarian support. The Government and the EU have to respect the neutrality of member states.”
“We need to put indigenous industry front and centre. The Government could take small steps to support small businesses, like a PRSI rebate or a reform of the commercial rates system. National economic policy should prioritise indigenous businesses that will not simply up and leave if conditions are better elsewhere.”
“It is worrying to see that the Government is not trying to address this over-reliance on FDI. One of our biggest indigenous exports is agriculture, yet we see Government MEPs supporting the Mercosur trade deal. This would decimate the Irish beef industry, yet there has been virtually no real opposition from the Government. Multinationals can up and move, but our farmers are tied to the land. They are rooted in this country and the Government needs to fully support one of our most valuable indigenous exports. If someone is self-employed in Ireland, they face high PRSI, USC, VAT, commercial rates, insurance, energy bills, the rising minimum wage and now the new auto-enrolment scheme. They take all the risk, create local jobs and keep towns alive, yet they are treated as an afterthought in national policy.”
“I too give my condolences to the Cathaoirleach and the family of Brian Crowley. It is only a month into 2026 and many small businesses across the country are struggling to get by. Our economy is heavily reliant on foreign multinationals, while Irish-owned businesses struggle to survive. Foreign direct investment, FDI, in Ireland is worth more than 2.5 times our entire economy. It is scary that we are that reliant on it. Over 80% of corporation tax now comes from foreign companies. Around 70% of our exports come from multinationals and nearly 70% of that investment comes from America alone. That means our public finances, jobs and budget are heavily dependent on decisions made in foreign boardrooms. A change in US tax rules, a trade dispute or a company restructuring could hit our economy really hard.”
“The advertisement relating to his position stated that candidates had outline in their applications any potential conflicts of interest. Did this happen? Were any conflicts declared? Did the Minister know? Both of these lads need to be hauled before the Oireachtas committee in order that there can be proper scrutiny of their actions. This is a major scandal. Hard-working farmers deserve answers because they have been betrayed by the very entity that is supposed to be looking out for them. I have made a written complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission asking it to investigate whether all necessary declarations were made and to check whether there were any breaches of legislation. Farmers need answers in respect of this matter.”
“The information brought to light by the Beef Plan Movement in relation to Bord Bia is explosive. The fact that Brazilian beef was brought into this country by a company whose CEO is also the chairperson of Bord Bia is extremely damning and undermines public confidence in Bord Bia. Bord Bia is supposed to be promoting Irish beef. However, its chairman’s company is bringing in Brazilian beef. That is scandalous. Irish beef farmers feel betrayed. This news has broken at a time when Irish beef has never been under so great a threat internationally. There are serious questions for Bord Bia and the Department of agriculture to answer. This man was appointed to Bord Bia by the former Minister for agriculture, Deputy Charlie McConalogue.”
“Is that happening in Ireland? It should be noted that the Minister for Health recently apologised to the family of Baby Christopher, who was aborted after a misdiagnosis of a life-limiting condition. It is the least that can be offered to with such profound grief. It is a very sad state of affairs that we have people who want to offer greater protection to foxes than to unborn children.”
“Over the past few weeks, we have seen activists in front on Leinster House with placards and images denouncing fox hunting. Their arguments are rooted in empathy for these small, defenceless creatures. Where is that empathy for the child in the womb? People Before Profit want to remove all legal protections for unborn children and legalise the provision of abortion up to nine months - a baby. Women are being betrayed by our abortion system. Between 2019 and 2022, there were 84 children born alive after failed abortion procedures. That is incredibly traumatic for the doctor, the parents and the baby. There is no clarity around the term "comfort care". In fact, what standards are in place for babies who are born alive? We do know in other countries that babies born alive have been left to die with no medical care.”
“I congratulate the Knockbride ladies who came to Dublin to play in an all-Ireland final last Saturday and won. They played superbly. In that game the winner was football. It was an absolutely brilliant game of football. I congratulate them. They came to Dublin with the cup on Monday and there were great celebrations. I wish the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Leader a happy Christmas, and thank all of the staff in the Oireachtas for their help and good work guiding us during the year. Last night, I could not get over the irony of what was happening, with People Before Profit putting forward a Bill to ban fox hunting while simultaneously pushing their extreme abortion Bill. To me, it is the very definition of cognitive dissonance.”
“It is just nonsense that a 20-year-old and a 19-year-old could be doing the same job but only one of them gets the minimum wage. I encourage the Government to support this Bill and if they are hesitant to support it, they should please try to imagine what it is like to live on €8 per hour.”
“A first-year apprentice is earning only €7.67 an hour. It is hardly surprising that there has been a 20% drop-out rate among apprentices over a three-year period. How can we tell people to go into the trades when four hours of work will just cover the cost of the fuel to get to work? There are people who want to change careers and are interested in potentially becoming an electrician or a carpenter, but they cannot do so because the financial blow would be too great to bear. Internships are also a great opportunity for young people but, unfortunately, they can be exploited. We see young people working full-time hours and getting little to no reimbursement. That is totally wrong, and it excludes young people from brilliant opportunities if they cannot afford to go weeks or months unpaid.”
“I thank Senators Cosgrove and Harmon for bringing this Bill forward. It is important legislation because I and other Senators come into the Chamber every week to talk about the cost of living. Everything has become so expensive. We have seen increases in the cost of energy, groceries, motor tax, tolls and fuel - you name it. People from Cavan are spending approximately €30 per day on return trips to Dublin for work. As Senator Pauline O'Reilly said, young apprentices in our town leave at approximately 5.30 a.m. They spend two and a half hours in traffic sitting on the M50 and then return. It is a huge cost to them. I genuinely believe there is value in having to work your way towards a goal and in learning on the job, but the current rate of pay for young people and apprentices is degrading.”
“You might as well close the gates on Killybegs and Castletownbere after the decision in Europe. The question must be asked. We have been a net contributor to Europe since 2013. What is in it for us? The EU speaks of solidarity but there has been no solidarity for Irish fishermen. They have been totally abandoned and have no option but to make a stand and make it clear to Europe that the Irish people are not pushovers. We must bring this to court.”
“Where is the fairness for Ireland or our coastal communities in this? Make no mistake about it: it is going to be the exact same for our beef farmers if the Mercosur deal is pushed through. Fishermen were guaranteed the Hague preferences as their safeguard. They were deceived, much like the beef farmers are being deceived by the proposed safeguards for them. I know, and Irish farmers know, that if Mercosur is passed, any safeguards will be in name only. As long as the bigger EU states are thriving and using Ireland as a stepping stone to get ahead, there will not be a second thought paid to our industries. It is estimated that our fishing sector will lose €200 million next year and the estimated loss for beef farmers would be around €135 million if Mercosur is passed.”
“After the recent EU meeting on fisheries, it feels like the efforts put in by fishing communities, the fishing industry, me and colleagues on the fisheries committee were completely pointless. We are gutted with the results. Belgium's coastline is barely longer than Wicklow's and yet it gets 16 times more quota than Irish fishermen. Our waters are rich in resources but our fishermen cannot fish these resources. They must sit with their boats tied up and watch while other countries like Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands pillage and plunder our natural resources. Consecutive governments have sold out our sugar beet farmers, turfcutters and fishermen. They have sat back and watched our country being robbed. Countries like Norway make €15 billion a year on seafood exports but our fishermen now have to rely on subsidies.”
“It is incredibly disappointing that these amendments were ruled out of order and the Government is unwilling to recognise the suffering and hardship people endure unless it happened after 29 March 2024. I will reiterate the point I made on Thursday, that there needs to be an investigation and a public inquiry into what has happened with defective concrete blocks.”
“Families accepted them because they had no other option. Since the scheme began in July 2023, just 229 homes have been remediated in Donegal. If even a conservative estimate of 20,000 homes ultimately need to be rebuilt, at this pace it would take more than 200 years. This is a crisis that is being handed down from one generation to the next. The amendments that have been ruled out of order also matter because early movers have been left behind. The 8.7% grant increase, based on March 2024 construction costs, was already out of date when it became law. The previous housing Minister promised people would not be left behind, yet 43 homeowners now find themselves excluded and abandoned.”
“I know we are on amendment No. 16, but amendments Nos. 13 and 15 were ruled out of order and I want to mention them and why they were so important. Ruling them out of order sends a very clear message to families that it does not matter if their home is crumbling around them because it is the timing that determines whether they are recognised. We have been repeatedly told that there has been significant progress under the enhanced defective concrete block scheme, but when you look at the facts, that claim falls apart. While 229 homes are listed as completed, only 121 received the correct science-based solution, namely, full demolition and rebuild required. Nearly half of those homes, 108 in total, were given partial or mixed repairs. These fixes are now widely accepted to be inadequate and may need to be redone in the future.”
“It is not fine and the Bill will not fix the problem. It is also not realistic. We need nothing less than a 100% redress scheme that is fair and accessible. I agree with Deputy Ward that there needs to be a public inquiry into how this went so badly wrong for the people of Donegal. The Minister of State must listen to the people who are trying to talk to him. I agree with the Senators from Donegal who spoke about the trauma. There is going to be generational trauma from this for years to come. These people need support. They need the Minister of State to listen and to be able to change if he feels it should be done, not because somebody says he cannot.”
“People who are living in those homes and who have lived experiences spent hours painstakingly putting together amendments only for the Government to turn around and reject every one of them. Anyone connected to this redress scheme should go and visit Donegal. The attitude seems to be that the Government knows best. Pat The Cope Gallagher, a Government TD, said that the current set-up is not working. He is right. What homeowners are going through - costs, accommodation, funding, bureaucracy, time, the delay for test results - is a never-ending, exhausting and complicated mess. Why are families waiting nine or ten months to find out what they already know? No family should be put through that. There is inequality regarding postcodes. The pyrite scheme in Leinster got 100% redress with very little battling.”
“It was a real eye-opener for me to go up there and see exactly what is happening. Anyone who is dealing with this issue, who is drawing up regulations or Bills, or administering or advising should go up there and see what is happening. It puts it in perspective. I went into the Dáil Chamber with Senator Manus Boyle yesterday and watched the amendments. I watched every one of Deputy Charles Ward's amendments being refused. Charles Ward had 18 pages of amendments to the Bill and the Government rejected every one of them last night. It also refused amendments proposed by the Opposition. I have been to Donegal and visited homes affected by defective concrete. As other Members said, I could have put my fist through the walls. People's homes are crumbling before their eyes.”
“Well done to Senators Gallagher and Boyle. Senator Blaney was in here earlier and he was more defensive. He said there has been real progress with the scheme. I disagree with him. If there had been real progress made and people were satisfied, the 100% Redress Party would not have had four councillors and one TD elected. The people of Donegal voted with their feet. They are not satisfied. They are not happy. They are fighting for their lives and for support. They felt they had to go outside the normal parties to get that. The people who are suffering and living the nightmare that is happening in Donegal got themselves elected and got themselves here. When I canvassed in Donegal last February, I met Joy Beard. I pulled up at her house. It is only half there. She lives in a caravan behind her house.”
“I cannot understand why it would pull funding from a much-needed and much-appreciated service that supports our most vulnerable people. I wish the best of luck to the Knockbride ladies' intermediate Gaelic football team. They are going to Croke Park this Saturday to meet a Galway team in the all-Ireland club championship final. If you knew Knockbride, it is a tiny parish in rural Cavan. All there is is a shop, a church and a pub. It is a small parish with a huge heart. The team will be stepping out for their county and their club at Croke Park on Saturday and I wish them the very best of luck. I also recognise their sponsors. In a small parish like this, it is usually the local businesses and they do great work in supporting local teams. I wish them the best of luck.”
“The recent budget offered pensioners a €10 increase in their old age pension, but this minor increase has been totally wiped out by the decision to remove State funding for medical blister packs. Pensioners will now have to pay around €50 a month to get their medical blister packs. It is a fantastic device because it divides up medication and helps to avoid any confusion. It simplifies taking tablets for people who are taking multiple types of medication. Ireland is increasingly beginning to feel like no country for older men. People who have worked hard, contributed for years to the State and are already struggling to make ends meet find this decision to cut funding incredibly disheartening. I encourage the Government to review this decision.”
“Contribution rates will rise from 1.5% to 6% over a few years, yet the State has not provided long-term guarantees in respect of its own top-up, the maximum contribution cap or even the rules that will apply when people eventually reach retirement age. Workers and employers are being asked to commit to a scheme the core conditions of which may shift beneath their feet. We must also be mindful of small businesses. They are being placed under pressure in the absence of the practical guidance they need. Many SMEs are struggling to get by and between sick days, extra bank holidays, minimum wage increases and operating costs, particularly energy, this is just another expense they have to worry about. I recognise the intention behind the Bill but I am concerned about the impact for people already struggling to get by.”
“They simply cannot afford to see a single cent taken out of their pay, yet the Government expects them to remain enrolled on the scheme for six months before they can opt out. That period might seem short from a policy perspective. For someone on the breadline, however, six months of reduced pay is significant. I was contacted by someone who is really worried about having to hand over another penny out of their pay packet. Workers are being locked into a system that lacks flexibility. They cannot opt out permanently. Even if they leave, they will be automatically re-enrolled every two years.”
“Senator Rabbitte said "no one got left behind". I disagree. People with disabilities and pensioners, even with their increase, got left behind. The increase was wiped out by the new cost of blister packs. The people out working and paying taxes to fund the social welfare Bill got no relief in the budget. They were left behind. I want to talk about the pension auto-enrolment scheme. The intention behind the Bill is positive. Nobody disagrees with the principle of helping people to save for retirement. However, I have concerns about how quickly the Bill has been pushed through and about the impact on workers and businesses. Thousands of people are living on the breadline.”
“In many cases, councillors are the first called when there is flooding on a road, when a planning issue goes wrong, when a family is at risk of homelessness, when a community group needs help navigating a 100-page form or, indeed, when there is a storm. On occasion, people called me because they were in a seriously bad way with their mental health and needed emergency help. I know from speaking to other councillors that this was not unique to me. It is not just an administrative service that councillors provide but triage for anyone in need. They are on the front line.”
“I thank Senator Kyne for sharing his time with me. I am pleased to speak in support of the Bill to provide secretarial support to councillors. Councillors do a huge amount of work with little support. It is unfair to them and unfair to the communities they represent. There is a huge amount of unseen work and the financial remuneration does not reflect the hours they actually work. The Moorhead report does not consider that a councillor's job is a full-time job. It is a full-time job. It is 24-7, including weekends, Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Councillors work every single day. I was a councillor for ten years and I was called on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. We know that local government is the closest form of government to the people. They are the ones with the finger on the pulse.”
“They deserve a fully independent victim-centred process not more obstruction and definitely not more reports designed to protect the British State. I congratulate Cara Darmody on staying out last night. She is a fantastic protestor and activist for people with additional needs.”
“It exposes how British intelligence agencies and sections of the RUC repeatedly concealed evidence, protected murderers and ensured that justice could never run its course. Operation Denton confirms that loyalist gangs involved in the bombings were supplied with intelligence, supported by members of the British security forces and allowed to operate freely across the Border. This was not rogue behaviour. It was systematic, strategic and resourced by arms of the British state. Operation Denton's claim that no high-level documentation exists cannot absolve responsibilities. Families know such records were never going to be written, let alone preserved. The continual refusal of British agencies to release files or co-operate fully is a disgrace and it casts doubt on any claim of good faith. Monaghan families deserve the truth.”