Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Kildare South · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“People with far greater knowledge than I have are deeply sceptical about the number of applications that are being shown, but anyway. I want to go back to that comparison with the health service because, for me, it raises the legitimate question of whether we should be looking overseas to secure recruits.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response and sincere interest in this matter. It struck me when looking at this that 2,300 people migrate from Nepal every single day and 30% of the GDP of the country comes from remittances.”
“It is no wonder that Cyprus would be very sensitive to territorial integrity. As the Minister said, Ireland is committed to facilitating the opening of all remaining negotiating clusters with Ukraine and Moldova in the next six months.”
“I think we are disappointed that the new government in Hungary is still causing some difficulties. I appreciate the need for sensitive negotiations with that new government so that it bring Hungary fully in line with European values, which would be very much supportive of this integration.”
“The Government needs to be creative in how it approaches this challenge, but it needs to be approached in a far more resolute manner than it has to date.”
“However, by having a policy of 400 recruits per year, it means it will take us ten years to get to the establishment figure. I accept that the Government has acted to significantly improve pay and conditions but much more needs to be done.”
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“Tréaslaím leis an Aire as a ceapachán mar Aire Oideachais. Tá mé cinnte go leanfaidh sí ar aghaidh leis an tsárobair a bhí ar siúl ag an Teachta Norma Foley roimpi. Education features very prominently in the programme for Government. We thank the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Deputy Lowry for ensuring that has happened. Pages 67 and 68 reference forward planning and the provision of accommodation. Does the Minister share my concern that her Department's forward planning unit is not working as effectively as it might? In the small village of Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, the construction that has taken place in recent years has given rise to a situation whereby the primary school cannot accommodate all those who want to enrol in junior infants this year. In Monasterevin, the wonderful St. Paul's Secondary School has been developed.”
“We cannot allow this to happen. It is not just about the degradation of the plains, the real damage that is being done to the bloodstock industry or the impeding of the recreational use of the Curragh; it is about the risks that arise from large-scale unauthorised development of any nature taking place in an area where there is a total lack of control. That is the particular problem. If something happens and somebody is injured or hurt or if some other travesty occurs, we will all be very seriously concerned but the point is that we now have a short period of time in which to take action. I urge that action be taken immediately.”
“I acknowledge the fact that, having raised this on questions on promised legislation last week, the Tánaiste subsequently spoke to me and indicated that it was a priority for him. However, I have to stress that the wheels of democracy and of our systems move very slowly. I also put it to the Minister of State that the Department of Defence has been remiss in dealing with An Garda Síochána. As far as I am concerned, An Garda Síochána has been active in trying to deal with the situation that has existed. There is a High Court order dating back 20 years that empowers An Garda and the Department of Defence to do something about illegal encampments. When it came to the crunch, the Department of Defence told An Garda to do nothing and not to proceed. We cannot continue to do nothing. Something must be put in place before this summer comes.”
“The programme for Government says that the Government will operate a conservation plan for the Curragh and will seek to identify the agency best suited to manage the historic plains. I have no doubt but that my constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, who was one of the negotiators of the programme for Government, was instrumental in ensuring that provision was included in the plan. It is great to have it there. The plan for Government is full of wonderful aspirations but this is one that must be acted on urgently. We cannot have a recurrence in 2025 of what we had in Kildare in 2024. When is there going to be action? There needs to be effective action before June of this year.”
“The cost of the clean-up after this unauthorised holiday camp was eventually vacated was something of the order of €190,000 just for one year. Could anyone in this Chamber imagine the Phoenix Park being invaded and turned into an unofficial holiday camp? Could anyone imagine it with the lakes of Killarney, Glenveagh National Park, or any other resource of similar importance in the country? No, they could not, and it would never happen. Why would it never happen? Because there is an effective management structure in place for those resources. No such resource exists in respect of the Curragh. In 2015, I published a Bill attempting to set out criteria under which a consultative body could at least be appointed. This would have been made up of the interested users and would have included Kildare County Council.”
“We have a problem, which has existed for many years in some aspects, insofar as it is used, quite correctly, by the bloodstock sector, the sheep farming sector, by the Defence Forces and for recreation and amenity purposes by the public, but there has never been any effective control or management of those uses. I would not want to see any of those uses inhibited but I would like to see them managed. In the past six or eight years, however, we have seen a new phenomenon develop where hordes of caravans descend upon the Curragh plains between the months of June and, last year, October. In the early years they could be numbered in the dozens. There were almost uncountable numbers present in 2024 at a variety of locations across the Curragh plains.”
“Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas ag ghabháil leis an Cheann Comhairle as ucht an ábhair tábhachtach seo a roghnú. Tréaslaím ar an gcéad dul síos leis an mbeirt Aire Stáit, mo chairde Jerry Buttimer agus Neale Richmond, atá i láthair. Tá mé cinnte go ndéanfaidh siad sár-jab sna poist atá acu agus leis na dualgais atá acu le comhlíonadh. Tréaslaím chomh maith leis an Teachta nua ó Chill Dara Thuaidh, mo comhghleacaí, Aodhán Ó Fearghaíl. The Curragh is an almost 5,000 acre plain located between Newbridge, Kildare and Kilcullen. It is a limestone plain that lies over a massive aquifer with the potential to supply water to many parts of the county and perhaps the country. It is a valuable national and local resource.”
“Page 57 of the programme for Government commits the Government to a conservation plan and new management system for the Curragh. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, was most instrumental in ensuring that provision in the programme for Government. It is absolutely essential that it is actioned now. Year after year, we have seen incursions onto the Curragh where it has become a vast illegal holiday campsite. The cost of rehabilitating the place last year was €185,000, which is half the cost of our famous bike shed. It was a humiliation to me that I could do nothing to get the State agencies to resolve the problem. It must have embarrassed the Tánaiste that he could not. What is the timescale for the implementation of action so that we will not have incursions again this year?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Táim buioch di as mé a roghnú chun ceist a chur. She might indulge me for a few seconds as I take the opportunity to express my personal sympathies on the death of His Highness Prince Karim, the Aga Khan, who was a major investor in this country over many decades. He was the owner of many stud farms, he invested heavily in the bloodstock sector and generated much employment. He was a true altruist and peace promoter, and one of the most significant philanthropists I ever had the privilege of meeting in this world. I suggest the House joins with me in expressing sympathy to his family and the Ismaili Muslim community that he led. He loved running on the Curragh. It is about the Curragh that I wish to put my question.”