Seán Canney
Galway East · Independent · Ireland
“To obtain an operational authorisation, an operator must provide a comprehensive safety portfolio, which includes assessing and addressing both ground and air risks with appropriate mitigations. Manna Air Delivery holds such an authorisation from the IAA.”
“The national policy framework for UAS, agreed by the Government, was published by the Minister in August last year. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning and development in the drone sector in Ireland through support, growth and innovation, while ensuring safe and secure operations.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I note Manna Air Delivery's recent statement that it will for now cease deliveries by drone in Ireland.”
“It proposes 16 actions under three main areas: the use of airspace and planning; compliance and enforcement; and enterprise and innovation. Actions in the policy framework include the establishment of a national working group on UAS geographical zones to develop transparent processes and procedures for the designation of these zones; the…”
“This new route provides passengers travelling from Charleville to Cork with a morning service at 7.05 a.m. and a service from Cork to Charleville at 5.45 p.m., Monday to Friday. This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, a major public transport initiative.”
“I thank the Deputy. I reassure him again that the Department, its Minister, Deputy O’Brien, my fellow Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for the benefit of current and future generations.”
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“The next road traffic Bill is also under development to advance programme for Government commitments around graduated speed limits, penalties and the camera enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences. We are also addressing the long-standing issue relating to repeat renewal of learner permits, with regulations coming into effect this November. These are examples of actions well under way and progressing at pace. On 29 April I published the first national safety camera strategy, which provides a framework for increased deployment of cameras across the road network in urban and rural locations. The use of cameras has been proven to reduce speeding and improve driver behaviour, and I am confident that implementation of this strategy will help us achieve our road safety targets.”
“Delivering the action plan is a collaborative effort involving my Department and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, together with An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the Health and Safety Authority and local authorities. Deputies will note that there are many experts across a range of partners collaborating to take action and deliver positive road safety outcomes, and I assure the House that progress is being made. Key deliverables for this year include passing the national vehicle and driver file Bill 2025 to allow local authorities to resume accepting and processing collision data.”
“The current national framework for road safety is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which was launched in December 2021. The strategy aligns with EU and UN targets and is based on the safe system approach, which is forgiving of individual human error. It aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade, and to achieving Vision Zero, which is as close as possible to zero fatalities or serious injuries on Irish roads, by 2050. The phase 2 action plan under the road safety strategy was published by my Department in July of last year for the period 2025 to 2027. This action plan comprises 12 primary transformative actions and 77 support actions.”
“Each death and serious injury impacts not just on the victim but on their family, their friends and the wider community. The four main causes of fatalities on our roads have been consistent over time and remain: speeding, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt and intoxicated driving. All four come down to driver behaviour and personal responsibility on the part of road users. Tackling dangerous behaviours can be addressed through road safety education and public awareness campaigns, enforcement of road traffic laws, improved engineering of our road spaces and longer-term legislative reform. We are working on multiple fronts to address these problems. Let me be clear that this Government is committed to improving road safety and reducing fatalities and serious injuries.”
“I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I too welcome everyone in the Public Gallery to listen to the statements today. I welcome the opportunity to address the House and to update Members on the recently published National Safety Camera Strategy, and on road safety matters more generally. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, will deliver the closing statement. As many Deputies will be aware, the last five years have seen an increase in road-related fatalities and serious injuries. Last year was a particularly dark year when, tragically, 188 people lost their lives on roads, the highest total in a decade. While we have made great strides since our first national road safety strategy began in 1998, that progress is now in the past and we must do more to restore the downward trend of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.”
“All of our officials will work together to ensure that the application process can happen as quickly as possible and funding can get out to keep cash flow going for those who need it most.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to share details of the scheme today. I look forward to confirming the opening date for applications in the coming weeks and I welcome the contributions of Deputies on this important topic. I would again like to reiterate that the engagement we have had with representative groups started the week that the crisis in Iran began, and has been ongoing since and will continue. It is important that that dialogue creates a basis by which we can face the challenges going forward because the challenges will change as we go along. The other issue is that the complexity of transport, coach and education delivery involves complications in each area. We have developed a scheme that is simple and easy to operate.”
“As such, I will provide further information on which state aid framework the road transport support scheme will operate within once officials in our Department and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment have had the opportunity to review the Commission's forthcoming temporary crisis framework. In conclusion, I want to reiterate that the Government is acutely aware of the challenges faced by the road transport sector in recent months. The transport support scheme is a wholly necessary support for an industry that is a crucial employer and underpins the broader economy. Together with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and officials in my Department, I will continue to engage constructively with representative bodies not only on recent cost pressures but on other challenges, including driver shortages and decarbonisation.”
“In the meantime, my Department continues to engage with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's state aid experts on the notification of details of the scheme to the EU Commission. The European Commission is working on a state aid temporary crisis framework to support the EU economy in the context of the Middle East crisis. Ireland has provided feedback on the proposals and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, discussed the impact of the Middle East crisis on transport in Ireland and the necessary priority measures with other EU Transport Ministers on 21 April.”
“An initial payment backdated to March 2026 will be made to each qualifying haulage or coach operator. Payments will only be made in respect of April and May should the national average price of diesel exceed €1.90 per litre in either month. For the avoidance of doubt, the same payment structure and rates will apply in these months regardless of how much or how little the average diesel price exceeds €1.90 per litre. The €1.90 per litre level is a critical measure for the commercial transport sector, in the experience of the representative bodies, after which many businesses may become unviable. The development of an electronic application and processing system to facilitate payments is under way and applications are expected to commence soon.”
“A licensed passenger operator providing bus services to and from piers for island ferries may benefit from the road transport scheme and Department of Rural and Community Development supports. Licensed passenger operators who provide commercial bus services as well as school transport services may be eligible for support from both schemes in respect of different parts of their business. It should be noted that the Local Link services are provided through identified separate vehicles. These vehicles will be excluded from the road transport support scheme. Therefore, operators of Local Link will not receive support under the road transport scheme in respect of the licensed vehicles used for Local Link schemes. As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, indicated, the scheme will run for three months, from March to May.”
“This will be necessary given the complexity of most passenger service provider business models where the same operator may provide services under Local Link services, school transport services or on a commercial basis. I want to be as open as possible that there may be some overlap between the bus and core supports and the road transport and the fuel subsidy support schemes. Any overlaps are expected to be minimal and are reasonable in the context of our transport business operates. For example, a business that provides agricultural contracting services and has haulage operations may benefit in respect of different vehicles for the road transport support scheme and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine fuel subsidy support scheme.”
“To address this, a temporary fuel variation mechanism will be introduced, aligned with the approach used for other contracted services. Support will be delivered through existing arrangements with Bus Éireann and the Department of Education and Youth and will target operators which are not already compensated for fuel cost increases. Officials from our Department will assist their counterparts in the operation of the scheme where necessary. Passenger service operators that do not fall under the scope of the supports provided by the NTA or Department of Education and Youth may be eligible for support under the RTSS. Applications for support will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
“Contracts under the PSO include a fuel variation mechanism to allow for additional payments to providers in circumstances such as those currently being experienced. The fuel subsidy uplift varies by month in line with the actual change in costs incurred by operators. In many cases, fuel costs for publicly contracted services will be covered, in whole or in part, through State subvention or contract pricing mechanisms. There are three separate school transport services transporting 181,000 children and young people to school on over 8,700 buses and taxis, covering more than 11,000 routes daily. These services are typically delivered under fixed-price contracts, leaving operators exposed to rising fuel costs with little ability to adjust pricing.”
“While the application of the fuel price variation clause in respect of the subsidised services is a matter for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, my Department will work with it to the greatest extent possible to ensure that all service providers are supported. I will provide the House with some more detail on how we will support the passenger transport operators and school bus providers who are a critical part of our public transport system, providing essential connectivity across both urban and rural areas. These services are not operated on a commercial basis, so time-bound supports are necessary to protect service capacity and maintain continuity across the sector. TFI Local Link services are provided under the public transport public service obligation, PSO, a service managed by the NTA.”
“While the Department of Transport does not look after these services, it is important that the House is aware that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht supports island communities by providing subsidised ferry, cargo and air services between the islands and the mainland to ensure the continued viability of these communities. In 2025, there were 25 contracts for subsidised passenger and cargo ferry services. These contracts include a fuel price variation clause, which will be activated in order to support these providers. There are also several non-subsidised ferry services to the offshore islands, many of whom operate on a seasonal basis. It is envisaged that non-subsidised ferry services to the offshore islands may be eligible for support through a similar mechanism.”
“However, I welcome the €100 million allocated for the fuel subsidy support scheme, FSSS, that is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers in managing the increased cost of marked gas oil. As a rural TD, I know how higher prices have impacted on these sectors. This scheme will support those people to maintain their essential work across the country. Further information on the eligibility criteria will be made available by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and it is expected that applications for support will be possible in mid-May, with payments to follow thereafter. Although the RTSS is aimed primarily at road transporters, it is important that we also support transport to and from our offshore islands.”
“Verification will also be undertaken to ensure that the commercial activity is related to the carriage of goods by road and that the vehicle is roadworthy and compliant with all motor tax requirements for the duration of the scheme. As the scheme is primarily directed at the road transport sector, it will not be open to farmers or the construction sector in respect of machinery used as part of their operations that are fuelled by marked diesel oil or green diesel. They may be eligible for support under the RTSS for other vehicles in their fleets if the vehicles are used for the carriage of goods by road and meet all the eligibility requirements.”
“The scheme will be open to both licensed road haulage operators and the own-account sector, subject to eligibility criteria, where the vehicle is used for the carriage of goods by road. Someone will be able to submit an application for heavy goods vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes in their fleet, provided the vehicles were in their fleet on 1 March 2026. All operators looking for support will need to be registered in the State, compliant and operating as a going concern for the duration of the scheme. There is no limit to the number of vehicles for which they can apply for support, but verification checks will be conducted to ensure that applications are only made in respect of vehicles that are actively used by operators in the course of their commercial activities.”
“As a result, rising fuel costs mean increased costs for everyone in the supply chain. It is vital, therefore, to minimise the impact of these costs on end consumers. The support scheme will support hauliers and transport operators to absorb some of these additional costs and continue to play their vital role in our economy. By helping our road transport sector, the scheme will also help protect consumers who otherwise would face increased costs across a range of everyday goods and services were the transport sector forced to pass on fuel cost increases to their customers. I know that Deputies want to ensure that nobody is inadvertently left out of the scheme. That is a priority for me and my Cabinet colleagues as well. I will outline those eligible for the support scheme.”
“Higher prices for hauliers add costs for each and every person in our country. In the four weeks from 2 March to 30 March, diesel prices at the pump rose by approximately 25%. According to industry data, operating margins in the supply chain sector were about 6% in 2025, with fuel costs accounting for approximately 47% of the operational costs for a typical 46-tonne articulated vehicle. When looked at in this light, even a marginal, sudden increase in fuel costs can represent a significant challenge to the liquidity of operators in the haulage and supply chain sectors. This may be even more pronounced for smaller operators, with nearly half of licensed road haulage operators only having one vehicle. Small and medium operators constitute the lifeblood of the road haulage industry.”
“I thank the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, for sharing his time with me and for the information he has provided to the House today. I reiterate my support for the sector and thank the representative bodies for their ongoing commitment to address the challenges we are facing in a spirit of constructive dialogue and collaboration. The Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, the Coach Tourism and Transport Council, CTTC, and Freight Transport Association Ireland, FTAI, have been working diligently with us and our officials over a long number of weeks to ensure that this support package is brought in and targeted. As the Minister said in his opening remarks, the haulage sector is of national strategic importance and the road transport sector faces a challenging operating environment.”
“As I have already said, while I commend the Senator on the amendments she has brought to the Bill, there is a serious issue still outstanding. That is why I am saying to her that it would seem appropriate to bring in these amendments through primary legislation.”
“I am sorry. In view of the serious nature of the powers required to enforce section 2 and the newly proposed section 3 of the Bill, it would seem appropriate to provide for these in primary legislation.”
“In view of the serious nature of the powers required to ensure section 2 and the new proposed section 3 of the Bill, it would seem appropriate to provide for these in primary legislation.”
“I thank all of the Senators for their contributions today and their work on this Bill, and for bringing forward these amendments. Amendments Nos. 1, 4, 5 and 6 seek to provide clarity on those responsible for the enforcement of the Bill. While the insertion of a definition of "authorised person" in section 1 and the removal of an enforcement role for the Defence Forces are both welcome, outstanding issues of the enforceability of this Bill remain. The Bill, as currently drafted, does not provide sufficient detail on the powers to be conferred on authorised officers. The Bill provides for the seizure of goods carried in contravention of the Bill, but with the removal of the role for the Defence Forces, is now silent on who will be responsible for this enforcement activity.”
“In relation to the drivers' licences and the reciprocation between countries, we are acting on that with a number of countries, including the US. Last week we signed an agreement with Moldova, and we are looking at how we can speed up the process and give equal recognition between Australia and ourselves. Just this morning I read a report of a review I got. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are working on this.”
“The system will be robust with more modern bus-control features that will assist the bus operators to run services against schedule and provide accurate and reliable data for passengers on real-time displays. If we have the system correct, the information will be live and people will know. We invest a huge amount of money in public transport but we want to make sure we are generating the confidence in the public so that they can use it.”
“The NTA has developed a tool that can be used by Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland to monitor the efficiency of trip cancellation processes. This will help ensure real-time passenger information takes account of all cancellations as they arise. Finally, as I noted in my opening statement, the new system is planned to go ahead in Waterford in June and the roll-out to the other areas will be taking effect straight away after that, in the rest of 2026 into 2027. It will consolidate the five existing systems, some of which are 15 years old, into one central one. This will bring advantages in terms of consistency of the data that people will get from across all the operators.”
“I will go back to the NTA regarding the 73 bus service to seek the clarification the Deputy requires. There is no doubt about that. Further to the updates I provided earlier on the next generation automatic vehicle location system and practices by the NTA and bus operators to support a better real-time information system for passengers, I note that a number of actions have been taken that will help to address this issue. These actions include the replacement of older antennas on buses, with close to 800 to be replaced. GPS receiver boards on Dublin Bus services are in the process of being updated, with 300 buses updated to date and the balance to be updated in May of this year. Operational practice has also been modified to help address the issue.”
“The system will be more robust and will have more modern bus control features that will assist bus operators to run services against schedule, providing accurate and reliable data for passengers on real-time displays. The first implementation of this new system in Waterford is due to go live in June and is currently in testing. The system will be rolled out to other operators during the course of 2026 and 2027, including Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland services.”
“This centralised system will replace the existing fragmented automatic vehicle location systems and will offer better real-time information for passengers. It will enable two-way communication with drivers and monitor the performance of buses against their schedules. The system will also provide tools for service controllers to make interventions, such as curtailment or cancellation of services, and, importantly for customers, will generate the real-time passenger information used in information displays for the public. The next generation automatic vehicle location system project is a centralised, more modern, cloud-based AVL solution to be used by all PSO operators. It consolidates the existing five systems, which are up to 15 years old. This will bring advantages in terms of consistency of data across the operators.”
“The NTA holds weekly meetings with operators to discuss performance, understand challenges and identify where improvements can be made. In instances where performance drops, financial penalties are rigorously applied. Where a bus does not operate due to circumstances within the operator’s control, a reduction is made in the amount due to the operator equivalent to the cost of operating the cancelled service. The contracts also provide for deductions to be made when punctuality and reliability targets are not met. In relation to the specific issue of vehicle location and tracking information, the NTA awarded Trapeze ITS the contract to develop and implement a next generation automatic vehicle location system for Ireland’s public transport buses.”
“Bus cancellations can occur for a variety of reasons, such as issues with the availability of drivers and mechanics causing services not to run to schedule. The NTA has assured me that it is acutely aware of the importance of good-quality information being made available to customers regarding bus departure times and on-street displays. The TFI Live app aims to provide this information. The real-time information displayed on the TFI Live app and on the on-street signs is provided directly by the bus operator responsible for operating the service. The onus is on the transport operator to provide live disruption information if, for unforeseen circumstances, a bus is unable to complete part of its schedule. This information can be relayed to customers using the on-street displays and the TFI Live app.”
“I thank the Deputy very much. I welcome his question, which is on an issue that is very topical at the moment. He is right that we need to give people confidence in the public transport system so they will continue to use it for all the very good reasons he spoke about. We are strongly committed in the Government to providing all citizens with reliable and sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in budget 2026, the Department of Transport secured €940 million in funding for the public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland, TFI, Local Link services, and a further €980 million in public transport capital investment. Despite this investment, I know that customers can and do encounter issues concerning service cancellations and reliability.”
“The war in Iran is affecting every single citizen in this country. The State cannot handle every element of this pressure, but we have worked collectively and in partnership with other Government parties to introduce key supports to ease the burden. Over the past week, we have seen some members of the Opposition actively encourage obstruction, which is not acceptable. Key infrastructure was placed under threat. This does not help anybody. We need to work together in these unprecedented times. I ask the Opposition to reflect on what it is trying to do today. If the Opposition succeeds in its aim to-----”
“We made the decision to enter government so that we could be central in making key decisions to help our economy and citizens.”
“There will be an extensive reduction in excise duties until 31 July; a further reduction of 10 cent in the price of diesel, bringing the total reduction to 32 cent per litre; a further reduction of 10 cent in the price of petrol, bringing the total reduction to 27 cent per litre; and a reduction of 2.4 cent in marked gas oil, green diesel. A comprehensive new €100 million fuel subsidy scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers across unprecedented increases in fuel has also been confirmed. The transport support scheme we have put in place amounts to €120 million. It is important to say that these combined packages have brought the total support to €775 million, the largest package in the EU per capita . As Independents, we entered government to effect change.”
“Within agriculture, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy Rae, and the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Grealish, along with their colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, have been engaging with various farming organisations to see where this help is most needed.”
“Engagement and dialogue continue with stakeholders and representative groups to ensure that any additional measures that need to be put in place would benefit these key sectors within the economy, such as transport, logistics, school transport operators and more.”
“Within my own Department, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and I have been engaging with all stakeholders in the logistics and supply chain areas, which are impacted severely by this fuel crisis. We have been doing this regularly since the war began. We made it clear at the time that what we initially announced would be under constant review and we would step up with additional support if and when it was needed.”
“The hugely volatile situation is ever evolving and has meant there is a lack of certainty for people that is causing worry and distress. This Government has been working hard to ensure that supports are put in place to ease that burden on people. As soon as the conflict in Iran began, we stepped up the engagement with stakeholders across all sectors. Engagement is key to developing any support and hearing from the official representatives of stakeholders and organisations, so we can put supports in place that are driven by evidence and that help where they are needed most. We announced an initial package in March that totalled €250 million. As Independents in government, we have constructively been involved in the process from the beginning.”
“The Department of Transport has been liaising with all of the local authorities on foot of the flooding that happened. They have done a schedule and survey of all of the roads that have to be done. Preliminary costings have been prepared. Our Department is working with each local authority to put in place a plan for executing these works. As the Taoiseach said earlier, some discretionary money has been allocated to local authorities. Of course they will need support in carrying out these works. Our Department is working closely with each local authority so we can put in place a programme to get the works done as quickly as possible.”
“I thank the Deputy very much. The waiting time has reduced from an average of 27 weeks. It is down to 12 weeks this year. The problem in Mulhuddart is that we are waiting to open a new centre in Sandyford, which will take some of the pressure off. The number of driving testers has increased. We are at 196 right now. We need to get to 200. There has been an increase in the number of tests as a result of a regulation I introduced to stop people applying for tests and not showing up. People now have to sit the test. That has added a little bit of pressure to the system. That is being dealt with. Last year, we had 8,000 no-shows because people were just applying for tests so they could renew their learner permit. That provision is gone from next October. There is a bit of pressure there. I got the figures only yesterday.”
“In conclusion, today is another important chapter in facing up to our past, and in our ongoing efforts to address the terrible impact of institutional abuse on survivors.”
“The full range of additional supports being put in place for survivors of institutional abuse has been outlined today. I especially welcome the fact that access to health services for survivors of industrial schools will be strengthened through the implementation of bespoke arrangements for this specific group of survivors, including access to counselling and physiotherapy services. I note that many of the services provided under the HAA card are already available under the enhanced medical card for survivors of residential institutional abuse. It is also welcome that additional health liaison officers will be put in place to support this group of survivors. I understand that arrangements are in train to have these additional supports in place as soon as possible.”
“Today, we also again recognise the plight of those children who suffered abuse while boarded out. The abuse and neglect that some children experienced while boarded out was truly unforgivable, and the State rightly apologises to them today for what they endured. It is also fitting that we are clearly and unequivocally clarifying the position that the State did not, and does not, regard individuals as having committed a criminal offence, and that no criminal record is recorded against them by virtue of their detention in an industrial school. Likewise, any children who were detained in industrial schools, and subsequently transferred to reformatory schools solely by virtue of their detention in industrial schools, are not considered to have a criminal record.”
“The importance of this focus was recognised in the establishment of the child poverty and well-being programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach in 2023 to prioritise actions across government in areas that will have the greatest impact for children and families experiencing poverty. This is important work and, as a Government, we must continue to focus on our work to make significant positive changes for families and children who experience poverty. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have spoken today about the many ways in which we have extensively changed and improved our childcare and child protection systems. It is important that we acknowledge the progress made while recognising the importance of continuing vigilance for vulnerable children.”
“I previously stated my vision for Ireland as a place where our children and grandchildren can build a decent life for themselves, where all people are treated equally and where our society looks after the most vulnerable. To the survivors present here today, I want to say that I understand how much this past has had a real and lasting impact on all stages of their lives. In reality, in the vast majority of cases, children ended up in these institutions simply because they and their families were poor. In more recent times, we have recognised the hugely detrimental impact that poverty can have on children's lives. I welcome the concerted efforts across the system to tackle child poverty.”
“It is very clear from today's contributions that in the past this country has often failed to treat people equally and it has failed to look after the most vulnerable, especially vulnerable children. In sending vulnerable children to State institutions run by religious orders in many cases, we left them unprotected and open to abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to help and protect them. The Ryan report outlines to a full and heartbreaking extent just how much these vulnerable children suffered abuse and neglect under the harsh institutional regimes. I know that nothing can ever be said or done to unravel the pain and suffering that ensued from these abuses.”