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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“Both of these agencies, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann, were undergoing recruitment campaigns for new CEOs. Any increase in salaries that has been sanctioned following this process is in keeping with the salary band provided for these posts by the senior post remuneration committee review.”
“It was necessary to align CEO salaries with the market and to deal with recruitment and retention issues in commercial State bodies. The results of that review were published in March of this year. Following that review, the committee designated salary bands with defined salary parameters for each commercial agency. Requests received by the Department within those parameters are considered and approved by the Minister and then require sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. No salary increases for a CEO under the aegis of my Department are approved without the prior sanction of the Minister for public expenditure. Since the publication of the review and associated salary bands, two of the 12 commercial agencies under my Department have been awarded salary increases.”
“My Department has 19 agencies in total, 12 commercial and seven non-commercial, which have either a CEO or commissioner running the organisation. All CEO and commissioner contracts under the aegis of my Department have terms and conditions based on sanction received from the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. All CEO salaries and benefits are published in the company’s annual report and financial statements, in keeping with the business and financial reporting requirements of the 2016 code of practice for the governance of State bodies. In 2024, the senior post remuneration committee carried out a review of the remuneration arrangements for CEOs of commercial State bodies. This was the first such review since 2011.”
“Nowadays, with the demand for public transport and people wanting to use it, we have to provide this technology to make sure that people get tickets and get onto trains, buses and trams with ease.”
“I will have to check that out for the Deputy and see what plans there are. When we are introducing a new system like this, as has often been seen in the past, if it is not done right, it can cause huge problems and there can be significant anxiety and frustration when the system is not working right. The idea is to introduce a small number of bus, tram and train validators, test them and prove their functionality first. It is important that we do that before committing to large-scale deployment. I agree with the Deputy that we were slow to get to this. Owing to what happened in the economy in 2007 and 2008, this was put on the back burner because it was not deemed to be essential.”
“With next generation ticketing, there is much to take into account, since the scope of what it will deliver covers all public services, buses, trams and train stations, including bus validators, ticket machines, ticket vending machines, station gates, tram and train platform validators, and an account-based ticketing solution delivered on modern cloud-hosting technology. It is important to note that it is not just a matter of giving somebody a card or going contactless. This is next generation ticketing and it will be used for a good number of years. It is not like a Leap card system, which is very simple. It is important to make sure that whatever we use is fit for purpose and is tested before it is rolled out fully. It is better to do it right and make sure it is right at the end.”
“At a recent meeting with the NTA, the Minister emphasised the project's importance to the travelling public. He is looking forward to rolling out next generation ticketing over the next years.”
“The initial focus of the project is on the greater Dublin area, to be rolled out in four phases. This is a major, complex project, with an estimated capital cost of over €160 million to implement it in the greater Dublin area alone. Phase 1 is due to launch in September 2027. It will test contactless payment on a number of new validators or ticket machines. Phase 2 will be ready in summer 2028, allowing passengers on Dublin's bus and Luas services to use the next generation ticketing technology, including contactless payments on validators. Plans for phases 3 and 4 remain under development at the moment. The project’s governance structure is in line with the governance requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and, as an ICT project, it has been subject to appropriate scrutiny under Circular 02/2016.”
“Like the Deputy, I am eager to see next generation ticketing rolled out on the Irish public transport system. I look forward to seeing its introduction as part of BusConnects Dublin before ultimately being delivered across the entire public transport network. Many people have seen contactless ticketing systems in other countries and feel like it is taking a long time to deliver here. As I have previously explained, which was in the reply to another question I did not have to answer, we introduced the new Leap ticketing system as the financial crisis took hold and investment in updated ticketing technology was held back. The good news is that we now have the funding available to make the move to new ticketing technology and the National Transport Authority, NTA, has entered into a contract with Indra to deliver the project.”
“We are trying to keep ahead of the posse so we give all passengers the experience they need to keep them using public transport rather than going back to cars.”
“I do not have figures on that particular detail of the PSO funding because it was not part of the original question. I can, however, get those figures for the Deputy or they will probably be in the published NDP when we bring it out. On Bus Éireann services that are being reviewed, I have met representatives of Bus Éireann, as I am sure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has, but I will confirm that. As the Deputy will be aware, there is increased demand. For instance, on the rail line between Galway and Limerick, when the piece of the western rail corridor we built between Athenry and Ennis opened, there were 132,000 passenger journeys in the first year. Last year, there were 750,000 passenger journeys. That is the type of increase we are getting. The Deputy knows this. He supports public transport.”
“The Deputy will be aware that a lot of work is going on in our constituency in Oranmore and Ceannt Station to develop infrastructure to make it ready for additional services. I look forward to their delivery in the next five years.”
“The PSO has been increasing. Why? It is because public transport services are increasing, demand is increasing and we are providing more services. Under the national development plan review, there was a reset of the money available for the PSO. I am satisfied that there is enough money there to meet the existing PSOs and for further development when we publish the new scheme. It is also important to say that, with the national development plan and the sectoral plan we will produce, we will be looking at a wide range of projects that are ready or in the process of being ready for development in the next five years, such as under BusConnects, in roads, new rail and enhancements of existing rail.”
“When it has been published, it will show the projects where the money will be spent, be it on public transport, public roads, active travel or other measures. We look forward to its publication.”
“The Department of Transport's annual capital allocations from 2026 to 2030 were confirmed in the review of the national development plan published by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in July. In recognition of the importance of advancing projects in the transport sector, of the €102.4 billion allocated across Government Departments, €22.3 billion has been allocated to the Department of Transport in addition to the €2 billion to advance MetroLink under the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. The Department is currently finalising its national development plan sectoral investment plan in the context of that capital funding envelope and we expect to be able to publish it by the end of November.”
“I thank the Deputy for his support and offer because working together is how we will improve safety. I will be talking to my officials about the evidence that has come back since the regulations were brought in in 2024 to see whether patterns have been seen. However, I believe there is a huge lack of understanding of what an e-scooter can do, the power it has and the speed it can go at. We have the regulations and there is an enforcement issue there. I see on the roads people on these scooters without a high-visibility vest, helmet or protection and sometimes without lights. I ask how these people are on the roads and not being taken in. It is an issue. It is a growing problem and I will be looking at it. Road safety and the prevention of accidents and near misses is important. We have to make the road safe for everyone.”
“I share the Deputy's concerns. The growing number of incidents, accidents and near misses is becoming an issue. As the Minister of State responsible for road safety, I will be reviewing this. I say to him and take this opportunity to say to parents as well that if they are thinking about buying an e-scooter, not to buy one for a child under 16 years of age, please. Many other technical requirements are needed. It is important, especially when you consider the devastation caused by an accident. We have only to look at what happened last weekend in Louth. I sympathise with all the families there. To have such a devastating incident and collision and to see five lives just disappear is profoundly sad for all the families and communities. An e-scooter is a vehicle and a machine. It is important we make sure people are safe on them.”
“As with any legislation, I will consider feedback on its operation from An Garda Síochána and other stakeholders and I will act if it is clear that road safety improvements can be made.”
“While there is no prohibition on the sale or possession of e-scooters which exceed the statutory parameters, any e-scooter that falls outside of these regulations remains illegal to use on public roads or in public places. The full list of regulations can be found on the gov.ie website. If an e-scooter or user is in breach of the regulations, An Garda Síochána may seize the e-scooter and may also impose a fixed-charge notice to the value of €50. In addition, e-scooter users, as for cyclists and e-cyclists, must obey the rules of the road. The operation of the legislation through enforcement is, as for all road traffic law, under the remit of An Garda Síochána. My officials meet regularly with An Garda Síochána to discuss matters related to road traffic safety.”
“As Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, I wish to begin by noting that e-scooter users, like cyclists and pedestrians, are vulnerable road users. Their safety is of paramount importance when regulating for safer roads in Ireland. To that end, regulations providing for and governing the safe and legal use of e-scooters on Irish roads were introduced in 2024. The ongoing development of segregated road space is also vital to improving safety for this group of users. The 2024 regulations cover a wide range of requirements, both usage and technical, including for speed, weight, capacity and power, as well as prohibitions on, among other things, carrying more than one person, the carriage of goods and the use on footpaths.”
“First, the question here is about the tolls and what they are doing. To recap again, there were previous tolls on eight PPP roads, the M50 and the Dublin tunnel. There were toll increases in 2025. At the moment, there are no changes for cars with the exception of a 10 cent increase on the M3 and M4 tolls. There are also increases for goods vehicles across all schemes, a 20% increase for heavy goods vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes having four axles or more on the Kilcock to Kinnegad section of the M4. Not every toll is being increased. The inflation and the CPI index shows that there was a 2% inflation increase between August 2024 and August 2025 and this is within the by-laws. In fairness, the money raised by TII is used for the maintenance, safety and development of our roads. If we do not have that money, where do we get it?”
“The maximum tolls are calculated for each vehicle category and TII, which is responsible for collecting the toll, calculates the maximum tolls for the Dublin tunnel and the M50 and decides the actual tolls that should apply. The PPP companies calculate the maximum tolls for the eight PPP concessions and propose the actual tolls that should apply. The mechanism for these calculations is set out in the by-laws. It is important they are there for the maintenance of the road.”
“First, I cannot speak for people who made election promises in manifestos. I am here to deal with the question tonight and that is what I am here to do. I note there are 11 toll roads in the State of which ten are on the national roads. The East-Link-Ringsend bridge toll in Dublin is on the local road network. Of the ten tolls, there are two public tolls, namely, the M50 and the Dublin tunnel tolls. Revenue from these tolls is collected directly for TII by operating companies under TII contracts. It also important to say that the toll by-laws for each individual road set out the basis for calculating maximum tolls each year.”
“To ensure that the tunnel can continue to fulfil its core purpose, a €1 increase in that toll that applies to southbound traffic in the morning was deemed appropriate. Tolls on the tunnel at other times remain unchanged. Finally, I wish to add that road tolling aligns with national climate policy and the principle that the user pays and that if tolling revenue did not exist, it would be necessary to use additional Exchequer funding to ensure that the national road network is maintained”
“Revenues collected from tolls on the M50 and the Dublin tunnel are invested by TII in the operation and maintenance of the road network. Revenue collected from the eight PPP roads are used by the PPP companies to fund ongoing operations and maintenance activities, as well as to repay loans arising from the construction of the road. It is important to point out that with regard to private cars, tolls on six of the eight PPP schemes will not change in 2026, with the exceptions being the M3 and M4. In relation to the Dublin tunnel, the tolling arrangements also serve an important demand management function to ensure that non-HGV traffic does not impede the transit of heavy goods vehicles to Dublin Port.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. First, I want to state that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is at COP30 and that is why he is not here tonight to answer questions. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are here to answer the questions. It is important to point out that the Minister for Transport has no formal role when it comes to tolls. The setting of tolls is a statutory function of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and in line with that, the TII board proposed a limited number of toll increases for 2026 on the M50 and the Dublin tunnel, together with changes to toll rates on eight public-private partnership, PPP, routes. The setting of the maximum toll rate each year is largely driven by inflation calculations based on the consumer price index and set out in the by-laws for each toll scheme.”
“Regrettably, instead of agreeing to sit at the negotiating table, Russia chooses to escalate its attacks on Ukraine. I call on Russia to cease these brutal attacks. We will work alongside the US and European and other international partners in support of efforts for peace. This is not just critical for peace in Ukraine but also for Ireland, Europe and the wider international community. It is more important than ever that Ireland and our EU partners demonstrate our continuing solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.”
“In September 2024, then Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris and President Zelenskyy signed a comprehensive bilateral agreement on support and co-operation between Ireland and Ukraine. This agreement sends a clear signal to Russia that we will not waver in the face of the ongoing brutal aggression in Ukraine and signifies Ireland’s determination to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. The Government’s focus remains on achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, a peace that respects Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Russia's war of aggression must come to an end. We continue to call for a ceasefire to allow meaningful negotiations to occur, negotiations that respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“Putin’s regime systematically represses opposition politicians, civil society organisations, independent media and other critical voices with the use of repressive legislation and politically motivated prison sentences. That is why, when he observes the rigours of debate and forceful civic engagement in the EU and democracies around the world, he concludes that we are divided and democracy is weak. When he invaded Ukraine, he thought Europe and its transatlantic partners would abandon Ukraine. He miscalculated and he is seeing it backfire. The EU and our international partners are united in our resolve to end this war and the threat it poses to our collective security.”
“This includes a substantial increase in investment in the National Cyber Security Centre, publication of a national counter-disinformation strategy, legislation enhancing election security through the Electoral Commission, the commencement of legislation on third country investment screening and control of exports. The Department of Defence will publish Ireland’s first national maritime security strategy by the end of this year. We are also building up Ireland’s national capability to identify, mitigate and counter hybrid threats through our membership of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki. Internal repression in Russia has increased even further since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Mr.”
“The Government takes the risks posed by these activities very seriously and we are responding. We are actively and constructively engaging in the development of EU policies aimed at combating hybrid threats, particularly Russia’s campaign of hybrid activity against the EU and its member states. We support the full use of all means available to prevent, deter and respond to Russia’s hybrid activities, including through sanctions. We will continue to work with our EU partners to strengthen our collective resilience. Domestically, the Government is implementing a range of relevant measures at national level to combat hybrid threats from state and non-state actors, including Russia, its proxies and aligned actors.”
“It is more important than ever that Ireland and our EU partners demonstrate our continuing solidarity to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression. Russia’s aggression extends well beyond Ukraine. We have recently seen the airspace of our EU partners violated by drones and planes. The Government has strongly condemned these activities. Through its sustained pursuit of hybrid campaigns, Russia is a major threat to stability, democracy and social cohesion throughout Europe and beyond. These activities represent an attempt to divide member states, in particular in relation to support for Ukraine. Like other member states, Ireland is susceptible to these malicious acts, which include disruption to critical infrastructure, cyberattacks, spreading disinformation and attempts to interfere in electoral processes.”
“Russia’s increasingly provocative and reckless campaign of hybrid activity is raising concerns and tensions across Europe. Russia’s war of aggression must come to an end. We continue to call for a ceasefire to allow for meaningful negotiations to occur, negotiations that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Regrettably, instead of agreeing to sit at the negotiating table, Russia chooses to escalate its attacks on Ukraine. I call on Russia to cease these brutal attacks. We will work alongside the US and European and other international partners in support of efforts for peace. This is not just critical for peace in Ukraine, but also for Ireland, for Europe and for the wider international community.”
“The Government is firmly committed to continuing this strong support for Ukraine and expects to announce a further substantial package of non-lethal support shortly. It is important to remember that while this war is being fought on Ukrainian territory, it is also a war on the Continent of Europe and against a country aspiring to join the European Union. It is perhaps easy to look eastward and believe the fires of war burning in Ukraine will never reach our shores and that distance is protection. Our commitment to a values-based foreign policy, multilateralism and a policy of military neutrality does not insulate us from the impacts of a rapidly changing and volatile international security environment that has become the new reality across Europe.”
“Ireland continues to contribute to the European Peace Facility, EPF, for non-lethal military support to Ukraine. At EU level, the release of the majority of remaining committed funding under the EPF is currently blocked. To date this year, we have committed €100 million in bilateral non-lethal military support to Ukraine. In July, €10 million each was provided to the UDCG coalitions on demining and IT support, led by Lithuania-Iceland and Estonia-Luxembourg, respectively. The remaining €80 million is being used primarily for the procurement of non-lethal elements of air defence in co-operation with EU member states with whom Ireland has agreed procurement partnerships for this purpose.”
“Through the Department of Defence, we continue to provide direct military support-in-kind. In June, five air defence radar systems and a fire tender were delivered to Ukraine. A further donation of 34 vehicles, including ambulances, was delivered in two convoys in early September. Three Reacher bomb disposal robots were delivered to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, UDCG, demining coalition in mid September. The Defence Forces will deliver a further training module of basic training to Ukrainian armed forces personnel via EUMAM Ukraine. This will take to 23 the total number of modules delivered by Irish personnel. Through the framework of the European Defence Agency’s EU SatCom Market project, we provided support to Ukraine in respect to provision of satellite communications equipment at a value of €1.36 million.”
“Ireland is a militarily neutral country. However, as we have said many times, we are not politically or morally neutral in the face of violations of international law and war crimes; quite the opposite. Our position is informed by the principles that drive our foreign policy: support for international human rights law, for humanitarian law and for a rules-based international order, and the rights of all countries to choose their own path. We are not neutral when Russia disregards all of these principles. We will continue to stand with Ukraine because Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival, but in defence of European security and European values. Ireland recognises that its continued support for Ukraine is a necessity, not a choice. We are playing our part by providing non-lethal military support to Ukraine.”
“Ireland welcomed the adoption of the 19th package of sanctions against Russia in October and will continue to support the use of sanctions to pressure Russia. Together these measures are having an impact, making it harder for Russia to access battlefield goods and generate revenue to pay for its illegal war. The decision by the European Council to open accession negotiations with Ukraine offers the prospect of a brighter future for the Ukrainian people. This year’s enlargement report confirmed that Ukraine has made significant progress on the path to membership in the European Union and reflects the results of systemic reforms implemented, despite all the challenges of the war. Ireland strongly supports Ukraine’s path towards EU membership. We will work to advance it under our Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.”
“Since February 2022, Ireland has committed over €380 million in political, humanitarian, economic and non-lethal military support to Ukraine. In response to Russia’s illegal aggression, the European Union has adopted unprecedented sanctions. The EU first imposed Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia in 2014 in response to its illegal annexation of Crimea and its role in supporting separatists in Donbas. Since the full-scale invasion, the EU has adopted a total of 19 sanctions packages against Russia. We must continue to exert maximum pressure on Russia and limit its ability to wage its war of aggression against Ukraine. A broad range of sectoral sanctions have been put in place, including measures targeting Russia’s military, technology, transport and energy sectors.”
“This is why Ireland, together with the European Union and its member states, have mobilised unprecedented levels of support for Ukraine since the start of the Russian war of aggression. Since February 2022, the EU and its member states have provided almost €144 billion in support for Ukraine. This has been in the form of macro-financial assistance, budgetary support, emergency assistance, crisis response and humanitarian aid, as well as military assistance. In February 2024, political agreement was reached on a €50 billion financial support package for Ukraine. The Ukraine facility will make available up to €50 billion in grants and loans until 2027 to cater for Ukraine's immediate needs, recovery and modernisation on its path towards the EU.”
“During our term on the United Nations Security Council, Ireland delivered consistent, principled and powerful criticism of Russia’s war and defence of the UN Charter and the people of Ukraine. Ireland will continue to use our position and voice in the UN and in other international fora to support Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to live in peace. As Ukraine withstands Russian bombardment, it is our responsibility as a democracy to stand with them. In defending their nation, Ukrainians are also defending the universal principles that underpin our multilateral system: the rights of all people to live peacefully within their own borders and according to their own values and choices.”
“If Russia is allowed to prevail, seizing territory it has no legal right to and causing untold death and destruction with impunity, this will simply further embolden it and give a green light for others to attempt the same. What happens in Ukraine reverberates across the globe. Such unprecedented challenges to the international rules-based order have necessarily been met with an unprecedented response. Ireland has been at the forefront of these efforts. At the United Nations, Ireland along with our EU partners, has supported every General Assembly resolution in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including successful action to exclude Russia from the Human Rights Council.”
“We are seeing the rapid erosion of the fundamental basis for multilateralism with this conflict and with it threats to the integrity and credibility of the UN Charter itself. The example of a permanent member of the Security Council privileging imperial ambitions over global security threatens all of us and it threatens our collective future. It calls into question the capacity for the peaceful settlement of disputes and frays the common threads of our peaceful co-existence as member states of the United Nations. In this, the 80th year of the UN’s founding, Russian actions in Ukraine raise profound questions and challenges for the international community.”
“President Putin seeks to contort history such that an aggressor is somehow a victim, the imperialist is liberator and the oppressor is the oppressed. We cannot accept this tearing of the fabric of the international order and this perverse inversion of reality. We must return to the facts. Russia’s full-scale invasion was an act of unprovoked and unjustified aggression by an expansionist power against its neighbour. In 1945, the United Nations collectively agreed to say, "Never again" to the atrocities that follow from expansionist violence, yet now such atrocities have returned in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan and in other conflicts. We cannot resign ourselves to inaction. We must not begin to normalise this inhumanity that the United Nations worked so hard to consign to history.”
“Russian drones and missiles target Ukrainian cities on a regular basis. Swarms of up to 800 drones per night terrorise the people of Kyiv and other cities. These are not the actions of a country interested in peace. In the face of brutal adversity, Ukrainians continue to demonstrate outstanding courage, resolve and determination. Today, I would like to honour their heroic efforts to defend their country and their freedom. Given our own history, nobody from Ireland could not feel a strong resonance with a people trying to defend their country from an imperialist oppressor that claims a right to subdue its neighbouring people and destroy their identity. Ukrainians have done nothing to bring down this war on their heads. They deserve the right we all claim to determine their own future, in peace and security.”
“For almost 1,400 days, Ukraine has been subjected to an armed aggression, the likes of which had not darkened our Continent in decades. The actions of the Russian Government in invading the territory of a sovereign, independent state are an affront to humanity, conducted with flagrant disregard for the UN Charter and for international law. In the course of its military aggression, Russia has killed thousands of Ukrainians, occupied parts of the country, devastated towns and cities, deported thousands of Ukrainian children, has forced over 14 million people from their homes and has deepened the scourge of global hunger. Russia intentionally cripples Ukrainian infrastructure and tortures its servicemen. It has razed historic sites to the ground and, simply put, has sought to extinguish any Ukrainian future from this very earth.”
“Back in January, when my Independent colleagues and I decided to go into government and agree a programme for Government to deliver change-----”
“From a Government perspective, over the last number of months we have launched a new housing plan and a revised national development plan, which will be the root of our nation over the coming years. The updated national development plan provides unprecedented levels of investment to secure Ireland’s future, unlock housing, upgrade water and energy infrastructure, deliver more roads and provide more public transport. The housing plan, launched just last week, is a major step towards tackling the housing challenge through practical action, reform and investment. Together in government, we will continue to accelerate our housing and infrastructure goals, and the changes in Cabinet today will solidify that. This is a Government of intent and implementation.”
“She has been the Government Chief Whip, a role she carried out extremely well, and she comes from a role as Minister of State in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. In fact, she is also a former Minister of State in my Department, the Department of Transport. She will bring another strong female voice to the Cabinet, which is very welcome. I also congratulate Deputy Frankie Feighan, my friend from Roscommon, and Deputy Emer Higgins on their new roles. I assure the Tánaiste, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, of my full support and that of the Independent colleagues going forward. We wish them the very best of luck in their new roles.”
“The Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, now takes up the mantle of Minister for Finance, a challenge he will no doubt rise to. The Tánaiste is an extremely experienced voice at the table. His previous roles will solidify his position. In fact, his first ministerial role was as Minister of State in the Department of Finance in 2014. Deputy Helen McEntee, who is beside me, is now Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, and I congratulate her on her role, a role I know she will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to. She is no stranger to the foreign affairs side of things, having previously served as Minister of State for European affairs. My fellow Galwegian Deputy Hildegarde Naughton now assumes the role of Minister for Education and Youth. I am truly delighted for her.”