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.”
The complete record
Every one of 833 lines we hold for Seán Canney, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 17.
“His record speaks for itself: budget after budget delivered stability, restored confidence in Ireland’s public finances, strengthened international relationships, including within the Eurogroup, where he earned enormous respect, and demonstrated the ability, year after year, to keep Ireland on a sustainable economic path while also ensuring the State could invest in housing, public services and infrastructure on a scale that simply would not have been possible without sound financial management. As he embarks on the next stage of his career, I wish Paschal every possible success. I hope the years ahead bring him the same sense of fulfilment that his years in office have brought to this country. Ireland’s loss is the world’s gain.”
“Around the Cabinet table, Paschal always focused on the long-term consequences of decisions. He had the discipline to look past the political cycle and keep sight of the broader national interest, a quality that is essential. His presence brought balance, his contributions brought perspective, and his approach brought civility to debates that often occurred under significant pressure.”
“His stewardship of the public finances gave this country confidence when confidence was badly needed. He demonstrated that economic competence and compassion are not competing values but complementary responsibilities. He was clear, he was principled and he was honest, even when the advice he gave or the decisions he had to take were difficult. That integrity was recognised at home and abroad. On a personal note, I will miss working with Paschal. We first worked together during my time in the Office of Public Works in 2016. From that period on, I came to know him as a straight-talking, highly capable and deeply committed colleague - somebody who listened carefully, considered every viewpoint and never sought credit for himself. What mattered to him was the outcome, not the headlines.”
“As Minister for Finance, he brought a steadiness that never wavered, even in moments of deep uncertainty. His approach on every issue, large or small, showed the same calm judgment and the same respect for the process of government. His leadership was instrumental in guiding Ireland through some of the most testing economic conditions in recent times. During the years of Brexit, the Covid pandemic, global inflationary pressures and significant geopolitical instability, Paschal’s voice consistently brought reassurance. He had a deep understanding of the Irish economy but, more importantly, he understood the people behind the numbers - the families, the workers, the businesses and the communities whose well-being depends on sound and careful economic management.”
“I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, on the occasion of his departure from Cabinet. It is an important moment for this House and the country because it marks the close of a remarkable chapter in public service, one defined by stability, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the Irish people. Paschal Donohoe has given incredible service to this State since he first entered the Dáil in 2011. His contribution stretches across more than a decade of national decision-making, including some of the most challenging periods in modern Irish economic history. I want to place on record my sincere best wishes to him, both personally and on behalf of the Independent colleagues whom I have the privilege to lead in Cabinet. It was an honour to serve alongside Paschal in the Cabinet of the Thirty-fourth Dáil.”
“The Government will continue to regularly engage with industry to stress the Government's expectation that these cost savings achieved through the reform agenda are reflected in lower premiums and broader coverage availability for consumers. Finally, turning to tolls and PPP projects, it is important to highlight again the ongoing improvements on our road network, which are necessary to support a growing population and economy. Total revenue has had an important role in funding such improvements as well as the improvements necessary to enhance road safety for all users. PPP contracts have been instrumental in the rapid development of our road network and in particular the motorway network. Accordingly, I do not accept the motion before the House.”
“Analysis shows the overall policy to be progressive with the lower income deciles benefiting the most from revenue recycling. As for insurance, I reiterate that the Government remains committed to achieving a competitive and sustainable insurance market in which insurance is affordable and available for everyone. A key focus of the new action plan on insurance reform is working with stakeholders, including insurers, to enhance transparency and promote affordability across all types of insurance. However, the Government is keenly aware of the impact of the cost of insurance on consumers. While the Government has delivered reforms that have reduced claims costs and provided insurers with more predictability, insurers have been slow to pass on savings to consumers.”
“Half of households are better off due to the measures part-funded by additional carbon tax funds, with households in the bottom four income deciles benefiting the most. I will conclude by stating the Government is at all times cognisant of the challenges facing households and businesses across the country in light of inflationary challenges. The Government has acted decisively and swiftly to provide supports over successive budgets. At the same time, we must be prepared for longer term challenges and make decisions which are fiscally prudent. As I have outlined above, the carbon tax is an important policy tool that supports decarbonisation of society. Revenues raised through increases in the carbon tax are allocated for expenditure related to the just transition and climate action measures.”
“Budget 2026 provides for an allocation of over €1.1 billion towards such measures, which is an additional €163 million on the allocation for 2025's and of this sum, €350 million is allocated to targeted social protection interventions. As of budget 2026, the Government has allocated over €4.2 billion in carbon tax revenue for climate action and just transition measures since 2020. ESRI analysis shows the lower income deciles are better off as a result of the social protection measures funded by the increased carbon tax. Analysis undertaken for budget 2026 using SWITCH, the ESRI tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax increase and the compensatory welfare package estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive.”
“The new action plan features ten priority actions that are focused on areas where the greatest impact on cost and availability can be achieved. They include a focus on transparency in the sector, legal reform, strengthening the powers and remit of the Injuries Resolution Board, a feasibility study on a cap for certain categories of personal injuries awards and measures to reduce both insurance fraud and the number of uninsured drivers. The carbon tax is an integral part of the Government's policy on climate change and supports a move away from fossil fuels in tandem with other policy measures such as the national retrofit programme and the electric vehicle supports. Importantly, the additional yield raised by carbon tax is ring-fenced for climate action and just transition measures.”
“It achieves a comparable award for claimants in approximately half the time compared with litigation with significantly lower legal costs. By resolving cases outside the courts, it reduces both claim costs and settlement times, which should result in lower premiums and should benefit all policyholders. High legal costs also remain a challenge and are impacting the cost of motor insurance. The implementation of further legal reform to strengthen the role of the Injuries Resolution Board and amend the Judicial Council Act 2019 to strengthen transparency and implement a robust process for the future review of the personal injuries guidelines are priority actions in the action plan to address further transparency and affordability of insurance.”
“It represents a shield for households and businesses in a period when costs elsewhere in Europe were rising due to inflation and supply chain costs. The effect of the personal injuries guidelines is having a positive impact on claim settlement procedures with 78% of all claims now being settled under the new guidelines. These structural reforms have provided a shielding effect and are preventing the effect of market pressures from being much worse. Without Government reforms, Irish motorists would now be paying dramatically higher premiums. The latest NCID report demonstrates that the Injuries Resolution Board has an important role to play and continues to be the fastest and most cost-effective way of resolving personal injury claims.”
“Through previous reforms, the Government has implemented fundamental changes, including the rebalancing of the duty of care, which adjusted liability expectations and reduced excessive claims; the reform of the Injuries Resolution Board, giving it a stronger mandate as an alternative to costly litigation; the introduction of the personal injuries guidelines, creating greater consistency and predictability in awards; and enhancements to the national claims information database, NCID, thereby transforming the availability of data about costs, premiums and settlements. Premiums in Ireland have fallen by around 34% since 2016. Today, the average private motor premium is €623, compared with £777 in Britain and £834 in Northern Ireland. These differences matter.”
“There is no doubt but that people and businesses face challenges in regard to the cost of living. However, in the absence of toll revenue it would be necessary to meet the resulting shortfall through Exchequer funding. This ultimately would come from the taxpayer. Furthermore, with regard to the use of PPP contracts, I believe these have been instrumental in the rapid development of our road network and in particular, the motorway network. This has enabled the State to risk share with the private sector and avoid incurring upfront costs. When the Government introduced the 2020 action plan for insurance reform, there was a recognition that deep structural issues were driving Irish premiums above international comparators. Legal costs were excessive, personal injury awards lacked consistency and transparency was poor.”
“Just one example of this is the Dublin tunnel, which has successfully removed countless heavy goods vehicles off the streets of our capital each day, reducing congestion and improving air quality. This work continues, with construction under way on projects such as the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge, the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy and the Adare bypass. In addition, much work has taken place on our existing national road network to make it safer for all road users and reduce journeys. Toll revenue has played a major role in this and has contributed to the funding of essential services on the national primary and secondary road network across the country. Examples of these services include pavement repair and renewal, safety and junction improvements and safeguarding the network against the increasing impact of climate change.”
“I have noted the discussion this evening and want to respond by re-emphasising the Government's commitment to supporting households and business in a manner that is fiscally responsible and sustainable over the long term. In particular, the Government has striven to protect those most vulnerable to fuel poverty. This has been shown through successive budgets with targeted welfare interventions, as well as significant investment in the national retrofit programme. Crucially these interventions are funded by funds raised through the carbon tax rate increases. Over recent decades, there have been transformative changes to the national road network, with an inter-urban motorway network now in place and many new road projects delivered.”
“First, I want to confirm that the Government will be opposing this motion. I welcome the opportunity to respond to some of the issues raised in the debate on the motion put forward by Sinn Féin on the cost of motoring. Sinn Féin has expressed the view that the May and October 2025 carbon tax increases should be reversed with no further increases taking place. Sinn Féin also calls on the Government to not proceed with toll price increases and to abolish the motor tax surcharge for quarterly and biannual payments. The motion also calls on the Government to progress and enact Sinn Féin's Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021.”
“I do not know if I gave him any answers that he liked, but like everybody else, he is passionate. It is not just regional. It is an issue right across the country. In the national development plan, €2 billion is allocated to MetroLink. That is in addition to what is in the budget for public transport. It is important to state that money is not being robbed from the public transport allocation. It is a stand-alone project, and it is important. If I dare say it, the project gives us an opportunity to press further for connections to Knock and Shannon airports. It is important that Senators keep that on the agenda, as I will.”
“People say we should have light rail in Limerick and Galway. In fairness to the people who are advocating for that in Galway city, research was carried out. It has been deemed that it would be feasible in certain circumstances. What we need to do is prepare for it rather than saying we will do it. Let us create the corridors with buses first and plant the light rail on top. The way we can do it now is a lot simpler than was the case 20 years ago, in that there is light engineering. Works do not have to be as disruptive as when they where done in Dublin. You set the rail 18 inches into the ground and do not have to dig huge foundations. We have all of that going with us. We have a journey to take. I am delighted that so many Senators waited for the debate. That demonstrates the interest. Senator Mullen apologised because he had to go.”
“I have tried to cover as much as I possible. I cannot disagree with anything I have heard. I want to make sure that we try to squeeze as much as possible out of the lemon and get as much done as possible over the next five years and over the ten years after that. I thank Senators for their contributions. The Chair said, "Light rail for Limerick". Is it going to Galway as well?”
“We have TEN-T funding for some projects, including the western rail corridor, but, again, you have to apply for it. The funding is there, so we should apply for it aggressively. Back to Ballycar. I was down there in 2016 when I was Minister of State for the OPW. We set up the interdepartmental working committee. Everything was going fine until somebody mentioned the price tag and asked who was going to pay for it. Everybody ran for cover. I will check it out and see where it is at because it is a huge negative if there is a flood and you cannot use a train for maybe six or eight weeks. It is disrespectful for the passengers who use them and to Irish Rail to have to try to manage all of that. It also creates a lack of confidence in passengers when they continue to use it or buy a car or whatever.”
“I will come to that. Going back to Donegal, that area is ripe for development in terms of connecting with Derry, down through Donegal into Sligo, connecting the north-west and the south of Ireland. We have an advantage in that we have the tag of being a lagging region or a region in decline. We are in NUTS II. Let us make use of all of the acronyms to go to Europe. I have asked my officials to do that in order to try to garner more funding to positively discriminate toward this region to allow us to can tilt the balance. That is the only way to do it.”
“We do not need to get breakfast on the train; we are interested here in people getting a cup of coffee on the way onto the train. There are ways we can do it. We are looking at that to see how we can improve the service and the delivery of the service. Senator Conway mentioned Crusheen and Moyross in Clare. I have seen the plans and the feasibility study for Crusheen. It is an exciting project. That is something we have given the Department to have a look at. Moyross has gone for planning permission. I am back to Donegal-----”
“The amount of maintenance required is not like a road. It is simpler. Irish Rail has Jim Meade as its CEO; he has built a fantastic team. I visited Kent station in Cork, Corbett station in Limerick and Galway. I have other places to go to. When you look at the work they are doing. It is not up in big lights, but I was in Cork station and I thought it would not look out of place in any city in Europe. That is the good news. All they are saying is that is they need more carriages and faster services and that they need them now. As regards people getting a cup of coffee, in fairness, Irish Rail has tendered the contract out. It stopped during Covid. After that the prices went through the roof. Some of the services are back. It is looking at how it can innovate.”
“That is on track to get moving. Sometimes these things move slowly when there is a public consultation or whatever. It is not a shovel-ready project, but we will push on with it. In addition, people are looking for additional stops and connection from Loughrea. These are things we can look at. If they make sense, then we are in business. Our biggest success story over the past ten years is public transport. That is why we were talking about doing more and more. We are demanding more and more now. It is great. The challenge for the Government is to get the money to deliver it. We have a good national development plan, which gave us a good kick-start to get the next five to ten years planned out. When you build a railway line, it will be there for 100, 150 or 200 years. It is that kind of an investment.”
“That is being looked at by Irish Rail in conjunction with the Department. Just going through the other things, we also have the issue of Meath. I know all about it. Deputy Gillian Toole lives in this area.”
“We can go down to Cork and to Waterford Port. We have three ports. I call it the Atlantic rail corridor. It is also the Atlantic economic corridor. We need rail to do that. There are a lot of eggs in the basket. I have to start picking out eggs, cracking them and frying them. How many projects can we do over the lifetime of the national development plan in order that there will be a continuous roll-out? Can we have confidence in the industry and civil engineering business to build these over the next ten, 15 or 20 years? It is important that we answer these questions. That is where I am at with it at the moment. There were a lot of issues, including safety. When the number of train journeys per year increase from 132,000 to 750,000, you are going to have problems. Safety is an issue.”
“My commitment to the House is that the Department and I will continue to work closely on this to ensure that we get projects that are shovel ready started as quickly as possible and that we prepare other projects in order that we will have a pipeline for the next 20 years. In relation to the Sligo line from Claremorris to Collooney, there will be a review of the all-island rail review in about ten years or so. It might be quicker than that depending on the success of projects ahead of it. When Eamon Ryan decided to build a line from Limerick to Foynes, he probably tripled the cost-benefit analysis case for opening the western rail corridor because now there is a port in close proximity. We also have a connection between Ballina, Westport and all these places down to Clare and then on to Foynes.”
“Planning permission and all of that is required in respect of those. These passing lanes mean that there can be additional frequency. Senator Kyne knows how long it took to get the Oranmore project up and running. Irish Rail has the expertise to help us deliver on our ambition. One of our sons was in London for 14 years. He never had a car because he had access to public transport. If he needed a car, he could hire one for a weekend if he was going someplace. He never needed a car. We have train stations that are closed. If they reopened, there is probably ten to 15 acres of land beside each of them that could be used for park-and-ride facilities and to allow pedestrian access. Most of these stations are located within the centre of the towns. The philosophy is easy. What we need to do is get going with it.”
“Going back to 2004, there was a very slim chance that we were going to build any railway or do anything with rail. The whole thing has changed. What we need to do is change with it and change our attitude. People in my neck of the woods are wondering about the western rail corridor. What we are doing with all of the projects is that some of them are with the European Investment Bank, which is preparing the cost-benefit analyses. I hope to have a version of those in the next month or so. Then we will see what we are going to do. As Senator Blaney mentioned, we need a programme. That programme will set out all the projects we have to do and will indicate when they are going to start and when they are going to finish. Some projects are shovel ready. There are about 20 passing lanes needed in different places around Ireland.”
“He insisted that Irish Rail leave the line in place. Now we can actually do that project without the need for a rail order. We are refurbishing it. The same thing has happened between Limerick and Foynes Port. That is being done. The railway is there. It is freight only at the moment, but it has the capacity to take passengers. The next phase is to put in all the signalling and junctions and then commission the line and test it with trains. I am expecting that we will have that up and running with trains on it in 2027. We will build on that then. I am picking these out as I go along. Taking Sligo as an example, I refer to the Claremorris to Collooney line. Irish Rail has confirmed that this line is not available for anything other than railway use.”
“A simple example is the western rail corridor phase 1 from Ennis to Athenry. That line sees 750,000 passenger journeys per year now. Back when it was opened in 2010 or 2011, that number was something like 132,000. When people say they want more carriages - I talk to Mr. Jim Meade about this - it means we would have to extend the platforms. That is grand and we will get on and do it. It is a great story that we are talking about it. I do not think there is anybody in the House who has any doubts about what we want to do, and not just in the context of the all-island rail review. At this stage, I want to do one thing. I also acknowledge the work of the Athair Mícheál Mac Gréil. This is just the vision he had back in the seventies when the railway line between Athenry and Claremorris was closed.”
“There is no pressure at all on me, I would say. I thank Members for their contributions. Sometimes, I have to pinch myself when I hear people talking nowadays compared to in 2004 when I joined the intercounty rail committee. We were maybe an organisation that was not proud of what we were doing. We had the vision but it took us a long time to get to a stage where we could convince people, including politicians. Between 2016 and 2020 - actually, it was later - we drafted a letter that we sent to the then Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan. We had every party and none sign that letter supporting railway. When I listen to what everybody wants, I say, "Jeepers, there must be something here". And there is. We have a huge success story but we have not matched it with investment over the years.”
“I wish to acknowledge work of Jim Meade, who will be retiring on Friday from his position as chief executive of Irish Rail. I thank him for the Trojan work he has done to bring this story to life. Mary Considine is taking over as the new chief executive. I met her in Galway last week, and she is very enthusiastic about her new role. I look forward to working with her and wish her well.”
“My Department is currently reviewing key programmes and projects in the transport sector in the context of that capital funding envelope, including plans for investment in the rail network. A decision on a programme of delivery within the available funding envelope will be made in the coming months. However, the NDP will help provide funding to advance the protection and renewal of our rail network, deliver a new train protection system to safely cater for growth in rail traffic levels and funding to advance projects across the rail network, including helping to progress elements of the rail review. I look forward to working closely with the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann in the coming years to make these investment plans a reality. I look forward to hearing the contributions of Senators.”
“More detailed analysis on eight rail projects - including FourNorth, the purpose of which is to address capacity constraints between Connolly Station and Clongriffin on the northern commuter rail line - is also being progressed by the EIB and other rail stakeholders. This analysis will support the preparation of project appraisal documents, which should help expedite their approval and may also assist in accessing EU funding to supplement Exchequer funding to advance these projects from planning and into construction. The recently concluded review of the national development plan, which was published by the Department of public expenditure and reform, has confirmed my Department's annual capital allocations from 2026 to 2030.”
“This route would also reconnect Tuam to the railway and enable direct passenger services between Galway and Mayo, supporting regional development in the area. This project serves as an example of the types of benefits that interventions proposed under the rail review can provide right across our rail network. My Department is working with the European Investment Bank, EIB, and rail stakeholders across the island, including the National Transport Authority and larnród Éireann, to consider how best to sequence and implement the recommendations of the rail review. This work includes the preparation of a project prioritisation strategy. It considers how best to optimise the sequencing and implementation of the rail recommendations, including in the context of short-term interventions and longer term projects.”
“Wider access will be facilitated by new rail routes in the north midlands and north west, meaning 700,000 more people would live within 5 km of a train station. High-level economic analysis conducted as part of the review indicates that the benefits of the package of recommendations broadly equal their cost, indicating economic feasibility. I am delighted to say that included among these 32 recommendations is the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Claremorris and Athenry. The reinstatement of this line has the potential to support both passenger and rail freight services, allowing a direct route for freight services from Ballina and Westport to ports on the south coast that avoid the more congested part of the rail network around Dublin.”
“New 200 km/h intercity trains will provide faster services, with rail journey times between cities significantly reduced and, in some cases, halved. There will be higher frequency train services, at least hourly between cities and at least every two hours on regional and rural routes. In line with Ireland's decarbonisation goals, there will be a net carbon-zero rail system, primarily through the overhead electrification of intercity routes and new electric trains. Creating wider connectivity, the rail review recommends that the rail network route length on the island increase from approximately 2,300 km to almost 3,000 km, with the reopening of former and new rail lines, including the western rail corridor.”
“The final review report sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system over the period to 2050, aligning with net carbon-zero commitments in both jurisdictions. The recommendations seek to transform the quality of the rail system to the benefit of passengers and wider society on the island, through additional capacity on the rail network, increased service frequencies and developing new rail lines. These investments will support higher frequency and more efficient passenger and rail freight services. On this basis, the report's recommendations envisage huge benefits being created for rail on the island. Much of the single-track rail network will be upgraded to double-track, with four-track in some areas to provide additional capacity.”
“They may also be used to enable the extension of DART services in other parts of the network in advance of the roll-out of overhead wires, such as the DART extension to Wicklow, planned for around 2029. The programme for Government is clear on the need to continue investment in our rail network, noting that we will work collaboratively to act on the recommendations from the all-island strategic rail review to improve connectivity across the island of Ireland. The review, which was published in July last year, was led by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. This groundbreaking report sets out a strategic vision for the development of the rail system across the island over the coming decades.”
“We have seen positive news emerge from the planning system with An Coimisiún Pleanála granting conditional planning approval of the DART+ West project and the full planning approval of the DART+ South West project in 2024, as well as the DART+ Coastal North project in August this year. It is on the northern rail line from Connolly station to Drogheda that the public will get to experience the first element of the DART+ programme, when the new battery electric DART carriages, which are currently undergoing testing, are brought into service. These new carriages are not just significant because they will provide greater capacity and a better passenger experience, but also because they are helping us to meet our decarbonisation goals.”
“Crucially, they will enable increased capacity on the network, helping us plan for the future. For example, the upgrade at Ceannt Station in Galway will increase the number of platforms to five, which will support a growth in frequencies envisioned under the all-island strategic rail review. In the Dublin region, DART+ is the most significant expansion of the electrified commuter rail system since the introduction of the original DART service in 1984. The DART+ programme will bring electrified DART commuter trains west as far as Maynooth and M3 Parkway, south-west to Hazelhatch and Celbridge, and north to Drogheda. It will double the city centre rail capacity from approximately 26,000 to 52,000 passengers per direction per hour, and triple the electrified network, from circa 50 km on the existing DART line to 150 km.”
“A public consultation on phase 2 of the programme, which includes the delivery of eight new stations and provides for the electrification of the Cork commuter rail system, concluded in July. The opening of the new platform at Kent Station is part of a series of train station upgrade works being progressed across the country, with works progressing at Ceannt Station in Galway and the development of a new Plunkett Station in Waterford. Works at Oranmore Station in Galway commenced earlier this month to deliver an additional train platform and a passing loop, and a planning application was lodged with Limerick City and County Council to construct a new train station at Moyross in August. These station upgrades will provide enhanced passenger experience and improved accessibility.”
“I visited this station earlier in the year. I am very impressed with the work there. This platform will facilitate Cork commuter trains to travel through Kent Station from Mallow to Midleton or Cobh without requiring passengers to change service, which will support a better rail service. This platform is just the first element of the Cork area commuter rail programme to go live. Works are also well under way on two other work packages, namely the twin tracking of the Glounthaune to Midleton line and a significant signalling upgrade. These elements of the programme are on course to be delivered next year and, together with the new platform, they represent phase 1 of the Cork area commuter rail programme. That will help deliver a more frequent, efficient and reliable rail service to the people of Cork.”
“Before I discuss the review, I would like to provide an update on the progress we are already making in advancing rail projects across the country. We have invested significantly in recent years in our national rail network to create a more efficient, safe and better rail service for the people of Ireland. Most recently, Woodbrook DART station in south Dublin opened to the public in August of this year. The station is the 147th station on the Irish rail network and is at the heart of a large residential community. The new station will enable transport-orientated development, supporting the delivery of housing close to high-capacity public transport services. The opening of a new "through" platform at Kent Station in April represented a landmark day in the delivery of the Cork area commuter rail programme.”
“I thank the Acting Chair very much. The Senators' faces are all very familiar. For some reason, Galway and Mayo have taken over here. I thank Senators for inviting me to address the House. I welcome the opportunity to provide an update on the all-island strategic rail review. Rail lines built in the 1800s are still carrying passengers today, and the decisions and investments we make for rail in this decade will similarly benefit the Irish people, the economy and the environment to the end of this century and beyond. This is why it is so important to plan our rail network in a holistic, strategic manner, looking at the impacts and benefits across all regions. This is a key strength of the all-island rail review.”
“He has not shied away from difficult positions or challenging conversations. He has stood up and spoken out when it was not easy or popular to do so but when it was necessary. This is what true leadership looks like. Leadership is not about chasing headlines or popularity polls. It is about standing firm in your convictions, being honest with the people and doing what is right even when it is difficult. The Tánaiste has shown those qualities time and again both at home and abroad. For that reason and for his steadfast commitment to the responsibilities of high office, I have no hesitation in supporting the motion of confidence in the Tánaiste. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty for the people of Ireland and our standing in the world.”
“The goals laid out in the programme for Government, from housing and healthcare to rural development, environmental action and economic resilience, cannot be achieved overnight. They require steady hands and a shared commitment. The Tánaiste's role, both as a national leader and as Minister for foreign affairs, has been vital in ensuring that Ireland's voice remains calm, principled and consistent on the world stage. At a time of extraordinary turbulence, from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, he has led with compassion and conviction. Ireland's reputation abroad is built on principle and humanity. The Tánaiste has embodied both. He has represented Ireland in a way that commands respect. Within the European Union and globally, the Tánaiste has been a force for stability, reason and leadership.”
“This is the true measure of progress. Just last week, the Government delivered the largest budget in the history of the State. This is not a one-off gesture but the first step in a multi-year plan to address real issues for those who need support. It delivers on our programme for Government commitments, tackling cost-of-living pressures, supporting families, investing in public services and building a fairer society. Now more than ever, Ireland needs stability. We are operating in a time of global uncertainty and that demands consistent leadership. We need a stable Government that can take the long view, not one that is distracted by political noise or short-term thinking. There is still much to do over the remaining years of this Government but the ambition is clear, the pathway is set and the partnership is working.”