Seamus Healy
Tipperary South · Independent · Ireland
“Across Ireland, 624,000 people provide regular unpaid care to children and adults with additional needs. A recent 2026 report on care shows that 75% of carers never received respite, 49% cut back on essentials such as food and heating, and 48% experienced severe loneliness.”
“Respite and residential services for persons with intellectual disabilities are in crisis. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides the right to live independently in the community with choices equal to others.”
“It states, "Our campaign started with a simple question: 'Who will provide the care my daughter needs when I am no longer able to care for her?'" It continues, "It is not uncommon to hear parents say; I would hope my son or daughter goes before me. Then at least I know he or she is safe.”
“What is needed urgently and what is called for in that submission is, first, an emergency funded plan in budget 2027 to address the needs of parents in their 70s, 80s and 90s who cannot wait for systemic change.”
“Down the centuries, generations of Irish men and women espoused the desire for a 32-county independent sovereign republic. As far back as the 1790s, Theobald Wolfe Tone, the father of Irish republicanism, focused on a vision of complete separation from Britain, the elimination of sectarian divisions and the unity of Catholic, Protestant a…”
“He saw partition as a reactionary device to divide the Irish working class. Again, how right he was. This Bill requires the Government to prepare and publish a Green Paper on Irish unity, convene a citizens' assembly, engage with communities and provide regular updates to the Oireachtas.”
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“Self-reported age is simply not good enough any more. Most platforms formally require people to be over the age of 13 but there is effectively no enforcement of that. The platforms will strenuously object to these proposals but they are of vital importance. The owners of these tech companies are part of an elite group of billionaires. Nine of the ten top social media companies in the world are owned by six billionaires and eight of the top ten AI companies are billionaire-run. These billionaires use their extreme concentration of wealth to shape laws to influence the media, technology, taxation and public policy in their favour. These companies must be faced down for the protection of children. We must not be laggards in this area, waiting and waiting for the EU to act.”
“Other countries, such as Spain, France, Denmark, Greece and Portugal, either have or are introducing similar bans of their own. In fact, the Spanish Prime Minister said, and I agree with him, that children must be protected from what he calls "the digital Wild West". Minors in Ireland have unsupervised access to a space they were never meant to navigate and are exposed to violence, manipulation, abuse, addiction, pornography and much more. Early access to social media is linked to risks, including cyberbullying, mental health issues, depression, anxiety and exposure to harmful content. The Government must introduce legislation in this area to include State-enforced regulation to prevent access by under-16s to social media and require platforms to introduce technology-verified identity systems to prevent that access.”
“As I said, this is important legislation. It clarifies the original Act, creates the stand-alone offence and increases the time limit within which a case can be taken. That is very important because on very many occasions there can be long delays in information coming forward, so the extension of that time is vitally important. The increase in penalties is also very significant and welcome. This is very important legislation that I urge the Government to accept. I know it is not opposing the Bill but what we need is urgent action to implement the proposals in it. I will also refer to the whole question of access by minors aged under 16 to social media. As we know, Australia was the world's first country to ban social media access for under-16s. That ban came into force in December 2025.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I thank the Sinn Féin Deputies for bringing it forward. I welcome the Bill. It is important legislation, although it is short, that is vital for the protection of the public, both adults and children, to stop the creation and distribution of intimate images without consent. Unfortunately, there are gaps in the principal Act of 2020. This legislation deals with that by creating a stand-alone offence of the creation of non-consensual intimate images. This is an area where there must be no room for confusion, loopholes or grey areas. It is an area that must be dealt with and legislated for urgently. What we are dealing with here is, of course, a crime and a violation of individuals on the basis of image-based sexual abuse and child sexual abuse material.”
“Outcomes are strongly affected by long delays. The same OECD report highlights that children of preschool age have better outcomes as adults than children who arrive at school age. It is, therefore, imperative that we move away from short-term thinking and ensure that family reunification takes place. Family reunification should be available immediately, particularly in cases where the individual is resident in Ireland on full-time basis, is in employment and is paying their taxes. This is a very important issue that goes to the core of the whole situation where we have significant numbers of non-Irish workers working in our services.”
“Relationships are being torn apart, families are missing milestones, people are missing out on being parents and children are missing out on having their parents for support and guidance. Research shows that long-term delays in family reunion impact negatively on a series of issues like wages, education and language acquisition and can lead to long-term household poverty. The OECD's International Migration Outlook 2019 had a focus on the impact of family reunion on integration. It reported that spouses who arrive with some delay earn significantly lower wages after ten or more years in the host country. This report also outlines the negative effect of the absence of a spouse or partner on health and well-being. The integration of migrant children also depends on how quickly they can join their family.”
“However, thousands of people are being forced to live apart from their families for years on end. The new Government policy in this regard makes the situation even worse. People who come to Ireland to work are doing essential jobs such as: looking after older people; picking, packing and cooking food; working in hospitality services; driving buses; building houses; working as nurses and doctors; and staffing our hospitals. They have been recruited to work here because we cannot fill those positions ourselves. These people are being denied their basic right to have their family with them because they do not earn enough money or because of the types of jobs they have.”
“For instance, can legal counselling be provided by non-legal professionals? Surely not. The suggestion about group counselling is neither practical nor legal. The key question is whether there will be legal advice for individuals. Who will conduct the assessments and what qualifications will they have? What does the phrase "suitable medical means of assessing age" mean and how effective and independent will the independent monitoring mechanism be? It appears that the Government may remove the chief inspector "in the best interests of the State ". That is very broad and, I would suggest, open to abuse. I refer in particular to the question of family reunification. We all need our families around us. Everyone who comes to live and work in Ireland deserves to have their family with them.”
“This Bill involves an erosion of migrants' rights and a shift towards deterrence. It is rushed legislation that is deeply flawed. We are being told by the Government that there is going to be a raft of amendments. As a result, we cannot scrutinise the Bill properly. The Bill leans towards the far right and racist lobby that is opposed to all migration, be it legal or illegal or whether it relates to IPAS centres, students with education visas or workers with employment permits. Those in question are on record on this issue. Key equality safeguards are either unclear or are absent from the Bill. It does not define what is meant by legal counselling or clarify who will provide that counselling. Neither is it clear if international protection applicants are going to be entitled to legal advice and representation at all stages of the process.”
“A wealth tax, even at a very nominal rate, would raise billions of euro to support low and middle-income families. The Minister's amendment is absolutely shameful and should be withdrawn. At least, the Government should introduce immediately a €500 winter payment for people who are seriously under pressure from energy bills right across the board. I ask the Dáil to support this reasonable and common-sense motion and I ask the Minister of State to withdraw his amendment.”
“There is an alternative but, of course, it is one the Government refuses to take. This is a very wealthy country. Budget 2026 projects a surplus of €5.1 billion and over the past three years there has been a surplus of €42.2 billion. The Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund have €20 billion. This Government can well afford to reinstate energy credits and to introduce an emergency winter payment. If that is not enough, there are huge financial moneys available. Twelve Irish billionaires own €46 billion. That exceeds the combined wealth of 66% of the population of this country, some 3.4 million people. Oxfam recommends a wealth tax, and rightly so. That is something the Government should introduce immediately.”
“There is no more confirmation of that than the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 of the Fianna Fáil Minister, James Browne, which he introduced in the House yesterday. That Bill is written by, for and on behalf of corporate landlords and institutional investors. That Bill will line the pockets of these organisations and will introduce extortionate rents, lock people out of the rental markets and increase homelessness. The Government's policy is very clear. The Minister has said that employment is the way out poverty. There are 140,000 workers living in poverty. They are not my figures; they are Government figures and from the CSO. Contrast that to the huge increases of higher executives announced last week and the huge bonuses to Irish Water executives announced the week before.”
“I should not have been shocked by the amendment because the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments of the past ten years have pursued policies that support the rich and powerful in our society to the detriment of low- and middle-income families. The political choices they have made support corporate landlords, the burger barons and the big developers. That is exactly what has happened. It is noticeable that we do not see, and have not seen, a single Fianna Fáil Deputy in the Chamber. This is a party that claimed at one stage to represent working-class people. Of course, that is long since gone. Fianna Fáil has now become more Fine Gael than Fine Gael itself.”
“I am shocked by the Government's amendment. In effect, it is saying that everything in the garden is rosy. However, low- and middle-income families know very well that everything in the garden is not rosy. The Government's amendment does not even acknowledge the cost-of-living crisis that exists. It does not acknowledge the huge financial pressures on families. There is no acknowledgement that budget 2026 created higher levels of poverty and took up to €1,400 out of the pockets of the less well off and the disabled. There is no acknowledgement that the Government increased the income tax take from PAYE workers.”
“I fully support the campaign and I call on all organisations, political parties, and the trade union movement to come out in support of it. The fact of the matter is that low- and middle-income families across this country are put to the pin of their collar to survive on a daily basis as a result of this cost-of-living crisis.”
“Vincent de Paul, SVP, sees the results of the Government's policy first hand, with 260,000 requests in 2025, up 6% and 33,204 energy requests in 2025, which was the highest number ever. I move this motion in advance of the launch of the affordable Ireland campaign. This is a campaign of civil society organisations, Opposition political parties, student groups, trade unions and many others. That group has come together to demand that the Government take real action on the cost-of-living crisis that is impacting households. The start of that campaign is on Saturday, 28 February, here in Dublin with a national protest. That protest will focus on the demand for an emergency winter payment and a cost-of-disability payment.”
“These insurance companies need to be tackled. The list goes on. What does all this mean for families and society? It means families are being driven into poverty. There are 629,425 adults living in poverty, or 11.7% of the population and that will increase to 12.6% in 2026. There are 190,108 children or 15.3% living in poverty and that will increase to 15.6% in 2026. There are 106,385 people over 65 years of age or 13% living in poverty and that will increase to 17.6% in 2026. These figures were provided by the Parliamentary Budget Office. Families and households are also under huge pressure from energy with 298,000 families in arrears on their electricity bills and 185,000 in arrears on gas bills. After budget 2026, the annual income of the poorest 20% of households will fall by 4.15%. The Society of St.”
“Carers save the State billions of euro every year - I think the figure is €20 billion - and they save the HSE huge amounts of money, yet a carer who receives a full carer's allowance of €270 per week now pays €54 of that in council rent. That is absolutely unacceptable. The Government should give instructions to local authorities to exclude carer's allowance from determinations of rent. The next issue that impinges hugely on families is motoring costs, which are a huge burden on families, particularly those living outside the major urban centres where there are, as the Minister of State will be aware, poor public transport facilities. Motoring premiums have increased by 17%. The volume of claims is down by 40%, awards are down by one third and profits are at 13%, which is double the international average.”
“I've been careful with savings for several years and have a decent deposit built up, but the price of homes in Sligo has skyrocketed with some one-bed new builds starting at €295k and second-hand homes regularly going for up to €100,000 over the asking price. Every year prices go higher so it becomes more impossible to buy. It seems like buying is now a dream rather than a reality. Rents have also increased significantly and the residential tenancies Bill we have just been dealing with will increase rents even further from the existing unaffordable rents to absolutely extortionate rents by way of an additional €3,000 to €3,500 per year. Council rents have also increased significantly. The fact carer's allowance is now being included for the purpose of rent determination is an absolute scandal.”
“Some of them are SSE Airtricity, up 9.5% or an additional €150 per year; Bord Gáis Energy up 13.5% or an additional €218 per year; Pinergy is up 9.8% or an additional €199; Energia is up 12.1% or €200; and Flogas electricity is up 7% or €126 extra per year. These prices are hugely impinging on the financial position of ordinary families. Rents are unaffordable, up by 4.7% last year and house prices have risen by 8.1%. A teacher, garda, nurse or public servant cannot afford to purchase a house now. It is worth quoting the current edition of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, monthly newsletter, InTouch . A Sligo teacher said: I moved home in 2021, secured a permanent job and began looking to buy a house.”
“Food prices have gone through the roof, rising by approximately 5% last year. There is huge price gouging by food companies and the family shop is now costing an additional €3,000 per year over the past few years. We need price controls and a price freeze and we need an agri-food regulator to tackle the rip-off in food costs. Energy is another area of huge concern. Electricity prices in Ireland are some of the highest in Europe at 24% above the EU average. Gas prices have doubled in the past five years and we are also seeing further electricity price rises. All the main companies have announced price increases in the region of 10%.”
“There is a cost of living crisis in this State and it did not happen overnight. One's first instinct is to say the Government has lost touch with the daily living and working conditions of Irish people but that is not the case. The cost-of-living crisis that exists today is the result of deliberate Government policy. Governments make choices and this and previous Governments have made choices favouring the rich and powerful in our society to the detriment of low and middle income families. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together have made these choices for the past ten years at least and they are responsible for the poverty, homelessness, exorbitant rents and crushing financial pressures on families trying to make ends meet on a daily basis. Prices have increased by 23.5% in the past five years.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — a cost-of-living crisis exists in this State; — Budget 2026 was predicated on an inflation rate of 2 per cent, but it is now at 3.2 per cent; — prices have increased by 23.5 per cent in the last five years; — food prices have increased by 5 per cent in the last year; — Irish electricity prices are among the highest in the European Union (EU), 24 per cent higher than the EU average; — electricity companies have announced an average increase of 10 per cent; — gas prices have almost doubled in the last five years; — private house rents have continued to skyrocket, up 4.7 per cent year-on-year and reaching €2,100 per month in Dublin; — house prices have increased 8.1 per cent year-on-year; — council house rents have increased, including charging extra rent for person's carer's allowance; — motor insurance premiums have increased by 17 per cent; — toll charges have increased; — Local Property Tax has increased; — student fees have increased; and — childcare fees continue to be at mortgage repayment levels; further notes that: — 11.7 per cent of the population, 629,425 people, are living in poverty, including: — 190,108 or 15.3 per cent of children; — 106,385 or 13 per cent of over 65s; — 69,244 or 1 in 3 of persons with a long-term illness or a disability; and — 140,377 workers; — 298,000 households are in arrears on electricity bills; — 185,000 households are in arrears on gas bills; — according to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the withdrawal of the once-off cost of living payments will increase general poverty to 12.6 per cent, child poverty to 15.6 per cent, older persons to 17.6 per cent, and decrease the annual income of the poorest 20 per cent of households by 4.15 per cent; — the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) received 260,000 requests for help in 2025, up 6 per cent on 2024; and — the SVP received 33,214 energy requests in November 2025 which was the highest ever; and calls on the Government to: — stop the price gouging of food and energy companies; — appoint an agri-food regulator to tackle rip-off food costs; — introduce price control of food, electricity, gas and fuel costs; — implement a rent freeze; — implement a living wage; — benchmark social welfare increases to the minimum essential standard of living index; — introduce a weekly cost of disability payment; — introduce the promised maximum €200 per month child-care cost and commence immediately with the creation of a public child-care service; — commence the introduction of a free public transport system; — introduce a second targeted tier of child benefit; — reinstate energy credits with the immediate payment of a €500 winter payment; and — introduce a millionaires wealth tax.”
“One final item I want to refer to is the current income limits for local authority housing applicants. They are completely out of date, totally inadequate and a huge pressure on ordinary families, working families and families on social welfare.”
“This approach is consistent with and faithful to both the spirit and the terms of Bunreacht na hÉireann, and I believe it should be implemented urgently because it is the only way this housing crisis can be dealt with and reasonable housing can be provided for Irish citizens. We need large-scale building of social and affordable houses on public land, we need to stop all evictions and we need to freeze rents, not to increase them to what are being called market rents, which are absolutely extortionate. We need a massive plan for local authorities to purchase vacant houses, to refurbish them and to let them to housing applicants. These are the first steps in a successful housing plan, and the very first step in that is the declaration of a housing emergency.”
“The Government's current plan and this Bill fail. They are rebaked policies of previous Governments and previous plans. This one is no different. There is precedent for the declaration in law of a housing emergency. We had the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts between 2011 and 2016. A declaration of a housing emergency in law would ensure that the State and all its agencies, Departments of State, local authorities, approved housing bodies and utilities like Irish Water and the ESB would be required to take emergency action to solve the housing crisis.”
“The Government has consistently failed to meet its housing targets. This year it had a target of 41,000 units; it missed it by over 5,000 units. The fact of the matter is that the housing emergency we have in this country continues to undermine the very fabric of Irish society. There is an alternative, and I continue to say we need the declaration in law of a housing emergency. That is the basis for any successful alternative to the current failed policies of this and previous Governments. Housing is a human right and is enshrined in Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Housing Commission deals with this housing emergency and says, "It is critical that this housing deficit is addressed through emergency action." Successive governments have failed to do that and failed to solve this housing crisis.”
“The only guarantee in the Bill is that the already unaffordable rip-off rents will be increased to extortionate proportions, and I mean all rents, not just those affecting tenancies, from 1 March. Over a very short period, all rents will increase to extortionate proportions. It is an outright attack on renters. Some 60,000 renters will have their rents increased every year by anything up to €3,000 to €3,500. It will lock renters out of the market and increase homelessness. This Bill is written for, on behalf of and by big corporate landlords and institutional investors. There is a housing emergency in this State. A total of 16,734 persons were homeless on 31 December of this year, an increase of 1,870 on 2024. A total of 5,188 of those were children, up 678 on 2024. That is a scandal, and this Bill will make matters worse.”
“I want to raise again the fact that the people of south Tipperary have had no ophthalmology service for almost 18 months now. There is a huge waiting list, heading for over 3,000, of children and adults waiting for urgent eye treatment. Hundreds of children have never been seen. Hundreds of people with glaucoma have either never been seen or are awaiting follow-up treatment and some may be facing blindness. The HSE failed to fill the vacant consultant post which arose from a retirement on age grounds even though it was aware for a number of years that the retirement was due. This issue has been raised here on numerous occasions, without success. I ask the Tánaiste to personally intervene in this situation to ensure that the service is returned to south Tipperary urgently.”
“These blockages are a health hazard and Irish Water refuses to deal with them, claiming they are private issues, even though before the establishment of Irish Water these blockages were always dealt with by local authority staff. A blockage at a single location arising from old pipework can affect anything up to 50 households. It is simply impossible, impractical and unfair that individual householders should have to bear the significant costs involved. Irish Water should free these blockages in the same way as they were done in the past. I raise the question of the promised referendum to prevent the privatisation of water services and take them into public ownership. That was promised as far back as 2016. We want to see that referendum brought forward immediately.”
“As we speak there is a boil water notice on the Ironmills supply and a major outage in the town of Clonmel. This is due to Irish Water's failure to have full-time caretakers at treatment plants, the lack of maintenance at those plants and the failure to have alarm systems on plants. There are also huge delays in dealing with burst water mains, particularly at weekends when Irish Water is reluctant to call out staff and leaves consumers without water for days on end. Irish Water should be abolished, and the responsibility transferred back to local authorities like county councils, giving them responsibility for water and wastewater services. I raise another issue, which is the question of sewerage blockages in single houses and on combined drains.”
“It refuses to meet public representatives in open democratic forums like county council meetings. Consumers cannot meet an Irish Water official face to face. Yes, you can report a problem to a call centre. You might get a report back in a week, or maybe a month or maybe not at all. I believe it has contempt for the public and councillors alike and it refuses to notify planned outages to consumers. Other utilities like the ESB have no problem doing that. Irish Water refuses to do it. Boil water notices are almost endemic in the system. In the past 12 months there have been continuous boil water notices across south Tipperary affecting the towns of Ardfinnan, Tipperary town, Cahir, Cashel, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir, and lasting two, three and even six months on occasion.”
“Senior executives of Irish Water got bonuses of up to €32,000 in 2024. This was on top of six-figure salaries ranging from €122,000 to €255,000. Some 47 people got bonuses of between €6,600 and €32,500. Over 560 staff on salaries of between €83,000 and €154,000 got bonuses of between €1,000 and €22,000. There are no bonuses paid to workers who are out at all hours of the day and night fixing bursts or working on boil water notices. This is an insult to lower paid staff and to consumers, who are suffering the absolute failures of Irish Water. Irish Water is another quango paid for by PAYE taxpayers. It is antidemocratic, anti-consumer and anti-public representative and that is the culture of Irish Water. It believes it is not answerable to anybody. It is hiding from the public. It has no public offices.”
“Particular groups must also have access to these arrangements, including carers and staff with particular health needs. Of course, there is a climate change and pollution aspect to this, which is important. There would be less pollution and a reduced carbon footprint. Workers are currently stuck in cars for hours on end and also incur increased insurance costs, etc. A legal basis is required immediately.”
“There must be a right to disconnect. These arrangements must not erode working conditions and must protect the right to disconnect outside of working hours. There must be fair access, that is, a legal right of access for all suitable roles to these arrangements. Vitally, an appeals system must be put in place whereby any refusal by an employer can be challenged and employers cannot give vague or spurious reasons for refusal. These arrangements must be voluntary. Staff must have a right to opt out and equality of rights. These workers must have the same rights, protections and promotional opportunities as office-based staff. Health and safety issues and guidelines must be in place, in particular for workstations and those with mental health difficulties.”
“Remote, flexible and hybrid working is here to stay. Recent demands to return to the office from banks, IT companies and Departments seem to challenge that view. Long-term arrangements must be put in place for this type of working. These working arrangements are essential for modern work-life balance and must not be treated as temporary or pandemic related. These working conditions must be based on a legal framework, giving an entitlement to these arrangements. Recent surveys by the Fórsa trade union found that 86% of members were interested in remote working, with 80% preferring a hybrid situation, that is, work at home with time in the office. A legal framework must be put in place covering, but not exclusive to, protection against forced return to the office. Arbitrary blanket or full-time return to the office must be outlawed.”
“This is an urgent situation. It cannot wait 12 or 18 months or whatever period the Department and Minister have in mind. It is urgent and needs to be dealt with now. This Government talks about targeted measures. This is surely the most targeted measure it could devise. It is a one that deals directly with the poverty being experienced by disabled people. If it is not the Minister's intention to introduce this payment immediately and urgently, surely he will consider announcing an immediate once-off payment for this group of people who are experiencing poverty. Many of them are in the 300,000 households in arrears with their electricity bills and the 170,000 people in arrears with their gas bills. They need assistance urgently. I ask that the Minister introduce a once-off payment of at least €400 immediately.”
“Many disabled people have to regularly make the choice between charging their wheelchair or heating their home. The Disability Federation of Ireland recommended a non-taxable weekly payment of €55 in its budget submission. This is a very wealthy country and this is a group of people who are in a particularly difficult situation. I urge the Minister to introduce this payment. I understand he is considering that for 2027, but some people need it urgently.”
“People with disabilities are entitled to live with dignity, security and equal opportunity. Unfortunately, reports show that disabled individuals are four times more likely to live in poverty. In fact, one in five disabled people who are unable to work live in consistent poverty. Two in five experience enforced deprivation and are unable to afford essentials like heating, new clothes or social contact. These individuals and their families have substantial additional costs over other individuals and families, for instance, therapy, mobility, communications, medical supplies, specialised transport and heating costs. Research shows there is widespread acceptance of this and that these additional costs range from €488 per week to €555 per week.”
“People with disabilities and their families incur considerably more expense to survive on a weekly basis, due to their disability. While the Government promised a weekly cost-of-disability payment, it reneged on that promise or, at least, it has not introduced that payment. When will that payment be introduced? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?”
“The part 8 consultation has been completed and the town has an excellent record in the completion of similar-type projects in the past, like the Kickham Plaza and the sports hub, both of which came in on time and under budget. I am asking that capital funding be made available for this project in the call 4 funding.”
“As the Taoiseach knows, Clonmel is a significant economic, social and cultural hub with significant employment in industry and services. However, the town centre requires considerable refurbishment having been hit by changing retail trends and the resulting closure of businesses, including long-standing family businesses. Tipperary County Council has a significant town centre upgrading project ready for call 4 of the urban regeneration development fund. Approval for that project is vitally important for the consolidation and future development of the town, particularly as we missed out on the last round of funding. The Clonmel public realm regeneration project is a €21 million project. It is shovel-ready.”
“Householders are forced to regularly replace all white goods, from washing machines and dishwashers to electric kettles and showers. They have had to install water softeners at significant installation and running costs. This is a huge issue for residents. Irish Water refuses to treat hard water at source. Irish Water's proposal to bring water from the Parteen Basin on the Shannon to Dublin defies logic. It is a project which, from Irish Water's own projections, will cost between €4.5 billion and €6 billion. At least 33% of water in the Dublin area is lost through leaky pipes. The net effect of this proposal is that one third of the water coming to Dublin will be lost at a cost of between €1.5 billion and €2 billion annually. When will we have the anti-privatisation water referendum?”
“These have affected the towns of Tipperary, Ardfinnan, Cahir, Cashel, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir, lasting for two, three and even six months at a time. This is due to Irish Water's failure to have full-time caretakers at treatment plants, the lack of maintenance at those plants and the failure to provide them with alarm systems. There are also huge delays in dealing with burst water mains, particularly at weekends when Irish Water is reluctant to call out staff. Customers are left without water for days on end. Irish Water should be abolished and water and wastewater services returned to county councils. Irish Water proposes and is planning to bring hard water into the town of Clonmel. This has already caused huge problems and costs to families on the northern side of the town.”
“Irish Water is not fit for purpose. It should never have been established and it should now be abolished. It is hiding from the public. It has no public offices. It refuses to meet elected representatives in open, democratic forums like county council meetings. Consumers cannot meet any Irish Water official face to face. Of course, they can report a problem to a call centre. They may get a report back in a week, a month or maybe not at all. Irish Water has contempt for consumers and councillors alike. It refuses to advise consumers of planned outages. The ESB can do it but Irish Water refuses to do it. Boil water notices are almost endemic in the system. In the past 12 months, there have been continuous boil water notices across south Tipperary, right from the Limerick border to the Kilkenny border.”
“Ursula von der Leyen’s attempt to travel to South America to sign off on this deal is an insult to the elected Members of the European Parliament and seriously undermines democracy. Trust in European institutions has been seriously damaged not only by the handling of this Mercosur deal but also by the EU’s ability to manage trade partnerships arising from the genocide in Gaza. Proposed safeguards included in this deal to suspend trade cannot be taken seriously when the EU did not suspend trade with Israel despite the genocide in Gaza. Irish MEPs must be mandated to oppose this deal.”
“Are we seeing here the real start of the devastation of Irish agriculture? Imported agricultural products from the Mercosur countries are often produced using chemicals that have been banned in the EU. An EU audit in 2024 found that Brazil cannot reliably trace or guarantee hormone-free beef, yet the agreement will allow exporters to self-certify compliance with EU regulations. The deal effectively trades off the future of Irish agriculture and rural communities for the benefits of the export of cars, machinery, chemicals and steel to the Mercosur countries by the big European powers and economies. This is further confirmation of the erosion of Irish sovereignty.”
“The Mercosur deal threatens the future of Irish agriculture and Irish farm families and it harms rural communities. The European Commission concluded negotiations with the four Mercosur countries in December 2024. The deal was to be subject to the approval of national parliaments and unanimity at EU level but, in a political stroke in September 2025, the deal was split into two separate sections, meaning that national parliaments would have no say in the ratification of the deal and only a qualified majority would be required at EU level. The importation of 99,000 tonnes of beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry into the EU will have serious detrimental effects on Irish agriculture, and these figures are only the thin end of the wedge. This raises the appalling vista of the devastation of the Irish fishing industry.”
“Children's disability network teams of health and social care professionals provide services to children and young people aged 18 with complex needs. These interdisciplinary teams include professionals like occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians and social workers. The objectives of the teams are to support a child's development, well-being and participation in family and community life on the basis of an individual family support plan. All of these are necessary and essential. However, the teams based in Clonmel are almost non-existent and the service is almost non-existent. There is no occupational therapist, no psychologist, no physiotherapist and no dietician on the team. These children are obviously being failed by the HSE and the Government.”
“In fairness, the Minister has indicated that he hopes to be in a position to continue the funding for the Cahir to Limerick Junction-Oola section in 2026 but he was not able to give the same indication about the Cahir to Waterford section. Funding for the Cahir to Waterford section is crucial for economic, social and road safety reasons. This section is costing about three lives per year. The project has been suspended twice, costing the Exchequer about €10 million. There is significant public frustration with serious traffic congestion in Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir, and 2,500 land holdings have been sterilised. We understand that motorways cannot be built overnight but we do need sufficient funds in 2026 for this stretch of the road to recommence design and, hopefully, commence construction by about 2030.”