Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Kildare South · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“I do not question the Minister of State or the Minister's respect for the SNAs, but the Department needs to show that respect. The trust of the SNAs has been severely damaged following the scandal last February. It may have played a significant role in the ballot outcome, as well as years of being undervalued in the system.”
“I am very aware of and appreciate the work that has gone into this in recent years, but the local bargaining agreement being off the table now is a matter of serious concern and insult to SNAs. That pay increase should have been protected and maintained, irrespective of the ballot outcome on the new plan.”
“There are also concerns around redeployment, such as insecurity of fixed-term contracts following redeployment and the loss of seniority. SNAs receive no additional payment for State examinations, no extra personal vacation, EPV, days for the summer programme and no allowances for working in special schools, DEIS schools or Gaelscoileanna…”
“SNAs are very dedicated members of our school community who work very hard with our most vulnerable children. However, many have legitimate outstanding concerns following the publication of the new circular and the workforce development plan, WDP.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomrádaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, as ucht an rúin seo anocht. An artist’s work is more than just a job An artist's work is more than just a job. It is a reflection of their creativity, their skill, and their unique perspective on the world.”
“This is not an abstract issue. Artists in Kildare and elsewhere across the State are already feeling the impact. A local photographer recently told me that she had lost work from organisations that once regularly hired her but now chose Al-generated images instead.”
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“I do not question the Minister of State or the Minister's respect for the SNAs, but the Department needs to show that respect. The trust of the SNAs has been severely damaged following the scandal last February. It may have played a significant role in the ballot outcome, as well as years of being undervalued in the system. The community of SNAs simply does not have reason to trust the bona fides of the Department. Yes, huge consultation has gone on, but we need to go back to the negotiating table and put together a plan that SNAs can get behind. We need meaningful consultation with them. They need to be heard and their legitimate fears and anxieties need to be addressed. We need to get this right and we need to truly back our SNAs. They need to be a bigger part of this conversation.”
“There are also concerns around redeployment, such as insecurity of fixed-term contracts following redeployment and the loss of seniority. SNAs receive no additional payment for State examinations, no extra personal vacation, EPV, days for the summer programme and no allowances for working in special schools, DEIS schools or Gaelscoileanna. At the same time, they remain excluded from important decision-making processes despite the plan's emphasis on collaborative planning. All of these issues highlight a fundamental lack of respect that remains unaddressed by the plan.”
“I am very aware of and appreciate the work that has gone into this in recent years, but the local bargaining agreement being off the table now is a matter of serious concern and insult to SNAs. That pay increase should have been protected and maintained, irrespective of the ballot outcome on the new plan. Will the Minister of State reverse this decision to allow talks to continue in good faith? SNAs rejected the plan because they felt more and more was being put on them without adequate recognition or compensation. There remains uncertainty around when hours will be completed, the additional time that SNAs will be required to be on site, and the impact this may have on opportunities to supplement their income, such as the bus escorts after school.”
“SNAs are very dedicated members of our school community who work very hard with our most vulnerable children. However, many have legitimate outstanding concerns following the publication of the new circular and the workforce development plan, WDP. Will the Minister of State tell me his plans to address outstanding concerns of SNAs in view of rejection by members of a union of the workforce development plan, and will he make a statement on the matter?”
“Is réimse é sábháilteacht na hintleachta saorga inár ngá dúinn oibriú as lámha a chéile, ag seasamh an fhóid ar son daonnacht na n-ealaíon agus slánú ár n-ealaíontóirí. Ní mór dúinn gan eagla a bheith orainn roimh na fathaigh teic a cheistiú chomh maith. Is céim dearfach í an Bille um Chosaint Glóir agus Íomhá maidir leis seo. Tá traidisiún bródúil ealaíonta againn in Éirinn. Seasaimis lenár n-ealaíontóirí, cosnaímis a gcearta agus cinntímis go bhfanfaidh an tír seo ina háit inar féidir leis an gcruthaíocht bláthú go ceann na nglún.”
“This is not an abstract issue. Artists in Kildare and elsewhere across the State are already feeling the impact. A local photographer recently told me that she had lost work from organisations that once regularly hired her but now chose Al-generated images instead. We must also address the growing threat posed by cloning and deepfakes, which undermines human artists' reputations and erodes public trust. With these issues in mind, we have to move urgently and protect creative industries. Sinn Féin supports innovation but it must be responsible, safe, and creator centred. The first step is improving transparency. Artists must know when their work is used to train Al and have access to fair licensing mechanisms.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomrádaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, as ucht an rúin seo anocht. An artist’s work is more than just a job An artist's work is more than just a job. It is a reflection of their creativity, their skill, and their unique perspective on the world. Every piece of music, every photograph, every painting, every written work represents countless hours of effort and something deeply personal to its creator. That is why so many artists are deeply concerned about the rise of unregulated Al in the arts. Across Ireland, artists are already struggling to make a living, yet their copyrighted work is now being scraped and used to train Al systems without their consent and without compensation. Their life's work is being exploited to generate added value for technology companies, while the artists themselves are left behind.”
“It comes down to the very straightforward point that if the funding is justified, how can we prove it? Will the Aire commit to commissioning an independent report on the true cost and value of this industry?”
“We have heard over and over about where the funding is going, the measures in place and the traceability system but I would like to focus on whether the level of public spending is justified by clear independent evidence. At present, I do not see that is, with over €20 million allocated each year on the basis of unclear figures and an economic case that does not stand up to proper scrutiny. The Minister mentioned the Jim Power report. That report is now outdated and methodologically flawed, which only reinforces the concern. The problem is compounded by the fact greyhound racing figures are embedded within the wider horse racing structure, making genuine scrutiny difficult. At a time when the public expects strong governance and real transparency, I do not feel this is good enough.”
“Of the 12,766 greyhounds born between 2021 and 2024 that are no longer racing or trialling and remain on this island, 66% of those are dead and only 22% have been rehomed. For every dog homed, three are dead. There is also the hidden cost of the volunteers across this State that are rescuing and rehoming these dogs. How many thousands of unpaid hours is this, and where is that accounted for?”
“Public funding should be earned through transparency, and given the evidence on welfare, declining attendance and serious questions about the industry's economic case, that transparency is clearly lacking. The figures repeatedly cited by Government that greyhound racing contributes €132 million annually are at best unclear, and at worst, misleading. The figure includes hare coursing, which Government states is now said to account for €70 million. Presenting them together creates confusion and inflates the value of the greyhound industry itself. We need clarity. What does the greyhound racing industry bring in on its own, what does it actually contribute, what does it cost the State each year and how exactly are those figures being calculated? The lack of transparency is mirrored in welfare outcomes.”
“A system of institutional suspicion and shame surrounding same-sex parents in this State still exists today, just as it did historically. Caithfidh muid, mar shochaí, a bheith i bhfad níos tuisceanaí ar an bpobal LADTIA+ sa tír seo. Tar éis na mblianta fada a bheith ag troid ar son chearta pósta, sláinte agus fostaíochta, tá gnéithe den eite dheis ag iarraidh fáil réidh leo. Tá siad ag iarraidh fáil réidh leis na cearta sin ní hamháin don phobal LADTIA+, ach do mhná, daoine le dath agus imircigh chomh maith. Seasaimis go léir an fód ina gcoinne le chéile.”
“While Ireland may be progressive on LGBTQI+ rights in comparison with some other countries, we are far from perfect. Last month, a constituent of mine in Kildare contacted me to tell me about an ordeal she and her wife faced when seeking passports for their young twins. While both mothers are listed on the children's birth certificates and both are recognised in law as the parents of their children, the Passport Office sought court orders to explain how it is possible for two women to be on the birth certificate, asking invasive questions about the circumstances of the children's birth despite their mothers' legal parenthood. When I asked the Minister for foreign affairs to confirm whether this is standard practice for same-sex parents, the response I received from her officials was that they simply did not know.”
“It was after the police raids at the Stonewall Inn in Lower Manhattan in 1969 that members of the LGBTQI+ community took to the streets to fight back against the persecution of sexual minorities and to affirm their rights as human beings in a world that was trying to marginalise and repress them. That is a burden that continues to be borne to this day with the rise of fascism and the far right and the efforts to erode rights that were hard fought for and won by the LGBTQI+ community. Those reactive elements also look to discriminate against and marginalise people of colour, women and anyone who comes from abroad. Marsha P. Johnson, a key activist for LGBTQI+ rights in New York city, once said, "No Pride for some of us without liberation for all of us".”
“It is more than ten years since marriage equality was achieved. It is an achievement of which we all can be proud but it is important that we continue to strive forward until equality is achieved in every aspect of life for LGBTQI+ citizens. As we make statements on Pride in this House and as thousands take to the streets for Pride festivals around the island, it is easy to miss how much inequality still exists. It is important that we remind ourselves every June of where Pride really again, which was on the streets of Greenwich Village in New York. In Ireland today, in places like PantiBar and The George, gay communities are free to host and curate in spaces that are run by them and for them. That was not the case in New York city in the sixties.”
“This is only the first step. Many other barriers remain for women accessing reproductive rights. Crucially, abortion care needs to be removed from the law related to criminal offences in the Statute Book. Caithfear fáil réidh leis an tréimhse feithimh trí lá chun rochtain a fháil ar ghinmhilleadh. Níl sé ag coinneáil le spiorad an reifrinn repeal a thug cearta do mhná maidir le féinriar colainne. Teastaíonn uainn smacht a thabhairt do mhná ar chinntí a bhaineann lena gcolainn féin agus muinín a chur iontu go bhfuil siad ag déanamh an chinnidh chirt dóibh féin. Tá an tréimhse feithimh ag déanamh dochar d'an-chuid ban agus ag cur iachall orthu taisteal. Molaim do gach Teachta sa Teach seo tacú lenár mBille agus muinín a léiriú i mná na hÉireann.”
“We have a responsibility to take women's agency seriously and to trust their judgment. We cannot, on the one hand, say we are giving women the choice and, on the other, say they have to wait. It is paternalistic and patriarchal, taking control away from women regarding decisions to do with their own bodies. We have all heard stories of the awful predicament this rule leaves women in and, as such, it represents an unacceptable barrier to access. Women who are victims of sexual violence and coercive control, women who do not have easy access to GP care and women who learn of their pregnancies late cannot afford to wait. These women should not be punished for the failings of society. This Sinn Féin Bill takes an important step towards a compassionate vision of healthcare that places the well-being of patients at the centre.”
“The three-day wait has to go. I am glad to get the chance to speak on this Bill. I welcome Sinn Féin's constructive and consensus-seeking approach on this key issue affecting every woman in this State in one way or another. It is a modest proposal, doing the bare minimum in implementing a key recommendation of the O'Shea report. The three-day wait is backward, causing harm to women and forcing them to go abroad for essential healthcare. When the Irish people voted for repeal, they voted to trust women, give them ownership over their own bodies and allow them to choose whether they were prepared to carry and welcome a child into the world. This is a very serious decision, and we can all rest assured it is given serious consideration by mná na hÉireann. No woman having an abortion is making the choice lightly or frivolously.”
“Tá fírinne an scéil lom agus duairc, agus ní féidir linn ár gcúl a chasadh leis a thuilleadh. Tá deich bhfoireann sacair de chuid Iosrael ag imirt ar pháirceanna a goideadh ó Phalaistínigh. Tá 1,008 fir agus mná spóirt maraithe ag Stát Iosrael. Ní féidir linn, mar sin, seasamh thart agus an dallamullóg a chur orainn féin. Tá an spórt polaitiúil. Ní féidir an spórt agus an pholaitíocht a dheighilt óna chéile, go háirithe agus cinedhíothú ar bun. Cuir deireadh leis an gcluiche.”
“The Government opposed the IRFU's tour of South Africa in 1981. Yet now it is happy to accept apartheid and genocide. We have an obligation under international law to oppose any engagement with occupation. The ICJ ruling provides a legal injunction on top of the moral one we hold as human beings bearing witness to the mass slaughter of Palestinians livestreamed before our very eyes. Under no circumstances should our flag be flown alongside the Israeli flag, or its national anthem sung with our "Amhrán na bhFiann". The green jersey has to mean more than this. It has to stand for more than this. Caithfidh muidne ar fad sa Teach seo gach cumhacht atá againn a úsáid chun a chinntiú nach rachaidh an cluiche seo ar aghaidh mar is é an rud ceart le déanamh. Ní ceist chasta í seo.”
“The Ireland-Israel match must not go ahead - not here, not anywhere. The point of this action is to send a message to Israel and the international sporting community that genocide will not be tolerated or normalised. Moving the fixture abroad is just turning a blind eye and prevents the Irish people from expressing their right to protest. The majority of the Irish public is supportive of the boycott. Fans, players and unions are all against the match going ahead. Some 93% of FAI members voted for Israel's suspension. UEFA ignored this and is now standing over an inexcusable double standard having banned Russia in 2022. There is no justification for our playing the terrorist state. Precedent exists. Ireland boycotted the 1936 Olympics due to partitionist rules being imposed on us.”
“We need a plan for Kildare town and Newbridge for residents to feel safe in their communities again. Will the Taoiseach commit to a co-ordinated plan based on community consultation that combines effective policing with youth diversion and community services in rapidly growing towns like Newbridge and Cill Dara?”
“I wish to raise the issue of community safety in Kildare South. My constituents have reported serious concerns in both Kildare town and Newbridge, including violent incidents involving teenagers in public spaces as well as persistent antisocial behaviour, such as vandalism, intimidation and retail crime. While I welcome recent increased Garda presence on the back of public outcry, the visibility of gardaí is not yet sufficient and policing alone will not resolve these issues. It is important to acknowledge the lack of dedicated facilities and services for young people in these growing towns. Community infrastructure has not kept up with our growing population in Kildare. We cannot be surprised by these problems when young people are left without adequate supports or positive outlets.”
“A 2023 environs study examined reopening Killucan railway station. I ask the Tánaiste to raise this issue with the Minister for Transport and Irish Rail. Will he commission a feasibility study for the station's reopening in the medium term?”
“I would like to raise a proposal to reopen Kildangan train station, which has lain dormant since 1963. The population of Kildangan in south Kildare has doubled in the past ten years and is set to increase further on foot of recent rezoning. There is a huge rural hinterland and people would take the train from Kildangan if parking was available. Many of these people currently commute to Kildare town, and that car park is oversubscribed. We need more transport capacity to serve one of the fastest-growing population centres in the State and ease pressure on existing infrastructure. Reviving the old train station is a viable and constructive solution. Precedent exists. Adamstown train station was built before new developments. Dromod train station in Leitrim serves a population of just 500, with eight daily stops.”
“Caithfidh an Rialtas seo beart a dhéanamh de réir a briathair agus an costas breise a bhaineann le maireachtáil le míchumas a aithint. Tá íocaíocht éigeandála €500 ag teastáil ó theaghlaigh le míchumas anois agus is cóir scéim bhuan a tabhairt isteach gan a thuilleadh moille.”
“People living with conditions such as Crohn's disease and colitis face significant, ongoing medical expenses, yet these conditions remain excluded from the long-term illness scheme. People who require lifelong medication, regular hospital appointments and specialist treatment are still expected to shoulder additional costs and it is simply not fair. People do not need support next year or after another consultation process. They need support now. That is why Sinn Féin is calling for a mini-budget and an emergency €500 payment for disabled people, alongside the introduction of a permanent cost-of-disability payment. The needs of disabled people and their families have not disappeared since the last time the House debated this issue.”
“No one should be pushed into financial hardship because they have a disability. The State has a responsibility to ensure that disabled people can participate in society equally and live with dignity. They should not have to fight for the basic supports they need to get though everyday life. Disabled people are still being forced to make impossible choices between charging essential equipment and putting food on the table. Families continue to feel the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis despite Government claims that the worst is behind us. We already know what is needed because disabled people have been telling us for months. Research estimates that the cost of disability is approximately €500 per week. People with chronic illnesses are forgotten.”
“Disabled people and their advocates made their requests clear well in advance of the budget. They were simple and reasonable, and called for the Government to address the additional costs of disability. This was not a new demand or an unknown issue. The Government itself had commissioned research into the cost of disability. In the context of a €9 billion budget surplus, you would think that acting on its own findings would not have been a difficult decision. Instead, the Government chose to do nothing. In fact, as we all know but it bears repeating, disabled people were left €1,400 worse off following the most recent budget. Over the past seven months, people from across Kildare have contacted my office looking for help and answers. Why does this Government continue to ignore our needs?”
“Many other vulnerable groups, including older people, are affected by the Government-sanctioned wave of evictions across my constituency. Even those who can somehow afford the astronomical rents being charged in Kildare have difficulty finding accommodation. For families depending on HAP, securing a tenancy has become virtually impossible.”
“There are no emergency accommodation vacancies available in the county, while the family hubs are operating waiting lists. As a result, large numbers of people in Kildare are now relying on the homelessness freephone services and families can be allocated a different hotel every night, in many cases outside the county. This is unacceptable for anyone but it is especially traumatic for young families trying to maintain some sense of normality in their lives. I am currently dealing with several cases involving single mothers who have either been evicted or are facing eviction imminently. No child should have to endure this level of instability and disruption in a State running a budget surplus of almost €10 billion.”
“The housing situation in Kildare has reached a point of crisis. The overwhelming majority of cases raised by constituents who come into my office looking for help relates to housing. New figures show that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the RTB received 250 notices of termination in Kildare, an increase of almost 100 compared to the same period last year. Nationally, evictions rose by 50%. These figures are a damning indictment of the Government's recent housing policy. Renters are being squeezed to breaking point – forced back into their parent's homes, driven abroad and, in far too many cases, pushed into homelessness. Kildare County Council's homelessness team confirmed to me just last week that it is currently overwhelmed with cases.”
“Partition means we have an inefficient and incoherent way of managing wildlife on our island. Planning for unity must prioritise co-ordination in this policy area. We need innovative solutions, such as rejuvenation of healthy hedgerows, forest regeneration projects and permaculture initiatives. There are inspiring grassroots and evidence-based ideas out there and these must be supported by the State. Bímis uaillmhianach chun ár dtimpeallacht a chosaint do na glúnta atá le teacht. Cuirimis an bhithéagsúlacht chun tosaigh sa phleanáil náisiúnta.”
“For years now, we have neglected to protect our resources, failing to value them as life-sustaining and essential for our own health and the health of the planet we live on. We have pursued economic development with zero regard for the implications for wildlife preservation. We need to think seriously, on a policy level, about alternatives to our current model of business and agriculture, and putting just transition mechanisms in place today, not later. We need commitment and ambition from the Government so that life remains liveable for my children and their children. We cannot simply keep reporting on ongoing and continued devastation; we need action and investment. We are nowhere near reaching our targets under the EU’s nature restoration regulation, which is coming into effect now. We need an all-island approach.”
“As well as being a public health risk, human waste and chemicals spur algae growth in streams and rivers, killing other plant, fish and insect life. We need stricter enforcement of compliance regulation. Just last week, the newest swimming area in the capital failed a pollution test and will remain off-limits for swimmers this summer. Half of the popular spots in the State have had warnings because of pollution, with the number of warnings issued doubling over the past year. The destruction of our natural resources is having real-life effects in the here and now. This is a direct result of the State’s ongoing failure to recognise the core importance of natural infrastructure to national well-being.”
“Biodiversity is a key aspect in ensuring a sustainable future for all citizens of this country. Our continued prosperity and that of future generations depends on a vibrant natural environment. Our built infrastructure and the economy rely on a happy and healthy natural infrastructure supporting it underneath. This is by no means the reality in Ireland today. We are in the grips of a full-fledged crisis when it comes to Ireland’s biodiversity. Our unique habitats are diminishing left and right, our landscape is less green, our waters are polluted and native species are becoming extinct. A report published today by the EPA highlights a widespread issue with household septic tanks, with 60% State-wide failing inspections.”
“No one should go to work fearing abuse or intimidation, yet we know nurses face verbal abuse, physical threats and, far too often, racism in the workplace with 12 incidents reported daily. This is not acceptable and is not inevitable. If we truly value nurses, we must provide safe workplaces, fair pay, sustainable conditions and a health service where nurses can build a life and a career in Ireland. Teastaíonn uainn an t-ómós atá tuillte ag altraí na hÉireann a léiriú le pá cothrom, coinníollacha maithe agus ionaid oibre sábháilte. Mar sin a choinneoimid altraí ag obair agus ag fanacht in Éirinn.”
“If agency spending is too high, the solution is to invest in direct employment, not to freeze recruitment. Nurses are overworked and increasingly unable to deal with the cost of living. We are effectively training nurses for export. I have dealt with a young full-time nurse in my constituency of Kildare South. She is a single mother and at risk of homelessness after receiving an eviction notice from her landlord. This is happening across the State and it is shameful. Strikingly, community nurses, predominantly women, were forgotten about in the most recent package of measures despite facing drastically increasing cost pressures tied to their work. We must also speak about safety.”
“Is é inniu Lá Idirnáisiúnta na nAltraí, ina dtugaimid aitheantas do na daoine a choinníonn an córas sláinte ag feidhmiú lá i ndiaidh lae, go ciúin agus go dícheallach ar bheagán buíochais. Go raibh maith agaibh. Today is International Nurses Day, a day to give thanks to the people who are the backbone of our health service, the unsung heroes doing so much of the heavy lifting of care work in our hospitals and communities. However, one day of appreciation is not enough. Respect for nurses must be shown every day of the year. According to the INMO, we are short more than 5,000 nurses across the State, yet last week the HSE introduced a recruitment moratorium affecting nursing posts. At a time when our health service is already under enormous pressure, we need more nurses, not fewer.”
“Zoe was in an inappropriate school place that did not meet her needs. She should be in first class now but has been homeschooled by Rachel for the past few years. She has told me that she has joined every possible waiting list but just cannot get a place for Zoe. Does Zoe not deserve to be in school, learning and playing with her peers? This is just another example of how children with additional needs are being treated as less than. Arís is arís eile, this Government is failing to deliver. Mar sin iarraim ar an Rialtas anocht ní hamháin chun tacú leis an rún seo, ach chun gníomhú air gan mhoill. Tá sé thar am ceartas a thabhairt do na páistí seo agus dá dteaghlaigh. Déanaigí an rud ceart.”
“It is shameful that mild-general learning disability, MGLD, schools are being redesignated by stealth. The State can protect children like Grace tonight by supporting our motion, which calls for these redesignations to stop immediately. Over the weekend, I spoke with Linda in Kildare, who told me she could not get an appropriate school place for her child. She spends seven hours of her day in her car just to get her children to school and home again. Linda's children are considered the lucky ones because they actually have a school place. Meanwhile, there are children doing additional years in preschool because they have no school place and then there are children who the Government has completely abandoned. They have no choice but to remain at home, like Zoe. Her mammy, Rachel, wrote to me and told me her story.”
“She sent me a letter where she explains how her mild-general learning disability school has done so much for her educational and personal development. I really want the Minister and Minister of State to hear this. Grace wrote: Everything changed when I started at this school. I was finally given the space to learn at my own pace. This support has allowed me to thrive. I feel safe, happy and positive about my future. I have a great circle of friends and I feel welcome every day. However, I am worried that if you redesignate our school, other children who are just like me will not receive the opportunities I have. I am proof that this school works. Please protect our school's designation so that the children coming after me can also find their confidence. I agree with Grace.”
“This is not the first time we have brought forward proposals on special education during this Dáil term, nor is it the second or the third. This is Sinn Féin's fourth Private Members' business on special education. Despite our best efforts, every time we have brought forward solutions, the Minister and her Government have consistently let families and their children down. The issues are only getting worse. The recent SNA crisis, the closure of early intervention classes and having the largest class sizes in Europe show that this Government is failing our children. Tonight, in the Public Gallery, a young woman named Grace and her father are here. Her father has tirelessly advocated on her behalf and has lived experience of our special education system.”
“I support the grassroots call for the GAA to end its sponsorship agreement with Allianz, a company with strong links to Israel. Thousands of GAA members have campaigned for ties to be cut and I commend their efforts. I take the opportunity to congratulate Newbridge FC for joining the FAI National League this year, the first team in County Kildare to do so since 2009. My son played for the team and many of his friends still do. I look forward to supporting the team and I hope to see other clubs join in the future. For our local and national teams to succeed, we need adequate investment in the League of Ireland and its academies from this Government right here, right now. If the Government can prop up industries steeped in animal cruelty, surely it can invest in the League of Ireland.”
“In the case of the Eurovision last year, RTÉ made the right call, reflecting public sentiment and Ireland’s long-standing commitment to freedom and self-determination. We need that same courage now. The people of Palestine deserve nothing less than our continued support. Trump’s so-called peace agreement, which excluded Palestinians, has done nothing to address the structural violence they face nor to advance any meaningful or just resolution. Illegal occupation continues with impunity. Ireland should have no hand, act or part in normalising that reality. Seasaim go bródúil le mo chomhghleacaí Joanna Byrne a bhaineadh go héagothrom óna post mar chathaoirleach ar Drogheda United tar éis di seasamh suas don rud atá ceart.”
“It seems it has lost its moral compass. The Irish people have consistently shown that we would rather stand on the right side of humanity rather than be complicit in the oppression and destruction of another people. Sport does not exist in a vacuum; it never has. There is always a political context and choices to be made about what kind of behaviour we are willing to tolerate on the international stage. On the pitch, we accept rules because there are consequences when these rules are broken. What message does it send, however, when a state that persistently breaks international laws faces no consequences at all? If this were a football match, Israel would be shown the red card.”
“Ireland’s upcoming fixture against Israel should not go ahead. I want to state clearly that I condemn UEFA for its handling of this issue, a handling that shows a flagrant disregard for its principles. When Russia invaded Ukraine, UEFA acted swiftly to sideline it from the competition. Yet in the face of Israel’s devastating and ongoing assault on Gaza, we see no such action. Why the double standard? Why is one state sanctioned and another afforded impunity? In November, the FAI passed a motion calling for Israel to be banned from UEFA competitions. That was a principled position reflecting the views of the grassroots. Yet by February, that stance was abandoned, with the FAI confirming that this fixture would proceed as scheduled. I condemn the FAI for that decision and for failing to stand up for justice when it mattered.”
“It has done nothing on home heating oil, leaving carers, elderly people and people with disabilities to choose between heating or eating. A woman in Athy told me she was rationing oil and using extra blankets to keep her two-year-old grandson warm at night. This is wrong. Incredibly, in the middle of this crisis, the Government raised school transport costs and brought back State exam fees. People are struggling and living pay cheque to pay cheque while the Government sits idly by. One man in Kildare town told me that this was affecting not just his quality of life, but his sense of security and stability. Not only are our leaders out of touch but they regard ordinary people with arrogance and disdain, as we saw on full display when the Taoiseach refused to meet with protesters to hear their concerns. Tá athrú de dhíth.”
“That is on top of soaring grocery prices, electricity, housing, childcare and insurance costs. None of this was inevitable. The Government has failed to act to reduce what are the highest electricity bills in Europe, leaving more than 300,000 in arrears. The Government has failed to do anything about price gouging in big supermarkets. It has failed to cap childcare costs, as promised, in its first year. It has made it policy that renters will face thousands of euro in rent hikes in the next couple of years. Now, it has short-changed households across the State with a set of half measures on fuel costs and a small cut in excise duty that will not make a dent in making fuel affordable for Kildare commuters who are already paying more than €100 per week for petrol.”
“Tá an mhuinín caillte agam agus ag muintir na hÉireann as an Rialtas. Tá cosmhuintir na tíre ag streachailt agus ag fulaingt le costais mhaireachtála le fada agus níl an Rialtas tar éis dóthain a dhéanamh chun an brú a laghdú. Tá an Rialtas scoite ó shaol an ghnáthdhuine agus caithfidh sé imeacht. My office has been inundated with messages from hundreds of people in Kildare to express their lack of confidence in this Government to handle the current crisis and deliver a decent quality of life for people. The bottom line is that working people are crippled by rising costs and have been for a long time. The Government has consistently decided to sit back and do nothing. Prices at the pumps have skyrocketed since America's illegal war on Iran began.”