Sharon Keogan
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Independent · Ireland
“The future of European border security is being decided right row at the European Commission. It is currently drafting the renewed mandate of Frontex, the EU border police force. As Ireland holds the rotating EU Presidency, the Minister for justice cannot simply pose as a disinterested broker while our European borders are compromised.”
“Holding the EU Presidency gives this Government massive agenda-setting leverage at the Council of Ministers. The Minister must use this chairing power to strip out counterproductive rights promotion provisions. Under the guise of good intentions, these provisions and their enforcers have defanged and undermined Frontex.”
“I thank the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I appreciate that he will engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on this. We live in the land of technology.”
“The Minister, Deputy Calleary, is welcome to the House. I rise to focus the attention of the House on a vital public service that sits at the very heart of social inclusion on this island, the free travel scheme.”
“Sitting down with Stormont to deliver a single unified rule book for free travel means we lift everyone to the same high standards of dignity and mobility, ensuring that a person's vulnerability is not penalised simply because of the jurisdiction they happen to live in.”
“It will point to the senior pass scheme, where a resident here can apply for a separate concessionary card to travel into the North. Let us be completely honest with ourselves.”
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“We need a clear timeline for the construction and delivery of Thornton Hall prison. The Government must commit to completing this project and ensuring that our prison system can operate effectively and humanely. I call on the Minister for Justice to provide a definite answer on when Thornton Hall will be built. We cannot continue to ignore the pressing issue of prison overcrowding. It is time for decisive action to ensure that our justice system functions as it should.”
“Furthermore, the attempt to convert Thornton Hall to an international protection accommodation, IPA, centre is misguided. Accommodating new arrivals should not come at the expense of addressing domestic issues. The site was purchased with the intention of alleviating prison overcrowding and it should be used for that purpose. To this end, I ask the Minister outline to what extent the State plans to use the site for IPA and how it plans to balance this with prison construction. Previously, I have highlighted the staggering costs associated with this project. Besides the price of the land, we have spent €114,000 over the past three years alone on what is effectively an empty site, yet we still have nothing to show for it. This is gross mismanagement of taxpayers' money.”
“The site, which has cost the taxpayer €50 million so far, was intended for a new state-of-the-art prison facility. Despite this significant investment, however, it has been plagued by delays and mismanagement. The latest proposal to convert part of the site into an international protection accommodation centre is a clear indication of Government's failure to prioritise our prison system. Twenty years after the site being purchased, we must ask why the project there has not been completed. Why has work not even started? The need for additional prison capacity is undeniable. The revolving door system whereby prisoners are released within 24 hours due to overcrowding makes a mockery of our justice system. It does a disservice to the victims of crime and undermines public confidence in our ability to maintain law and order.”
“I thank the Minister for coming in. I tabled this matter in order that he might provide a detailed plan and outline for the construction and delivery of the Thornton Hall prison. The overcrowding in prisons is nothing short of a crisis. The most recent figures show there are currently more than 730 prisoners in custody without bed space. The latter represents a 40% increase since January. This continues to lead to inhumane conditions where prisoners are sleeping on mattresses on floors and the risk of violence and health issues is ever present. The Irish Penal Reform Trust has repeatedly highlighted these issues, yet we see little progress being made in addressing them. Thornton Hall is supposed to be the solution to the crisis.”
“We must continue to push for comprehensive solutions to the housing crisis that protect all our citizens from exploitation and ensure everyone has safe and affordable housing.”
“Additionally, on the question of the Bill's enforcement, I emphasise the need for increased support to An Garda Síochána. The Bill is necessary because of systemic failures, one of which is the collapse of law and order. It is unacceptable that so many predatory landlords are advertising sex for rent arrangements. They do so because the absence of strong law enforcement has created a culture of impunity for them and other predators. Therefore, I hope the Bill will urge the Government to increase investment in our police force and ramp up recruitment of gardaí. I urge colleagues to support the Bill and to ensure enforcement remains firmly within the remit of An Garda Síochána, with the RTB providing a supporting role.”
“The RTB plays a vital role in regulating the rental sector and resolving disputes between landlords and tenants but, while it can provide valuable support in terms of information and guidance, the primary responsibility for enforcing this legislation must rest with the Garda. This ensures offences are treated with the seriousness they deserve and perpetrators are held accountable under the full weight of the law. Furthermore, the housing crisis is a symptom of broader systemic failings. We need comprehensive solutions that address the root cause of the crisis. These include increasing the supply of affordable housing and providing better support for those at risk of homelessness. The Government must take decisive action to tackle these issues head on rather than relying on piecemeal measures that address the symptoms.”
“It is a necessary measure to protect those most at risk of exploitation. It will make it an offence to advertise or solicit sexual services in exchange for reduced rent or in lieu of rent. Offenders will face significant penalties, including fines of up to €50,000. While I wholeheartedly support the legislation, I emphasise the importance of ensuring enforcement remains primarily in the hands of An Garda Síochána. The gardaí are our front-line defenders of law and order and possess the necessary expertise and authority to investigate and prosecute these offences effectively. It is crucial that we do not dilute their role by outsourcing too much enforcement responsibility to the RTB.”
“I thank our colleagues in the Labour Party and the technical group for tabling this legislation. I support the Bill. It is a crucial step in addressing a deeply troubling issue that has emerged in our society: the exploitation of vulnerable tenants by unscrupulous landlords who demand sexual favours in lieu of rent. The housing crisis has reached unprecedented levels. We are all acutely aware of the struggles faced by our citizens in securing affordable and safe housing. The failure of successive Governments to adequately address the crisis has left many people, particularly young people, in precarious living situations. In this context of desperation and vulnerability, some landlords have resorted to the abhorrent practice of soliciting sex for rent. The Bill seeks to criminalise such predatory behaviour.”
“The insurance companies need to be tackled when it comes to homes affected by floods. It does not matter whether it is a man-made flood or a flood caused by Uisce Éireann, the insurance companies are the ones that have to pay out. The OPW minor flood mitigation works and the coastal protection scheme that allows local authorities to draw down €750,000 have not been increased since 2020. The Minister of State might look to increase that. There are 17 counties in Ireland with coastlines. There is an untapped resource of EU funding there. We seem to not be able to draw down enough EU funding for our coastal erosion. That is something the local authorities should be tapping into. Let us not be remembered as a generation that let our country sink but as the one that kept the nation afloat.”
“Furthermore, the office of the OPW must share its flood risk data publicly. Transparency is crucial for effective flood management. By making the data publicly accessible, we can ensure communities are better prepared and that flood prevention measures are based on the most accurate and up-to-date information. We must hold the EPA accountable for its failures in water quality, while we roll back more obstructive regulations to build for effective flood management infrastructure. By creating buffer zones and ensuring transparency of flood risk data, we can protect our communities and our environment. Another issue the Minister of State is in charge of when a flood does happen is the humanitarian assistance scheme. Greater awareness of this assistance scheme is needed among the public. There should also be quicker payouts.”
“Our rivers have been choked with pollutants from agriculture, urban wastewater and other sources and the EPA has not done enough to address the crisis. Before we start seriously engaging in real flood prevention, we need to take a look at one kind of construction that mysteriously does not seem to be prevented in flood affected areas, namely the construction of residential property. We cannot seem to dredge rivers or build levees in flood zones but somehow we have little issue with building housing estates on them. One effective measure would be the creation of buffer zones around flood risk areas. These zones would prevent the construction of domestic properties in high-risk areas, reducing the potential for damage and loss of life. Buffer zones can also help absorb excess water during heavy rainfall, reducing the severity of floods.”
“When our State was just emerging from the Civil War, we were able to complete the Ardnacrusha dam and power station, one of the greatest infrastructure projects and one of the greatest green energy achievements in natural history. Would Ardnacrusha be built today? It is doubtful. It is most likely that its construction would be infinitely delayed and ultimately prevented because of some rare species of worm in the Shannon riverbed. This brings me to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. While it is succeeding in frustrating real flood prevention, the EPA has also failed to prevent the pollution of our rivers, which are the lifeblood of our countryside. According to its own reports, nearly one fifth of monitored river water bodies are in poor or bad status and are severely polluted. This is unacceptable.”
“Recently in the wake of Storm Éowyn we were treated to a spate of stories, particularly in Cork, about a number of towns that were severely flooded as the dredging of local rivers was prevented by biodiversity regulations. Farmers hesitated to clear drainage systems for fear of violating Byzantine environmental rules. We have serious inefficiency problems with public infrastructure - let us not forget the OPW and its bike shed - but over-regulation is making this inefficiency fatal. There is no reason for things to be like this. We are a great people, fully capable of creating brilliant and ambitious infrastructure projects, changing the landscape around us. Irish people built the canals of England and the railroads of America. It is time we began to manage and transform our own landscape at home.”
“Recently The Irish Times reported that the ongoing flooding problems in Lough Funshinagh in County Roscommon have been relieved by the installation of pumps. However, before the flooding, the OPW and the local council had attempted to install pumps but this attempt was struck down by a High Court challenge on the basis of the habitats directive, the birds directive and the environmental impact assessment directive among others. As a consequence, 700 acres have been damaged. The decision was also based on the fact that the lake had protected status as a turlough, a naturally draining lake which disappears and reappears with the weather and the seasons. However, locals say that the lough had not been draining since 1996. The environmental regulations failed to keep pace with the changed environment.”
“While there is some merit to this, the hard fact is that when one looks beneath the surface, many of these floods are man-made, but in a totally different way. They are man-made not as a consequence of too many people driving their cars to work or taking cheap flights to the Balearic islands but of inaction, negligence and over-regulation. Towns, fields and homes are being flooded because levees have not been built, ditches have not been drained, retention basins have not been dug and rivers have been left undredged. This inefficiency and inaction is compounded by over-regulation by environmentalists. This over-regulation is by those who blame all of these floods on climate change and who propose to solve the problem with even more regulation.”
“I also congratulate the Minister of State on his position, which nobody deserves more. I know what he did for his town of Athlone when it came to flooding. I saw him in many a river pulling out who-knows-what. He certainly got stuck in. An unfortunate statement was made about our nation to the effect that if we put all of the Dutch people into Ireland it would become the garden of Europe but if we put all of the Irish people into the Netherlands, it would sink. It is sad that our current Government seems to be making this come true. In recent years many of our communities have been hit by spates of flooding and many in these Houses will take the opportunity to place the blame on climate change.”
“The Government says it wants the deal to contain biodiversity clauses for South American nations, but as they have repeatedly ignored and falsified their way past similar regulations, this will be a suicidal compromise. Free trade with South America will inevitably spell a race to the bottom for our economy. Poland and France have committed to opposing the deal. Italy has signalled against it and Austria is on the fence. Our decision as a nation will be decisive in forming the blocking minority needed to fight the deal. Instead, our Government appears to be out to lunch while others are actively organising in defence of their farmers. We must hold the Government to its promises because, at this rate, it looks likely it will let itself be pushed over, which will sell out our constituents and farmers once again.”
“I raise the question of Ireland's current position on the Mercosur deal. While I was glad to see that the programme for Government contained commitments to fighting it, I was shocked and disappointed when the Irish Independent reported that Ireland did not turn up to a meeting of other EU nations, led by France, which are also committed to fighting the current deal. I call for the Taoiseach to appear before the Chamber to answer for this incident and to clarify the Government's stance and the plan for fighting the current Mercosur deal. This deal spells ruination for Irish farmers, especially our cattle sector, which simply cannot compete with the sheer scale of South American industrial battery farming. The vote is likely to be held by this autumn. We cannot play it coy and put any action on the long finger.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach. Last week, Members of the Oireachtas, including Members of this House, stated that members of Mothers Against Genocide protesting outside Leinster House were strip-searched by gardaí. That did not happen, according to the Minister, Jim O'Callaghan. It is important that Members of this House retract claims made against our country's police force.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach. The tactics that have been used not only amount to obstruction but are also a blatant attempt to derail the legislative agenda and hinder progress on the critical issues that affect the lives of our citizens. It is also deeply concerning to witness how the Labour Party and other Opposition parties are allowing themselves to be led around by Sinn Féin in this obstruction. We must ask ourselves what the true motive behind these disruptions is. Is it to serve the people of Ireland or is it to further the political ambitions of the few? The answer is clear. I call on Opposition Members to rise to the occasion and show ourselves to be worthy of our constituents. We must hold the Government's feet to the fire on the real and concrete issues that concern the nation. I also want to raise-----”
“The recent tactics employed by the Opposition, including endless debates, procedural objections and motions of no confidence-----”
“I rise to address the ongoing disruption caused by the Opposition parties in the Dáil. Last week, after weeks of obstruction over a question of eight minutes, the Opposition continued its childish behaviour by walking out during Deputy Nolan's speaking time. While they were doing this, Ireland along with most of the world was seeing the financial markets descend into chaos in the wake of Trump's tariff announcements. We are in a bad situation when the Government does not want to face the crisis looming over us. We are in a dire one when the Opposition is more concerned with tilting at windmills than with dealing with these very real and severe problems. When we have these crises in the international markets and in housing, migration and health, eight minutes is simply not worth it.”
“We have seen the benefits for such mechanisms in other countries. In England, the child death review overview panels have significantly improved the understanding of child fatalities and have led to targeted interventions that save lives. In Ireland, we have the national paediatric mortality register but it is not enough. We need a robust statutory mechanism that can systematically review all child deaths, identify preventable factors, has the powers to obtain the information it needs and can ensure that lessons are learned and applied where necessary. I urge the Government to act swiftly and establish a statutory national child death review mechanism. The report highlights that 1,490 children died unnaturally last year alone. It is urgent we begin the serious work to reduce those numbers.”
“Yesterday, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children released its annual child death review. The document is harrowing and heartbreaking. It serves as a strong condemnation of the Government’s inaction and a serious call to action. When a child dies in tragic and unnatural circumstances, families are left in a state of uncertainty, grappling with grief and unanswered questions. In one case, the family of a boy who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while under the care of the child and adolescent mental health services were forced to wait for over ten years for a report, which they said left them with no real answers. Our existing review mechanisms are so fragmented, lack the statutory power needed to compel co-operation and are so unable to gather comprehensive data that they may as well not exist. This is unacceptable.”
“They have watched their industries slowly drift out of their country over the past 50 years and last year, they gave President Trump a popular majority because he promised to bring that industry back with tariffs. The Government highlights that we will use EU leverage to blunt the worst effects of the tariffs, but has everyone forgotten that the foundation of the EU is the customs union? The EU is the EU because we impose tariffs on just about every state that is not in it. We need much more than a rainy day fund, because we now face a torrent that threatens to wash away the poor foundations we have built our economy on.”
“Our political leaders have behaved with horrendous statesmanship and diplomatic acumen for years. However, we must also realise these tariffs pose an existential threat because of a long-running problem driven by negligence and naivety in our national economic planning. For over 30 years, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have allowed us to fall into total dependence on US foreign direct investment and ignored a host of warnings that we needed to diversify and invest in our own industries. It is as if our leadership believed free trade would continue forever, despite the rest of the world trending towards protectionism for nearly a decade. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, claimed "nobody wants tariffs", but this is factually wrong. Millions of ordinary Americans want tariffs.”
“I will speak on the threat of tariffs being imposed on Ireland by the United States, ahead of tomorrow’s announcement from Washington. While I hope for the best, it must be serious if the Taoiseach is publicly claiming that the effects could be disastrous. The Taoiseach said it is important "that we don't invite more damage in our response". I would like to know exactly how we could invite any more damage, short of a declaration of war against the United States. The Taoiseach stopped short of giving an endorsement to Kamala Harris. The Tánaiste still has a photo on his Instagram of his Kamala Harris campaign hat, while the former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was happy to have couples’ dinners with her and her husband. While it is wrong in principle to involve yourself in another country’s politics, it is even worse to back the losing horse.”
“Together, we can build a society that is both welcoming and resilient and where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.”
“We must address the legislative gaps that exist, such as those related to the national childcare scheme and the recognition of driving licences. These gaps create unnecessary barriers for refugees trying to integrate into our society and access essential services. I have also emphasised the importance of educational supports for Ukrainian students in Irish universities. We must ensure these students have access to the resources they need to succeed, including recognition of their qualifications and support for rural transport. Education is a key factor in helping refugees to rebuild their lives and to contribute to our society. Let us remember that, by our actions today. we will shape the Ireland of tomorrow. We must balance compassion with practicality by ensuring our support for refugees is sustainable and effective.”
“If these same arrivals also wish to work here and pay their own way for their needs, they should be able to do so, provided they go through the correct procedures and meet the criteria, like everyone else. It should absolutely not be the case that they are set loose on a housing market in crisis, with blank cheques backed up by social welfare systems which they have not paid in to. Unlimited generosity is not sustainable in the long term and will ultimately serve neither ourselves nor those in need. I urge the Government to review these figures and to make the necessary decisions that will balance the needs of citizens and Ukrainian refugees. In addition to the previous speeches, I have highlighted the need for a comprehensive plan to manage the welfare of refugees and asylum seekers.”
“According to figures supplied in the Dáil, yesterday and today, we have 37,000 Ukrainians staying in ARP-funded accommodation. However, statistics for February 2025 from the Ukraine Civil Society Forum state that a total of almost 80,000 Ukrainians remain in Ireland. This means that the status is unknown of more than 16,000 Ukrainian arrivals. Ukrainians can enter the private rental market and are eligible to access rent allowance. I warned the Government previously that this would put too much pressure on the rental market for residents. If people are refugees, they should either be accommodated by the State or they should be placed under the roofs of private citizens who wish to host them.”
“It acknowledges the generosity of our citizens, who opened their homes to those in need. We must ask ourselves, however, whether we are truly addressing the root of the problem or whether we are just merely attempting to temporarily put a Band-Aid on a much larger wound. Housing is a fundamental human right and yet we see both refugees and our own citizens living in cramped hotel rooms and makeshift accommodation. This is not the Ireland we aspire to be. We must ensure both citizens and those genuine refugees whom we are able to take in have access to decent and safe housing. This also means that we must balance the needs of citizens with those of refugees. As we are all aware, we are currently in the midst of one of the worst housing crises in Europe.”
“I want to address a matter of great importance, which is the financial support and accommodation provided to Ukrainian refugees in our nation. As we extend our hands in solidarity to those fleeing the horrors of war, it is imperative we do so with a clear, sustainable plan that ensures the welfare of both the refugees and our own citizens. I express my unwavering support for humanitarian aid. Ireland has a proud tradition of offering refuge to those in need and we must continue to uphold this legacy. We must also recognise, however, the challenges that come with huge influxes of new people into our system. Our resources are not infinite and the strain on housing, healthcare and social services is palpable. The accommodation recognition payment, ARP, seems to be a commendable initiative.”
“Many migrants in Ireland are employed by large multinationals at much higher wages than the rest of the population. We consequently see numerous examples of newly built housing estates in areas like Lucan and Citywest, where as few as 9% of residents and owners are Irish. It is high time we introduced new laws to restrict the purchase and ownership of residential property by foreign corporations and non-EU nationals. Many countries have similar restrictions, such as Denmark, Switzerland, Canada and Hungary. In our own country, we already allow restrictions in the Gaeltacht areas. We have precedents and best practice to draw on, and it is of the utmost importance that the Government, especially the Minister for housing, look into this.”
“It often seems like anyone from anywhere in the world is welcome to buy any amount of residential property here. This policy, or lack of it, applies to individuals and, more often, foreign corporations. In what other nation would it be acceptable for the biggest landlord to be a Canadian vulture fund? Given that members of our governing parties are often landlords themselves, and some have invested in vulture and cuckoo funds, it is hard to imagine this is not by design. Foreign vulture funds and property speculators are not the only pressures on housing. We must also consider migration. Increasing housing demand without expecting stable rents is unrealistic. No State policy or housing market can keep pace with the mass immigration we have seen in the past 20 years.”
“I give my best wishes to Aisling Hart, who is retiring this week from the Seanad Office. She has been extremely helpful to all Senators over the number of years I have been here, and I wish her well. I want to address one of the most pressing issues in our country, which is housing. More important, I propose a solution. The debate on housing has been highly unproductive. It has followed a false binary where some advocate for deregulation and the reliance on the market while others believe the State can build infinite housing. More significantly, the debate has focused solely on supply, neglecting demand. The simple fact is that we cannot address housing without tackling the Government's open-door policy towards the purchase of residential property.”
“While we do not know the specifics, common sense dictates that surrogacy cases in war-torn, corrupt and impoverished countries can hardly be anything other than exploitation. How can this be anything other than a case of women being forced to rent out their wombs in poor desperation as bombs are falling around them? That is if commercial surrogacy can ever be non-exploitative and unethical in the first place. We certainly do not think it is in Ireland. We have banned commercial surrogacy in Ireland. We protect Irish women from being exploited and prevent people from exploiting them but then we think it is fine for our people to rent the wombs of women in other countries, in war-ravaged countries. It is beyond me how this Government can find this even remotely acceptable and allows this outrageous exploitation to continue.”
“I wish to speak about recent information I have received on exploitation and the shortcomings of the new surrogacy legislation which was signed into law last year. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, I have made repeated freedom of information requests to the Department of Foreign Affairs. After three years, I have finally learned that, from January 2022 until today, 98 emergency travel certificates have been issued to children born in Ukraine as a result of surrogacy arrangements. Despite assurances from the Government that new legislation would enforce ethical standards and curb exploitative practices on commercial surrogacy, some of the most vulnerable women on earth - Ukrainian women - are still being taken advantage of at the same rate as before.”
“These measures would not only provide financial relief but also acknowledge the critical work county councillors do in representing and advocating for their communities. Will the Minister of State provide a clear and definite answer to this issue? Our county councillors deserve the same level of support and recognition as all our elected representatives. Extending the commercial rates exemption to constituency offices and improving the vouched system is a step forward, ensuring fairness and equity in our local governance system and a move towards strengthening our local democracy.”
“I thank the Minister of State. This House might look to amending paragraph 19 of Schedule 4 to the Act in this regard. While I have the Minister of State here, he might comment on whether the Department has discussed changes to the vouched system of expenses for county councillors. Currently, councillors receive €4,200 in vouched expenses and €960 in unvouched expenses. However, after extensive experience of working with many councillors, it is clear the current remuneration is insufficient, especially considering the impact of inflation on operating costs. Councillors are too often restricted in serving their constituents, with the more fortunate ones having to reach into their pockets to make up the difference. Does the Minister for local government intend to reform or improve the current vouched system?”
“A report in the Business Post in 2023 highlighted that Ireland has the weakest local government in the European Union. While broader reforms to strengthen local government are sorely needed, the extension of the commercial rates exemption is a good start and is readily achievable. The lack of this exemption is an unnecessary impediment to councillors' ability to serve the public effectively. I urge the Minister of State to consider the invaluable role county councillors play in our democratic system and to inform this House if the extension of the commercial rate exemption to the constituency offices has been discussed by his Minister. If so, what have they discussed and what plans and timelines have they formulated?”
“These dedicated representatives work tirelessly to address the needs and concerns of the local communities. Of all elected representatives, they are the closest to our citizens and they are often the first point of contact for constituents seeking assistance on a wide range of issues from housing and planning to local infrastructure and community services. It is only fair and just that county councillors receive the same support as our counterparts in the national and European parliaments. The financial burden of commercial rates on councillors' constituency offices can be significant, especially considering they receive the lowest pay of all elected representatives and that the majority of them have to work part time in addition to their council work.”
“I thank the Minister of State for taking this question today. I wish to address the significant importance of our local government and the equitable treatment of our elected representatives. Will the Minister of State clarify whether the exemptions from commercial rates which currently benefit TDs, Senators and MPs will be extended to the constituency offices of county councillors? As we are all aware, the exemption for commercial rates for the constituency office of TDs, Senators and MPs is a recognition of the essential public service they provide. It helps them to operate their offices, thereby enabling them to focus on servicing their constituents more effectively. County councillors, who are the backbone of our local government system, do not currently enjoy this exemption.”
“Therefore, a solution that could alleviate much of the driving test backlog could be to extend licence exchange or negotiate agreements with the main non-EU countries from which many of our migrants come. This would not only reduce the backlog but also ensure that tests were given more regularly to new learners. While we may have made significant strides in improving road safety, there is still much work to be done. We must address the issues in our licensing system and ensure that all drivers on our roads are probably educated and licensed. Only then can we continue to lead the way on road safety and protect the lives of our citizens.”
“It also raises the question of why gardaí have not been checking for licences more frequently in the first place. No amount of law enforcement can address the issue of unlicensed drivers when many are forced into this position. In January, a spokesperson for the RSA attributed much of the recent delays to population increases, which have been heavily driven by immigration in recent years, particularly from non-EU countries. Since we do not have any licence recognition or exchange agreements with many non-EU countries, such as Brazil or India, it can be assumed that much of the backlog for driving tests comes from migrants who already hold licences from their home countries and know how to drive.”
“In 2023, there was an 11% increase in such cases. Ultimately, who can blame them? We have a police force that has weakened its checks for licences and, in recent years, has weakened its checks in general. In 2023, it was reported that Garda checks for drink driving had halved. After speaking to many constituents, it is clear that checks are rare and, when they occur, checks on licences are even rarer. While new legislation coming into effect at the end of the month will allow gardaí to check licence numbers against the insurance database, it is questionable whether this will lead to significant improvements. This raises questions over why the Government seems more concerned about directing the gardaí to pursue uninsured drivers rather than unlicensed ones.”
“On one hand, we have the lengthy waiting times for driving tests, the extended duration of lessons, the high cost of lessons and the exorbitant insurance costs that learner drivers must bear, either on their own vehicles or through increased family vehicle insurance premiums. I have heard numerous stories from families who were unable to include their children on their family car insurance and were forced to practise driving with their children illegally. In fact, this is one of the better outcomes. Faced with these hurdles, many people decide not to pursue a licence at all. We all know the stories of people who drive on our roads for years, sometimes decades, on nothing but a provisional licence. Estimates suggest that around 5% of Irish drivers are unlicensed, a figure that is much higher than in other European countries.”
“Additionally, there has been a significant increase in the use of public transport, which is a proven means of reducing accidents and enhancing road safety. This shift towards public transport is a positive development that we must continue to encourage. However, despite these achievements, there are still numerous challenges that we must address. One of the primary issues is the question of driving licences. It is imperative that licences serve their intended purpose, ensuring that as many drivers as possible on our roads are educated in road safety and good driving practices. Unfortunately, our current system makes it too difficult for people to take the lawful route and too easy to take the unlawful route.”
“I thank the Acting Chairperson. I welcome the Minister of State. It is great to see him in his new role. I wish him every good wish. As we all know, the critical issue of road safety is of the utmost importance because it affects every citizen. It is essential to acknowledge the progress we have made. Across the European Union, road fatalities have fallen considerably over the past decade. In 2022, there were more than 20% fewer fatalities than in 2012. Ireland has been at the forefront of this positive trend. As of 2024, Ireland had the fourth lowest number of road fatalities per million inhabitants in the entire European Union. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our road safety authorities and the co-operation of the public.”