Timmy Dooley
Clare · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I thank both Senators for the amendments they are putting forward and the sentiment behind them. I will deal with the points about the emergency. The Government made it very clear that a decision was taken, based on a decision taken by the previous Government in November 2024.”
“The State has taken a view, however, that is consistent with our desire and our commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and onwards to 2040 and 2050, that this facility is strategic, as it says, that it is only for storage and that it is not meant to be a market play and cannot be a market play.”
“It is, but it is not an either-or situation. If €1 billion could sort it out with more batteries, wind or solar then that is the route we would be taking. We are investing very significant amounts of money in our electricity grid.”
“As the Senators know, the piece of kit – effectively the ship – will be leased in. There are a number of these around the world and they move on. First, we are not investing in the kind of infrastructure that had been a feature of discussions in the past.”
“All fossil fuels are harmful to the environment. The Senator is right that methane has a much higher concentration and is more impactful by what is referred to as the carbon dioxide equivalence. It is much greater than carbon dioxide but it also has shorter life in the atmosphere. It dissipates over time whereas carbon dioxide does not.”
“If we were to do it, however, to get the private sector to pay for the security - I think it is accepted on all sides that there is a necessity for some security in terms of the gas supply - and if the Government were to say it would provide that through a market-led private consortium and initiate an auction to allow entities around the…”
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“Nobody has the capacity to direct from central government a local authority to do anything other than what the guidelines say, but there is flexibility there. I will talk to the Minister and if any kind of enhanced case can be made to assist the Deputy, it is something we can talk about at a later time.”
“As an action in this strategy, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage committed to a review of the 2017 policy and procedural guidance for housing authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs in order to ensure continuing effectiveness and consistency in responses to assist victims of domestic violence. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is engaging with Cuan, the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, on this review and proposed recommendations arising from the review. I will forward the Deputy's comments to the Minister. It might be worth her while feeding into that strategy as well as a direct response. However, it is clear from the response I have given that there is flexibility in the local authority.”
“In fairness, she has made that very clear and she is just looking for a little understanding in highlighting the case here. I have to outline the rules and she knows them. I think we both agree that a methodology needs to be found here to assist in an exceptional case like this. Each application must be considered on its own merits and the individual circumstances taken into account. Local authorities will prioritise allocations to those households they consider to be most in need, which can include victims of domestic violence. In June 2022, the Department of Justice published Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence 2022-2026, which is a cross-departmental and multi-agency plan with overall policy co-ordinated by the Department of Justice.”
“As regards the waiting list for social housing, it is not possible for a household previously on one social housing waiting list to carry the time spent on that list when applying to another local authority. However, local authorities may provide for exceptional or emergency cases to qualified households, allowing immediate housing outside of normal waiting list priorities, including cases of domestic violence. They may also reserve a certain proportion of dwellings for, among other things, allocation to particular categories of households, particular forms of tenure, and households transferring from other forms of social housing support. Decisions on the allocation of social housing support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned. I know the Deputy knows that.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I can tell that she has a very personal interest in this, and that speaks to the person she is. I thank her for tabling the matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for housing. The response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a cross-departmental and multi-agency issue, with overall policy co-ordinated by the Department of Justice. Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims rests with my colleague the Minister for Justice, working in conjunction with Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency under the remit of the Department of Justice.”
“It is also very clear from the programme for Government, which the Deputy will be familiar with, and the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have made it clear, that now is the time for action. The Government plan over the next five years is to move from a phase of strategy and planning to implementation and action. There is a very significant focus on that at Government level. It is now time for all Departments and agencies to move because we have reached a point where the lack of infrastructure in particular areas is having a drag on economic growth and putting sustained pressure on housing output, which is a very important issue on the minds of most in the House and certainly outside it.”
“Similarly, the greater Dublin drainage project will protect public health, safeguard our environment and facilitate growth in the greater Dublin area to 2050. Currently, 40% of the nation's wastewater is treated, as the Deputy said, at Ringsend. This over-reliance on one location is not sustainable and is a barrier to the delivery of housing and economic development, not only in Dublin but in counties Kildare and Meath. More locally, the north city arterial main project will see the significant replacement and installation of a strategic trunk main in the northern area of Dublin city and neighbouring Fingal. The new infrastructure will reduce the risk of interruption to an estimated 29,000 properties.”
“The Deputy's interest in this matter is very clear. His desire to address issues in his area on behalf of his constituents is commendable and is noted. As I said, our water and wastewater infrastructure requires substantial and sustained investment over a number of investment cycles to bring the systems up to the standard required of a modern service, to provide for population growth and to build resilience in the face of climate change, as the Deputy identified in respect of Sandymount Strand. To address these challenges, the Government has outlined key strategic investment priorities for public water and wastewater capacity through the national development plan. These include the water supply project I described, which will provide essential capacity to support the water supply needs of up to 50% of our population.”
“The Government is very cognisant of that and is committed to the continued roll-out of the funding required to put that infrastructure in place. The Deputy very eloquently highlighted the needs in the greater Dublin area, but that is also the case in other regional towns and cities. It is something the Government is focusing on as part of the need to address the shortage of housing in the marketplace.”
“In 2018, the rate of leakage nationally was approximately 46%, but by the end of 2022 it had reduced to 37%. Uisce Éireann is on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25%, with the expectation of a GDA rate of 20%, by the end of 2030. It is also important to remember that in the past ten years, Uisce Éireann has ramped up capital delivery capability for water services and infrastructure from €300 million in 2014 to approximately €1.3 billion in 2024. Record funding has been allocated between 2020 and 2024. This will continue under the National Development Plan 2026-2030. Of course, it is clear that one of the major issues in addressing the deficit in housing is linked to a lack of water and sewerage infrastructure and, at another level, grid capacity.”
“These interventions will allow Uisce Éireann to control the water supply until delivery of the water supply project in 2032. The GDA is amber on the register maintained by Uisce Éireann to indicate the capacity status of its various treatment plants rather than an unconstrained "green" status. However, Uisce Éireann will prioritise new connections for water supply for domestic properties to support housing needs across the area and assess non-domestic connection applications on a case-by-case basis. Uisce Éireann will work with developers of large non-domestic developments to reduce water requirements through the use of more water-efficient technology. More generally, the Government is delivering a sustainable funding path to further enhance the ongoing significant improvement in our public water and wastewater services.”
“The greater Dublin drainage, GDD, project will develop a new regional wastewater treatment facility and associated infrastructure to serve north Dublin and parts of counties Kildare and Meath. The GDD planning application is currently under review by An Bord Pleanála with a decision expected in the coming months. These two major projects are scheduled for completion in the early 2030s and will secure the water services for Dublin and the surrounding regions into the future. Uisce Éireann also has interim plans to address water supply risks in the greater Dublin area, GDA, and to improve its water supply by reducing leakage, increasing raw water storage and carrying out upgrades to the current infrastructure to ensure they can obtain maximum output.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Water supply in the greater Dublin area is dependent on large abstractions, as he knows, from the River Liffey and the River Vartry. To address this, Uisce Éireann is progressing long-term projects to secure our water supply for the future, including two major projects for Dublin and the eastern and midlands region. The water supply project eastern and midlands region was approved in principle by the Government in June 2024. It is a generational project that will address the water supply deficit and lack of capacity for growth in the eastern and midlands region by supplying water from a hydropower reservoir on the River Shannon, which I am reasonably familiar with.”
“The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is dedicated to ensuring that such organisations receive the necessary funding and the policy support to continue growing and expanding their services. Their efforts strengthen the overall disability support infrastructure, creating a more inclusive and supportive society for all. Indeed, Ireland’s commitment to disability rights is demonstrated by its ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in March 2018. The ongoing support for organisations like An Saol aligns with the objectives of the UNCRPD reflects the Government’s dedication to implementing its provision at national level.”
“The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to improving disability services and ensuring that individuals with disabilities and their families receive the necessary supports. The Government made it very clear in the programme for Government that disability would be a priority. By implementing strategic policies, increasing financial investment and fostering a cross-departmental approach the Government and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality aim to build an inclusive society where everyone has equal opportunity to prosper. I know that is the core of the Deputy’s interest in this. Organisations like An Saol are invaluable to the disability sector because they bring forward imaginative ideas and drive them from that perspective.”
“The Minister is very aware of this and there is a commitment relating to the planning and the initial acquisition of the site that shows clear intent. Notwithstanding the other aspects I identified, once the Government has committed money in the first instance, the natural expectation is that the project will be built. The Deputy has, in a very direct and open way based on his intimate knowledge and understanding of the project, set out a very clear and comprehensive case. I am sure that he will continue to hold the Government to account on this in the coming weeks and months to ensure that a facility like this will progress. Notwithstanding the various elements I have outlined, it is important we progress with that.”
“Whilst meeting these targets will be dependent on increasing staffing complements within services, providing the necessary capital infrastructure will be of huge importance also. Independent living and housing will also be a major feature of the forthcoming national disability strategy. It must be noted that continued cross-government engagement, particularly with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will be a critical component of success.”
“To progress this, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has asked the HSE to bring forward a disability specific multi-annual capital strategy this year that will help identify the medium-term infrastructure needs for disability services. A senior and dedicated lead within the HSE has been appointed to lead development of the disability capital strategy and to ensure that there is a strategic, directed growth in investment and delivery of capital projects, and that capital projects are delivered on time, on budget and that value for money is being achieved. The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 has very ambitious three-year targets for increasing residential placement capacity, accelerating the rate of decongregation, as well as for providing new day-service places.”
“It is important to note that all new capital projects are subject to national HSE approval processes, which in turn are informed by the Government's national infrastructure guidelines. Projects are also subject to prioritisation within available resources. The HSE capital plan for 2025 focused on projects being progressed this year and €27 million was allocated for capital projects in disability services in budget 2025. This represents a €4 million increase on 2024. Capital expenditure is due to grow over the coming years. An assessment of the current infrastructure as well as the need for additional capital investment into the future, aligned to the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 and the roadmap for children's services, is a key objective for the Government and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.”
“The HSE has advised the Department that progress is being made regarding securing a site for the proposed project and an application for planning permission has been lodged. The HSE has prioritised funding for the site purchase and initial design cost, allocating approximately €1.3 million through the capital allocation process. Subject to the timely receipt of all required documentation, the HSE anticipates that this project will continue to progress smoothly through the necessary stages of approval and development. The HSE is working with An Saol to advise on the requirements that need to be met at each step of the process. This includes progressing the project through the approvals process for the property acquisition and the capital funding.”
“I will take this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I thank Deputy Ellis for raising this important issue and offering the opportunity to respond. I know of the Deputy's personal interest in the matter. He has been a long-time campaigner on these issues in his time in the House. Organisations such as An Saol Foundation are invaluable to the disability sector. As the Deputy is aware, An Saol provides specialised care, rehabilitation and community support, empowering individuals with severe acquired brain injuries to lead fulfilling and independent lives. Its contributions are deeply valued by the Government as they are by the Deputy. The HSE capital and estates unit is engaging with An Saol Foundation to assist with progressing the latter's capital project proposal.”
“All Deputies can trust that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, our colleagues in the Department and I will use our roles in this crucial period to continue to advocate for an appropriately funded CAP with a budget that meets the ambition of the objectives and a framework that is designed to meet the needs of Ireland's farmers and rural communities. I should also use this opportunity to underline the importance of maintaining an adequate and dedicated budget line for the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF. This fund provides vital EU support for our fisheries and aquaculture sector.”
“The LEADER programme, which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development, provides grant aid to rural communities for investments targeting local needs and public good. Ireland, along with many EU member states, has emphasised the importance of social sustainability for the farming sector in rural areas through measures to support generational renewal, promote the role of women in farming, improve the health and wellbeing of farmers and promote rural development. There are often references to better targeting supports to the small farms. Ireland wants to ensure that the CAP supports family farms to improve their competitiveness and viability while rewarding them for environmental and climate actions. This includes both full- and part-time farmers and a range of farm sizes.”
“Much has been said today about all that the CAP contains regarding economic and environmental sustainability, but I would like to finish this debate with mention of the CAP that supports and brings farmers and non-farming rural communities closer together. Ireland is probably the most advanced EU member state when it comes to community engagement and locally led schemes supported under the CAP. We have cutting-edge European innovation partnerships delivering existing new products from award-winning operational groups like the Galway Wool Co-op, linking producers with artists, and the BRIGHT project using a results-based approach to manage, protect and restore biodiversity on intensive dairy farms. EIP-AGRI operational groups follow a co-operative model, connecting farmers, research and local communities to tackle local issues.”
“We must continue to better support these objectives with the involvement and co-operation of the private sector and private sources of funding, as well as the appropriate use of regulation. I have welcomed the publication of the "A Vision for Agriculture and Food" report by the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen in February. It sets out the high-level principles that will translate into legislative proposals for CAP and other key dossier. The vision reasserts the treaty's provisions on agricultural production, food security, and farm and rural areas viability. It underpins the continuing need for a common EU policy. I believe it provides a strong argument for a robust and fully funded CAP in the next EU budget.”
“At the AGRIFISH Council, Ireland has supported calls for a robustly funded CAP and, in particular, a strong first pillar, as direct payments underpin the economic sustainability of European agriculture and are vital in safeguarding a fair and sufficient income for farmers generally. The CAP is an essential tool in contributing to the EU's climate and environmental objectives. CAP supports are key to rewarding farmers who maintain existing good practices, which often involves an economic cost to them. We are all familiar with that. The supports incentivise farmers to take more ambitious measures on climate, biodiversity and water quality and compensate them for costs incurred and income forgone. It is also important that we acknowledge that the CAP cannot and will not be the only lever to meet the Government's goals.”
“Basic income support is important for food production and the competitiveness of EU agriculture. The reality is that many Irish farms would not survive financially without CAP payments, and we should not lose sight of that. Of course, there will always be issues that will give rise to specific concerns for certain sectors but let us not rubbish what is an important aspect of farmers' incomes. Food Vision 2030, Ireland's strategy for the sustainable development of the agrifood sector, is based on the three strands of sustainability: economic, environmental and social sustainability. It is important that all three strands be addressed in the CAP post 2027 and that we maintain the momentum that is building in the current programme.”
“I welcome the opportunity to wrap up this debate. I recognise, as others have done, the presence of the president of the IFA, Mr. Francie Gorman. I also recognise all farming organisations that act in a very upfront and straightforward manner with us in the Oireachtas. They keep us and the Opposition guided on an ongoing basis about the complexities that exist in the farming sector generally. I thank all Deputies for their attention and comments today on these important issues. As the Minister, Deputy Heydon, outlined, there has been much progress on CAP implementation in Ireland. This work will continue to 2027 and in future CAP strategic plans. The CAP is the main instrument for Ireland's breakdown of EU budget MFF funds, accounting for approximately 75% of Ireland's receipts of €1.5 billion annually from the EU.”
“I am committed to finding a way forward if at all possible. I will continue to work closely with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris. The Deputy is right in saying that the trade and co-operation agreement has implications. It needs to be looked at again for the impact it will have in 2026. I am happy to engage on that basis and to try to involve the matter insofar as is possible in that discussion. I will raise the matter with Commissioner Šefčovič in that regard. I am happy to have a discussion with the Deputy at his convenience. We can work together to try to move that diplomatic situation forward because, ultimately, it will be resolved in those quarters. I again thank the Deputy for his interest.”
“The task force examined the impact of the loss of access to the waters around Rockall and estimated that Ireland's total squid fishery in 2019 was valued at around €6.6 million. The majority of squid was taken from the waters surrounding Rockall, and this amounted to 1,071 tonnes, valued in excess of €5 million, in 2019 and 371 tonnes, valued at €1.6 million, in 2020. Squid landings by Irish vessels from the Rockall area have varied considerably from year to year, ranging from under 300 tonnes in 2016 to more than 1,000 tonnes in 2017 and 2019. The sporadic nature of the fishery is consistent with squid's short lifespan and erratic recruitment dynamics. Given this variation, it is difficult to put a realistic estimate-----”
“Irish vessels have traditionally fished for haddock, which is subject to a quota limit, and squid, which is not subject to a quota limit, in the waters around Rockall. Haddock may be caught both within and outside 12 nautical miles of Rockall, but squid is caught within six nautical miles of Rockall. Other stocks caught in the waters around Rockall, both within the 12-mile area and outside, are monkfish and megrim. That is something the Deputy is very well versed in. In 2021, the seafood sector task force was established to examine the impacts of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our fishing sector and coastal communities and to make recommendations on the mitigation strategy.”
“I thank the Deputy. He has always been consistent in his interest in this matter. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has never made any claims to Rockall nor has Ireland ever recognised UK sovereignty claims over Rockall. Accordingly, Ireland has not recognised a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea around it. This remains the position of the Government, and that is well understood in this House. The Government continues to be in regular contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities regarding Rockall. Through this engagement, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting the long-standing fisheries patterns in the area with which the Deputy is very familiar. I know from constituents of his that this matter is of considerable concern to them, and the Deputy has raised it on a number of occasions.”
“In holding a government to account, an opposition can clearly have an input but it should not be what we saw last week. Again, I do not want to lecture anyone but it should not be about haranguing or barracking anybody. I hope we have moved past that at this stage.”
“However, I hope that we have reached an impasse today and that the vote that will take place later this evening will draw a line in the sand and allow all of us to move on. It should also allow the Opposition to do what it does very well and what it did very well for the last five years, which is to hold Government to account and to identify the positives, the negatives and often the failures. However, let us try to do that in a manner that recognises the challenges we face and gives us all the capacity to respond to the looming economic crisis by sharing the problems, working through them and finding solutions. It is not beyond this side of the House to look to good ideas coming from the other side. Great ideas are not the preserve of any one political party.”
“-----that was aimed at addressing the important issues that face Ireland, Europe and the world at a very difficult time. Things have got complicated since. We all understand that, in the aftermath of an election, there can be a period that is difficult for parties who had sought and perhaps expected to gain more but did not. We have been there too. I know what it feels like. However, it is incumbent on all of us to try to work together for the betterment of the Irish people. There is now a challenge that is greater than any we might have expected prior to the election. That is the looming tariffs coming from the United States and the impact these will have on all our communities and on our economy as a whole. I do not want to lecture anybody. We all go through an electoral cycle, see the outcome and have to work through that.”
“I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this important matter. It is a matter of record that a general election was held last November. People had their say and elected those of us who were fortunate enough to be elected. A group of like-minded parties and individuals came together and put together a programme for Government-----”
“I would like to think we could have a debate in a couple of weeks' time, when the Deputy will not be playing to the local media agenda or the deadlines of local newspapers. Maybe it could be done at committee, where we can be more reflective in putting in place a plan that will work. On those issues that the Deputy has identified and learned, let the Deputy be part of that too.”
“I am here to work with others on what has been learned out of this, how we ensure that there is not a continuous situation where trees that can damage power lines are left in place and how we can better respond to the needs of people in terms of getting power back to them more quickly, and ensuring there are generators at all the Irish Water sites so that clean water is pumped to the sites. Those are all important. As the Taoiseach said earlier today, there was one life lost. That is one too many. This could have been catastrophic. It was not catastrophic because of the planning that was done and the direction that was given from central government in terms of recognising the state of the problem.”
“Deputy Paul Lawless spoke about the need to have better planning for hubs in place. I know and Deputy O'Donoghue knows there were lots of generators in the mid-west and they were rolled out to homes that needed them - where there were vulnerable patients and they were needed for the purpose of electrical equipment.”
“It might be to the Deputy, but not to the local authorities. I visited locations the other day and met with staff in a local authority. They are not telling me that they did not respond because there was a shortage of money, quite frankly. They are working now to address this. There are issues about the clearing of ESB lines and of course we have to engage and interact with Coillte, but not just Coillte. I have heard Deputies jump on Coillte because that is an easy one. However, we should not forget that there are many private landholders who are responsible for forests. If they are suggesting that the responsibility lies on the owners of forests, they are putting a burden on small farmers who have small plantations and cannot afford it. A word of caution in their effort to blame the Government for everything: just be a bit more careful.”
“They and their families see it as an attack on them. Let us be cautious and careful here. Let us recognise that we need to take a lot of learnings and have a lot of work to do to be better prepared in the future. That is not all down to a Minister, or two or three Ministers; it is down to many people. The people I have spoken about are angry and upset. They do not necessarily blame the Minister. They might say that to the Deputy opposite; that is a matter between him and them. They want the country to be better prepared and in a stronger position to address the crisis. We need to ensure that those hubs are better in place. It is an attack on the CEO of the local authority when the Deputy suggests that they are not in place. The funding is always there. With respect, the Deputy knows full well money is not an issue at the minute.”
“I add my voice of recognition and congratulation on the amazing work that has been done by so many people in responding to what has been a one-in-a-hundred-year event. In the first instance I want to recognise the staff of the ESB and the local authorities and the tremendous amount of voluntary effort that was put in. However, I throw in a word of caution to those seeking to jump on the bandwagon and trying to blame all of this on politicians and on the Government. There are 15 members of the Government. While there are those who are suggesting it is all their fault, quite a lot of people do not buy that game, quite frankly. It is a populist and popular thing to attack the Government but there are many people working behind the scenes in government. They are voters, too, by the way. They are in the local authorities and the ESB.”