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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“The Deputy is aware that the CRU is independent entity. It is answerable to the Oireachtas through the Oireachtas committee, so there is an opportunity there for the Deputy. In fairness to her, Deputy Whitmore is a very vocal and hard-working member of that committee. The Minister has written to the CRU, and the officials are in contact. We want to bring this to a conclusion, but we must also recognise the independence of the CRU. As already stated, the commission is answerable to the Oireachtas. Price setting by energy companies is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned and not something that the Government or the Department could or would be able to interfere with or influence. My suggestion, as I said at the outset, would be to engage with the CRU through the committee.”
“With the departmental officials working with the CRU, it is very much our desire to get to a point where we can get parity in that situation.”
“The Minister and the officials in the Department have been engaging with the CRU to emphasise the importance of this. We all know the impacts that people are feeling. We know that the cost-of-living crisis is a result of significant increases in inflation in recent times. Of course, we all desire to try to resolve this. As the Deputy knows, the Minister commissioned a report on the national energy affordability task force. The first phase of that work came through prior to the budget last year. That is ongoing work to try, in so far as the Government can, to intervene to get that pass through on prices and to ensure that electricity is affordable to our citizens. We recognise where we are at in the international table.”
“The Minister wrote to the CRU to request that it commence the independent review, building on the work of the previous CRU investigations, reviewing the competitiveness of the Irish retail energy markets, examining supplier costs, including hedging and pricing practices, and providing price analyses to compare with other EU member states. This will also assess whether measures are warranted to enhance market responsiveness to wholesale price changes and make recommendations to ensure the benefits of lower wholesale prices are felt by the consumer.”
“In a report from last October, the International Energy Agency, IEA, observed that Irish retail prices had not adjusted at a pace comparable with that of the decline in wholesale prices, with the energy component of retail prices remaining up to three times that of wholesale prices. While the CRU has found no evidence of market failure or windfall profits in the retail sector in its market monitoring role, the IEA findings underline the importance of progressing the programme for Government commitment to commission an independent review into the speed and the level of pass-through from wholesale prices to retail prices.”
“I thank the Deputy for the question. I understand she wants clarification specifically on the review of the pass-through from wholesale electricity prices to retail electricity prices that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, requested the CRU to undertake. As the Deputy knows, retail electricity prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices, system operation costs and supplier hedging. The latest data from Eurostat shows that, in nominal terms, Ireland ranked fifth for household electricity prices among European countries in the first half of 2025. When adjustments are made for purchasing power parity, Ireland is about mid-table in terms of affordability, with its electricity prices being the 12th highest among European countries.”
“The whole programme behind it is about the State controlling it and with it being a floating facility, we are not building key infrastructure that we would beholden to in the decades ahead. It is aimed at providing that energy security. I thank the Deputies from across the House for their contributions. However, we cannot accept the motion and I support the Government's countermotion.”
“As the geopolitical situation continues to evolve, we will remain focused on ensuring that Ireland's energy security remains robust while endeavouring to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure. I wish to address another issue raised by a Labour Party colleague, Deputy Ahern, in relation to the LNG facility that the Government is moving ahead with. That is a critical piece of infrastructure that is necessary to give us energy security. It is not about another source of fossil fuels into our grid. It is about providing resilience to ensure that in the event of a significant rupture to our current gas supply, we are able to provide gas to our key infrastructure, such as hospitals, and that we have the capacity to do that. I hope that all would see that.”
“This will be a crucial element of the Government's work to improve competitiveness, complementing the action plan on competitiveness and productivity. The first report of the task force published last November set out measures for consideration in budget 2026. A key output of the task force will be an energy affordability action plan, which will identify a comprehensive range of solutions, including measures targeting households and, indeed, energy poverty as so many Deputies identified today. The plan is currently being developed and is due for publication in Q3 of this year. I reiterate that this Government is aware that people are concerned about energy security and energy costs at this unprecedented time.”
“In fact, a rooftop revolution is under way across Ireland. A total of 155,000 homes have received grants to install rooftop solar and free solar panels have been provided to 2,000 schools across the country. This reduces energy bills. Where excess energy is produced, it can be sold into the grid under microgeneration. The national energy affordability task force will play a key role in how we address energy affordability in the period to come. The task force was established by the Government to identify access and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability.”
“We are also developing a national DMAP towards our commitments for 2040, so we identify by the end of 2027 key sites that will be used for the capturing of offshore wind. We have invested very significantly in our grid. Between €3 billion and €4 billion has been set aside to allow our grid infrastructure to spend up to €18 billion by 2030. We are also working to ensure that households benefit directly from the renewable transition. Since 2019, SEAI schemes have provided almost €1.7 billion in support to homeowners delivering 250,000 home energy improvements, including almost 32,700 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the warmer homes scheme. In 2025, nearly 5,000 businesses and community groups received grants to retrofit their properties and install solar.”
“I suggest that is a better route to go than spending time, money and energy in looking back at the Barryroe opportunity, which nobody can quantify as to whether it has the perceived bounty that is being suggested. Considering the regime that existed here before in terms of very much encouraging developers of facilities like that over the past decades, nobody advanced in any real way there. I doubt that it is the bounty some would seek to suggest. I agree with many Members this morning who talked about advancing the case for renewables. The Government is very committed to that and has already begun a scheme. We saw the first wave of the south-east coast area that been identified with the Tonn Nua site back in December, auctioning 900 MW with three other auctions to come soon after.”
“Structural factors impact on our energy prices. Ireland is import dependent on energy, making it particularly vulnerable to price volatility in the wholesale gas market. Ireland's isolated island location, low levels of interconnection, widely dispersed low density population and reliance on fossil fuels are also important price determinants. Retail prices are also influenced by factors other than wholesale prices, including supply or hedging. This is the practice of purchasing energy in bulk ahead of time, protecting customers from the day-to-day volatility of the energy markets but also having long run effects on retail prices. This, as well as the current conflict, highlights why Ireland must reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, accelerate the deployment of renewables and expand interconnection with trusted European partners.”
“The situation is stark and grave but we all have a responsibility to share with constituents, consumers and customers that there are supports available, including hardship grants, and that the Department of Social Protection can provide exceptional needs payments in those crisis situations. Even when things were less complex, those measures were still there. There were people in better times who ran into difficulties for all sorts of reasons. The Department of Social Protection on the ground has flexibility. We need to encourage people who find themselves in those really straitened circumstances to seek the help that is there. In addition, the Department of Social Protection can provide support through that additional needs payment to help all who seek to meet expenses, including fuel bills but also at a wider level.”
“While there has not been any increase in the price of household electricity or gas since the conflict began, I note that there are a range of protections in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills. Anyone who is struggling with their bills is strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier. Suppliers will not disconnect consumers who engage with them. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has engaged with the four biggest energy retailers in recent months to ensure that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers who are in difficulty. That is why I find it difficult to accept the suggestions of some, including a contribution made on the radio this morning, that it was a toss-up as to whether people would heat their home or charge their wheelchair.”
“These measures included: an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity, saving households up to €100 million per year; enhanced social protection measures, including an increase in the fuel allowance rate of €38 per week with an expansion in the eligibility rules, which I know from experience in my constituency office brought a lot more people into that support scheme; and a record allocation of €640 million for SEAI retrofit schemes, allowing us to target 73,000 home energy upgrades this year. This includes about €340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty.”
“However, we all know that international energy prices moved in the intervening period. The package we introduced on Sunday, which was voted through the House last night, is in addition to the previously allocated €250 million in targeted supports to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure. It is also in addition to the range of measures introduced in budget 2026 that aimed to help households with energy costs.”
“Recent days have shown more evidence of the Government taking action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy through the introduction of an additional package of measures. These measures come on foot of Ministers holding a series of constructive meetings with representative groups, culminating in this further significant support package to address the ongoing crisis. As somebody who was involved in those discussions on the Government side, I will pay tribute to the representative bodies, which did their business efficiently and had remained in contact with the Government since the first package of measures was introduced. When that package of measures was introduced, it was hoped it would address the significant impact being felt at the time.”
“I thank the Deputies for raising very important issues and matters. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the pressures that households are facing as a result of high energy costs. It is important to say that the Government remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East, including the Gulf. Ireland has a long track record of support for international law and the UN and we continue to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved. The Government is also very aware of and concerned about the pressures placed on households and businesses by the high energy costs arising due to the conflict. Providing supports to alleviate this pressure has been, and will continue to be, a priority.”
“However, I am more than happy to meet the 16 hill farmers as soon as possible and I will go through it with them, and if the Deputies or others can come up with a greyness or find a route through it or a solution, I am happy to look at that. As I said, I am more than happy to meet the 16 hill farmers.”
“I am aware of this issue, obviously, but I am also conscious of the constitutional rights of property owners. Deputy Cullinane says that there is often a grey area and this is black and white. Emotionally, it is black and white. For any of us and for any member of society, the picture that the Deputies paint is black and white in terms of what should transpire, but from a departmental perspective and from a Government perspective, we have to be conscious of the Constitution and the laws and be seen to uphold those and also uphold the terms and conditions of the Common Agricultural Policy, and that puts very significant constraints on what the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and I can do.”
“There is the infamous case of the Shirley Estate in Carrickmacross, which was the subject of protracted battles in the courts. Through the Deputies' colleague, Deputy Matt Carthy, they may be able to ascertain some information as to how those challenging issues were addressed. I see this as somewhat similar, from my own observation rather than from a departmental perspective. It is challenging for all of us to grapple with it but I accept and recognise that it is most challenging for the 16 farmers whose lives and livelihoods depend on this.”
“Unfortunately, in this case it is clear that these farmers will not have the land involved at their disposal as a result of all of the issues the Deputies raised as long as the disagreement over the rental price continues. The Department is constrained by the terms and conditions of the Common Agricultural Policy. It is not, therefore, within the gift of the Department to make payments to farmers who are not able to assert a legal right to be on land. I fully get the situation here, but, unfortunately, it is no different to circumstances where the Deputies might be renting land from me or where I might be renting land from them. The historical context to this of course makes it challenging and emotive for all of us. I am aware that this has happened in other parts of the country as well.”
“I do not see that situation changing in the future either; it is a private commercial transaction between two parties. The Department routinely corresponds with farmers to establish that they have land at their disposal and that they are actively farming the lands declared on their applications. I understand that the farmers involved here are also concerned about payments that the Department administers which are dependent on the right to farm this rented land. Deputy McGuinness raised this issue during oral parliamentary questions a few weeks ago and requested that the Department waive the requirement for the farmers to have this land at their disposal. It is a core principle of Common Agricultural Policy funding that farmers have the right to farm the land they declare; in other words, that the land is at their disposal.”
“I thank Deputies McGuinness and Cullinane for raising this issue. The farmers to whom they refer have been farming on the area in question for generations, indeed some of the families involved have had hundreds of years of continuous farming in the same area. However, I am informed by the Department that the land in question is, as the Deputies identified, owned by a third party. Regardless of how that came about or the historical dimension to it, it has to be accepted that it is a third party who owns the land. That third party has requested substantially increased rents for use of the land. Therein lies the problem for everyone. Unfortunately, the Department has no role in how farmers and landholders agree rental prices. This is clearly something that must be arranged between the landowner and the farmer renting the land.”
“Indeed, one of the Deputies, who happens to be in the House, went on public television and explained what they were letting through the various different ports. We are elected to do certain things in this House but I do not think we are elected, or that anybody has the right, to usurp the authority of the State in terms of deciding who gets what through the ports.”
“Together with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Ministers of State, Deputy Healy-Rae and Deputy Grealish, we have worked with our stakeholders under the Department of agriculture since the crisis began and since the price of oil has gone out of all proportions following the invasion of Iran. We continued to remain in contact with them. It was not really a surprise to me at the weekend, as we worked through Easter and again through this weekend in trying to develop a package of supports to assist them through their most difficult time, that Sinn Féin early on Sunday decided to put down a motion of no confidence in the Government before a package of measures was even announced. I know that is how politics works and I know that is the role of the Opposition. However, I was somewhat taken, too, by the approach of Independent Ireland.”
“I welcome the opportunity to address the House. I was born on a small farm in east Clare. I know the struggles of my community. I know what it is like for farmers, particularly those with small farms, who have to provide for their families. That has not changed since the time I was going to school. I live among my people. I believe nobody in this House has a monopoly on empathy and nobody has a monopoly on the understanding of the struggles faced by the rural communities. However, there has been an attempt by some this week to usurp all of the knowledge, mar dhea, of that and have sought to present those of us on this side of the House as being somewhat deficient in our capacity to understand the challenges that are being faced.”
“In my constituency it is a phenomenal challenge to get a wind farm built. There is a lot of push-back. I regularly ask constituents if they would take a nuclear reactor instead. I have to say the response is not all that positive. Maybe it is different in Kilkenny, or is it Carlow the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has in mind? In all seriousness, we have to respond appropriately, with compassion and in a way that is sustainable. We also have to show, as a Government, flexibility to the vagaries of what is going on in the Middle East.”
“That is significant, particularly at a time of year, May, when we would hope the weather has improved, and there is not the same dependence on oil or gas to heat the home. We have tried to bring a proportionate response. We are trying to be responsible with taxpayers' money. When anybody is looking for more money to be spent here, it is taxpayers' money and money that has already been allocated in the budget. Some political parties have the stock answer that there is a surplus. Multiples of that surplus get spent on a daily basis here and we must be careful about that. We have to continue with the transition away from fossil fuels. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle indicated a desire to look a nuclear reactors. That may or may not be something the Government will look at. I have my worries about it.”
“I know that people have identified that this is the transport sector versus the tractor men, as Deputy Healy-Rae would have said. We support farmers in so many different ways. However, by also supporting the haulage sector, we are supporting employment and supporting the capacity of our productive sector to get goods to the market. I know that farmers and fishermen will rightly make the same claim, and we will have to look at that in due course. With regard to home heating oil, again, because it does not carry the same taxation model, it is not possible to adjust it in the way that was done for petrol and diesel. However, we have looked at targeting the most vulnerable by a further month’s extension of the fuel allowance.”
“My understanding is that the provision in the legislation gives the Minister the flexibility to retain this in exceptional circumstances, if there is sufficient necessity, but it is just for the initial period of time, as set out. However, rather than having to go back to primary legislation in the event of any further uncertainty, this provision is there. My feeling is that the Government is aligned with Deputy Whitmore, but rather than having to burden the House again, flexibility is created there. As the Deputies are clearly aware, the Strait of Hormuz is a key transit route for approximately 20% of global oil supply, but this has effectively been closed since 20 March. That is the cause of all of this. Together, we have a responsibility to the economy as a whole to try to hold our trajectory.”
“Some on the hard left seek to set that at naught. I want to pick out Deputy Gogarty, who, in fairness, is on the message here. Carbon taxes are about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and we have to move ahead with them. Deputy Whitmore had a concern that the funding that comes from NORA and is used for significant other investment streams would, somehow, be lost as a result of this. NORA is significantly well funded and has the capacity to meet all its demands in that regard. The Deputy talked about bringing forward amendments because she felt that, somehow, the reduction of moneys going to NORA would go on for 18 months. That is not the case.”
“All of us in the House, regardless of which side we are on, know that there is no clarity as of today on where this ends. We would like to hope that this issue will come to a head shortly, that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened up and that oil and gas will start to move around again. However, there are backlogs in the system, refineries have been taken out and the entire supply chain has been disrupted, so there is a significant way to go. Others sought to have the standard go at the data centres and said they only create a small amount of money. Data centres create a very significant reduction in the use of energy, when we see, in a co-located environment, the racks that would ordinarily sit in offices or other buildings dotted around the country. That consolidation leads to an energy reduction.”
“However, it is beyond the capacity of the Exchequer to resolve every aspect or facet of this. We hear how the European Union intends to address the consequential rise in interest rates. They will rise as a result of this, inflationary pressures will increase and it will have an impact on food stocks. There has been a kind of knee-jerk reaction by some to immediately get in and address the price increase on fuel alone, but there will be other consequential impacts that will have reverberations throughout the economy. The Government cannot carry all of that. The only way to do that is to raise taxes elsewhere, which will further add to the burden. We have to be careful. With any measure that we bring forward, we have to be able to sustain it.”
“I managed to get the party that I represent, from an Opposition perspective at the time, to support the introduction of the carbon tax. There was a political challenge, frankly, but the members of the party bravely took the decision at the time. We did not suffer electorally for it because the public actually wanted to hear how we take difficult decisions. It is not always possible for the Government to rectify issues that are from a different source. This shock to the oil system comes from outside our shores. It is beyond our control. Yes, we can reduce certain excise duties or try to assist people who are in greatest need in a targeted way, but that comes at a significant cost. Nearly everybody had an ask this evening. I respect and understand that, because my phone rings too, my office is busy and we hear the concerns of people.”
“I accept that. The reality is that the carbon tax funds significant investment in reducing aspects of our economic dependence on fossil fuels. Some Deputies talked about a weakness in the SEAI grants scheme. We have brought forward simplification measures, which I am sure we will get to in due course. We are bringing in a grant scheme for windows and doors to help people to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes, so their dependence on fossil fuels is thwarted in the best possible way. We have to continue that, notwithstanding the price shock that is there at the moment. It is the appropriate way. There are good grants for wall and attic insulation, and increased grants for heat pumps. We have to drive that ahead. The funding for that comes from the carbon tax. I sat on the committee.”
“The difficulty with subsidies is that they have to be paid for from somewhere else, and it is a challenge to try to burden some other sector of society. It is a transfer, effectively, or a tax that would have to be raised elsewhere, so that is a challenge. What the Government did this week was to look at the tax model through the excise. I know that some have sought to represent that as being mean or not being an appropriate response, but it was the only response that could have been taken, unless we were to start looking at raising taxes elsewhere. Others have sought to undermine the carbon tax. In fairness, Deputy Healy-Rae did not go down that road.”
“I appreciate the contributions of all who spoke in the debate today, some down standard political lines, but others fully understanding and cognisant of where the Irish economy and the various sectors are at. They are really negatively impacted by the massive disruption to the supply of oil from the Middle East to the Irish economy. At the outset, I thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for his comments. I know where he is coming from. As the Minister of State with responsibility for the fishing sector, I know there is no immediate solution because the oil that is used does not carry the same taxes as petrol and diesel at the pumps, so there is a difficulty. I take the Deputy’s point with regard to the subsidy.”
“We must also look to Fáilte Ireland and other agencies that have capital funds. I have asked officials in our Department to try to identify where moneys are already being spent on infrastructure so we can try to pull together a pool of money for marine infrastructure investment. This will involve taking the €4.3 million we are lucky enough to have this year and some moneys from other Departments. If we could get to a notional fund total of €8 million to €10 million annually, then we could make real differences. We could look at some key projects, perhaps on an annual basis, that would involve €1 million or up to €2 million. It could be that kind of thing. It is the very early stages but, based on people who have come to me in the past and places I have visited, I am trying to develop something in that area.”
“I thank the Senators again. To answer directly, I too share the concerns raised. I have visited many piers and harbours around the country, but there is not an envelope of money in our Department to be able to fund them. I have, therefore, begun a process of engagement across Departments. I did not want to come in and stick to the script, which would, effectively, say it is an issue for another Department, because that does not solve the problem. We are all in government together. While local authority piers do reside under the Department of housing, I am prepared to work with it. It is important that we look to the Department of tourism as well, because many of these facilities are also used for tourism. There is an element of fishing, although a lot less than what it might have been, so that is where our Department came into play.”
“It should be noted that it is a matter for each local authority to manage the progress of each project and submit claims to the Department for reimbursement. For context, the BALAMI scheme was one of the recommendations of the seafood sector task force, which the then Minister, Deputy McConalogue, established following Brexit. It provided funding to local authorities to revitalise Ireland's public marine infrastructure to offset the impact of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The main condition for eligible projects is that the costs incurred must be directly linked to countering the adverse effects of the UK's withdrawal on the local fishing community.”
“It is worth noting that any costs incurred in relation to survey work and permit applications are not considered capital expenditure and, therefore, are not eligible for reimbursement by our Department. It is a matter for the local authorities to progress preparatory studies, permitting and design reports for each project in advance of applying to our Department for supporting capital works. Between the years 2020 and 2025, our Department reimbursed total funding of almost €60 million under both the local authority marine infrastructure scheme and the Brexit adjustment local authority marine infrastructure, BALAMI, scheme. This figure is the total drawdown from the local authorities following completion of their projects. The figure may differ from the allocation granted by the Department each year.”
“Applications are evaluated, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached to each project by the relevant local authority, available funding and the need to ensure a broad geographical spread of projects. The Department is currently processing these applications. I expect that this process shall be completed in the coming weeks, following which I will make a decision concerning the allocation of funding for eligible project proposals. Once the projects are approved for funding, our Department will engage with representatives from the respective local authorities. I can, however, share details of funding provided in recent years to local authorities by our Department.”
“Local authorities were encouraged to assess the nature of the capital works on their coastal-marine infrastructure that may require repair, modernisation, enhancement or upgrading, identifying those projects that could be considered eligible for funding in 2026. The deadline for local authorities to submit project proposals for funding under this scheme was 9 March. I am pleased to inform the Senators of the large volume of project proposals submitted to our Department within the timeline. In fact, applications were submitted by every coastal local authority. The is really encouraging and says to me that the engineers are engaging with the process.”
“However, our Department, as part of its annual fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme, does provide limited - I emphasise that it is limited - discretionary funding to coastal local authorities for the implementation of small-scale projects focused on the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways under their ownership. The proposed projects must support the fishing industry, aquaculture and marine leisure activities. Accordingly, on 16 February, I announced €4.3 million in funding under the local authority marine infrastructure scheme for 2026. Under that scheme, our Department will co-fund up to 75% of the eligible project costs, up to a maximum of €187,500 reimbursement, where eligible, per project, with the local authority providing the balance.”
“In addition, our Department has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the north harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board. Responsibility for the development and maintenance of any piers, harbours and slipways that lie outside the boundary of the fishery harbour centres that are not under the remit of our Department rests with each local authority in the first instance.”
“At the outset, with others, I join in offering condolences to the McNulty family. I offer my condolences to Geraldine, Joanna and the rest of the family. Of course, we will meet them in due course. I suggest that the Senators contact my office and I will happily engage with them. I thank Senators O'Donovan and Duffy for raising this issue today. Our Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned fishery harbour centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mhíl under statute. It also has responsibility for Cape Clear, Cleggan and some piers, lights and beacons.”
“The pier at Heilbhic does not qualify for any of the supports that are available at the moment. In the case of Heilbhic, it is impossible to get the RNLI boat out in certain circumstances. We have to look at all this in a more comprehensive way in order to identify the areas where we need to do it. We also need to look at a more broadly based scheme.”
“I fully get that. I saw in the case of Connemara where part of Cleggan is owned by our Department and part by the local authority. There was a comprehensive plan there which was probably too large in scale. While everyone liked it, nobody was able to come up with the comprehensive amount of money. I have suggested to them that they might look at a slimmed down version and we can see how we manage that. In that case, while there is some fishing activity there it is relatively small but there is a really important ferry service going out to the islands that is of vital importance. There are certain times where there is a safety issue there. Deputies Conor D. McGuinness and Mary Butler have a similar issue down in Waterford, which I have also witnessed.”