Victor Boyhan
Agricultural Panel · Independent · Ireland
“It also mentions the agrifood sector and the importance of diversification in agriculture, the maritime sector, coastal communities and fishing communities in terms of rural policy.”
“I know from my engagement with both the Department and the Minister that over 900 submissions to the consultation process were received. No Member or parliamentarian will have had the opportunity to consider the anonymised version of these consultations, which contain many good suggestions in favour of the regulations and many concerns in…”
“I welcome the Minister and the official to the Seanad. This is particularly important Private Members' business. I thank Senators Collins and Tully for setting out the background and the rationale behind their Private Members' motion. I acknowledge the Minister's exceptional commitment to rural Ireland and his Ministry.”
“I am conscious of the Minister's public consultation, and I acknowledge it and thank them for it, in relation to the Our Rural Future work programme in 2025. In fairness to him, he did not stop at that. I received a further update when I requested it from his office very recently.”
“This will come about through that process. It is for the Minister to decide. Maybe he will do so tomorrow when the regulations are dealt with. However, when Senators are in this Chamber discussing these regulations tomorrow, they will have no sight of any constituent who made a submission. That is my first item.”
“I am pleased to see Senator Byrne in the Leader’s chair. I wish him well in that job. I also wish him well in his new position as Government Whip. There are three items I wish to discuss today. First is the exempt development regulations, which are being covered extensively in the media.”
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“However, if we are to move from local administration to local government, there is a lot more work to do. I commend the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, the County and City Management Association, CCMA, and the local government audit organisation, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, on the work they have done. It is important we now proceed. I look forward, in due course when the Minister has discussed the report in his Department and brought it to the Cabinet, to having time to discuss it too and to continue to mentor reform of local government as we committed to do in the Seanad Public Consultation Committee for local government and local democracy.”
“While we have no veto on this report, it is important that we as Senators work closely with local government and it would be right and proper that we at some point engage with the Minister and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage about it. We can have all the reports in the world - and there are many of them - but unless we implement and help to push along the key recommendations, they will go nowhere. I said earlier during a Commencement matter on the challenges around the Mayor of Limerick - a Mayor who received first preferences in excess of 27% of the vote; what an outstanding vote - that there will always be challenges, particularly when we are rolling out mayors. I welcome that the Tánaiste has given more momentum to a task force for Cork. There is a task force under way in Dublin.”
“I join Senator Costello in congratulating South Dublin County Council on being selected as the LAMA local authority of the year. It is richly deserved. I know Colm Ward, too, and he does an exceptional job. That leads me to focus on the local democracy task force. Its report is complete. It has been signed off and is no longer with the task force. It is not the draft report; it is the report and it will be presented to the Minister tomorrow. Arrangements have been put in place for that to happen. I cannot speculate about the final report or its recommendations. However, I go back to when the Seanad published, under the Cathaoirleach's leadership, a Seanad Public Consultation Committee report on local government. We always intended to revisit it and we should.”
“Ultimately, it will be a matter for the Minister to consider. The report will be submitted to the Minister and he will bring it to the Government. I hope there will not be a long delay. There is no point in just having a report. I understand that there is a suite of recommendations attached to this report. We need to see those implemented. The faster that happens, the better.”
“The Minister of State has given more than enough detail. He said the review will take place in 2027 and that it will engage with the councils, which is important, various stakeholders, which is also important - I am glad it was confirmed - the consultative forum and other appropriate people. On completion of the review, the Minister will consider the report and make it available to both Houses of the Oireachtas. What more could you ask for? I thank the Minister of State. This will provide greater clarity and certainty to the elected members about what will actually be happening as opposed to what they are reading. I will finish by wishing the Department, the Minister and the two other Ministers of State in the Department continued success with their work. The local democracy task force will be with them tomorrow.”
“I acknowledge the director general of the council - he is the only director general of a local authority - and the challenges in his work. Wherever there is change and reform, with regard to the chief executive and the Mayor, there will be tensions and a bulwark for tensions but that is a good thing. It is not a bad thing so I would be interested in hearing what the Minister of State has to say.”
“In the Dublin city task force, we talked about public services; community health; business and unions; arts, culture and tourism; private sector architecture; urban design; planning and all the things that go with local government and local democracy. It is an exciting time for local government. We know that this week, the national task force on local government already signed off on this report last week and will be delivering it to the Department and the Minister tomorrow - Wednesday. Let us be clear and let us not have any ambiguity. Of course, we look forward to discussing issues around that but that is for another day. Addressing this issue would be helpful for the people of Limerick and the staff of the city and county council.”
“We are now reading in the newspapers that the Government is going to carry out some sort of review. I welcome a review. I am sure the Mayor and the councillors welcome a review. Everyone welcomes a review. Over the past few days, we read that the Tánaiste was down in Cork and talked about the Minister of State's native city and the Cork city task force. This is great. We are going to see a task force on local government there, which is fantastic. We know Dublin city rejected the proposition of a directly elected mayor when it was put to it. That may be put to it again in another plebiscite or referendum.”
“We have, effectively, a local administration and I think, having read, followed and engaged with the city and county councillors of Limerick - which I do extensively - there are challenges but nothing that cannot be overcome. I want to recognise the enormous work that John Moran, as Mayor, has done there. He could have been in many things. He was in the Department of Finance. He brings a vast wealth of experience plus commercial aspects to the job. The various issues that may be challenging are not insurmountable. They can be dealt with. John Moran went on to become the first directly elected Mayor for the county. Remember, he received 22.9% of the first preference votes and was, therefore, democratically elected Mayor of Limerick City and County Council in 2024. That is the background.”
“That was a historic vote and day in local democracy and local government, and for Limerick because Limerick was, after all, the first in Ireland to approve a mayor with executive powers, initiating a process of legislation, reform and implementation. I salute the Mayor, John Moran, a man of vast expertise and experience. He will say himself, as do the city and county councillors of Limerick, that there were always going to be challenges and difficulties. When you map out and scope out a vision and plan for local government, we cannot compare ourselves with any other local government structure or form across Europe. Of course, the long question always remains around us never having local government if we do not devolve powers from central government.”
“I welcome the Minister of State here again and thank him for coming to the House to address my Commencement matter. It asks for the Minister to confirm the nature of the Government's proposed review of legislation that established the electoral mayoralty of Limerick, and to make a statement on same. To give the Minister of State a bit of background, I say that because there has been a lot of commentary about the Mayor of Limerick. It is also important to make the point at the very outset that on 24 May 2019, voters in Limerick approved a plebiscite supporting the creation of a directly elected mayor with executive functions for Limerick City and County Councils.”
“Clearly there are very good things going on in the area of renovation and restoration but we need to do more. A lot of people would like to work from home two or three days a week. They want to support their rural communities. GAA clubs, sports clubs, parishes, and national schools are facing imminent closure because of a lack of people. People want choice and it is about having various options. I would expect nothing less of rural public representatives that they would be here beating the drum about affording people the opportunity to live in rural communities.”
“We need to hear commentary from the Minister for justice on this occasion because we have to have a collaborative approach. We need to get the 50 beds open. We can be reasonable and accept that it will be transitional. It might be ambitious but it would be great if we could say that we will open 25 beds this year and 25 next year, or whatever. Let us hear what the logistics are and have a reasonable, fair and pragmatic debate about it. I have continuously asked for a debate on rural housing. Many Members of this House represent rural communities and they know better than me the demand for rural housing. We have been told continuously that we cannot proceed. The rural housing guidelines are out of date but there are imaginative ways in which we can enhance our villages and towns. We can have small clusters of houses.”
“We have heard concerns expressed by Shine, the Irish Penal Trust and other advocacy groups and yesterday, at a hearing in Cloverhill Prison, Judge Alan Mitchell expressed serious concern about the number of people presenting to him with mental health difficulties whom he has no option but to put back in prison. He is not prepared to continue to do that and he has put the Government on notice, as was documented in various media yesterday. There are challenges around it. While it is a mental health issue, the blockage lies with justice and the prison system. Prison is not appropriate. People do not get well in prison if they have mental health problems and sometimes the reasons people are in prison are connected with all of that.”
“Members will know, having discussed it here previously, that the "RTÉ Investigates" programme that aired about two weeks ago identified very serious issues around a shortage of beds. My Commencement matter yesterday raised the situation of the 50 beds that are currently provided but are vacant. The Minister of State made the case that it is difficult to recruit staff and I understand and accept that. As a result, beds have to be opened up incrementally over a period. There are currently 50 beds vacant, as confirmed by the "RTÉ Investigates" programme. That is an issue.”
“I am happy to support the Order of Business as proposed by the Deputy Leader today. I wish to bring up two issues. One relates to ongoing issues around mental health. Yesterday, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, was in the House to deal with my Commencement matter but we did not make a lot of progress. Therefore, I am formally requesting another debate on mental health. I know the Minister of State will be back in the House on 18 March to complete the passage of the Mental Health Bill, which is really important. That date has been confirmed so we are all aware of it. It is the day after St. Patrick's Day. I want to renew my call for the Minister for justice to come in on this occasion.”
“Did the Government consider proposing that the Bill should be deemed to be read a Second Time in six or 12 months? That the Bill is just being guillotined and cut dead is disappointing and a sad day for parliamentary democracy. Is the issue under discussion to be yet another one on which debate is curtailed and ended? I understand that the Bill acknowledges that there are restrictions in the current Act, and that is why I am supporting it. It is a reasonable measure. As a minimum, we should have parliamentary engagement, dialogue and debate and ultimately make a decision.”
“If we block democracy, parliamentary debate and parliamentary engagement, all of which are important, we will be blocking something important and it will be very sad. We should not undervalue or understate that. I am open to correction but I believe what is going to happen tonight is that the Government's amendment will be put at the end of the debate, after the Minister speaks. If the Government's amendment is passed, the Civil Engagement Group's Bill will be removed from the Order Paper. It will be at least six months before a similar Bill can be introduced. It will not be possible to restore the original Bill to the Order Paper. I have a question that the Minister might address in her response if she believes it is appropriate.”
“Those of us who will be interested in these things will know there is actually a log of the legislation over that period, certainly for the terms of the last two coalition Governments. Everything has been blocked. This is not constructive parliamentary democracy. I do not like to say that. Coalition Governments with big majorities have an impact on parliamentary democracy. We see it all the time. I ask the Minister to explain why this is the case. This is a simple Bill with a definition and four sections. It seeks to amend sections 2 and 7 of the principal Act. Section 4 relates to the Short Title, collective citation, construction and commencement. It is not a lot to deal with. I am disappointed it is not being accepted.”
“When she asked the nuns in County Galway for an opportunity to hold the child - it was a Sunday - she was told not to be ridiculous. They said the remains had been burnt and sent out in the wheelbarrow to the gardener. She was 80 years of age and had never told her children this story. It took her until she was 80 years of age to share her grief and concern with me. I was effectively a stranger. This is a sensitive issue and I appreciate that the Minister knows that. We all know that. I want to concentrate on the process. It is a pity and it is disappointing how this has been handled. It is indicative of how the Government treats the Opposition and this House. I have been here for over ten years now.”
“One of the clearest things in the logs was that many of the children in question died very young. A number of them died later. Anyone who takes the time, like I have because I have an interest in these issues, will know from the 1911 census the number of children who came out of institutions, because we know where the institutions were. We also know that many children died in them. It is too easy to say that everyone was weak and sickly. There has to be an answer. Questions have to be asked for any child who was in care and disappeared, and who was either illegally buried or placed somewhere unknown. I shared with the House before that I once spoke with an 80-year-old woman from Galway who told me she lost a child nearly at full term.”
“There are still issues outstanding regarding the site. Clearly, there are issues around children in care. I think I shared with this House before a story on which I do not want to go into too much detail. I received a visit here from a woman who had information and logs related to burials of children, some of them in existing private cemeteries within Dublin. There was no information other than the evidence and records presented to me. I immediately informed the then Minister, Katherine Zappone, and discussed the matter with her. I formally lodged the papers with the appropriate authorities. That was important because we all know that many people who were institutionalised – it might be ourselves – want to know their history, where they have come from and where they belonged. It may just be a question of linking up some dots.”
“Senators may not know it but there are some of them working here in the Oireachtas. Others are in other areas of public life. Some have commented on, and many have written extensively about, their experiences in Bessborough and those of their families. The planning issues around Bessborough are well known. The Minister, as a Fianna Fáil representative, will be very familiar with the Bessborough story. The Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, is from the part of the world in question and took an exceptional interest in the story and responded proactively. We know what developers wanted to do there. We know what was proposed to interfere with the site and we know the sensitivities related to it. Ultimately, a certain amount of common sense prevailed and public opinion mattered because it had been cranked up.”
“I welcome the Minister to the House. It is great to see her here. I thank her for coming here to give this matter the attention it deserves. I acknowledge the Civil Engagement Group for its proposal. It is one I support on the basis that the group has made a strong case here on the restrictive nature of the Institutional Burials Act 2022. I want to remember for a moment Catherine Corless, the absolutely fierce objections she faced when she unveiled the information she had found in her endeavours, and the frustration she experienced in the process. I visited her twice and walked the site twice. You could not but be moved by the compelling story and the evidence she uncovered. I am familiar with people who resided in Bessborough and had tragic lives there. Many of them are involved in various aspects of political life.”
“It is ironic and somewhat sad and disappointing that a few hours later, we will discuss a proposal the Leader is bringing to this House to shut down a Second Stage reading in response to a tragedy. Let us leave it at that and we will talk about it later, but there should be some robust engagement and I would encourage Members of all sides of the House to articulate their views. I do this with one caveat. Let us wait and see the words in the transcript that will be issued for the speeches in the Dáil at half-past three today. That will be the canvas and the background for my engagement later in this House. I ask the Leader to also read it and reflect on it before he pursues his proposal this afternoon in the Houses of the Oireachtas.”
“She was generous with her time and, more importantly, with her resources. It is a tribute to anyone when we can say that a person was generous with their time and resources. Of course, I cannot go without saying we are thinking of Padraic White. They were a duo of entrepreneurs, risk takers, encouragers, facilitators and supporters of others. May Mary rest in peace. We will have time later to discuss the Civil Engagement Group's Institutional Burials (Amendment) Bill 2022. At 3.27 p.m., the Government will issue a public apology to people who campaigned for justice in relation to industrial schools and institutions. Today, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, will gather in Dáil Éireann. I will be there to listen to that apology.”
“I thank the Cathoirleach for bringing forward a proposal for a formal vote of sympathy for the former Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White. When I think of Mary White, I think of a very successful entrepreneur, a politician, a republican who espoused the values of a true republic and someone who spent much of her time on this. I knew her well and she was a great friend of mine and a great visitor to my home. I had many a long day and evening with both her and Padraic. They were an incredible, dynamic couple. For me, what stands out about her is her advocacy for penal reform. It was her humanitarian response to the families of prisoners up and down this island and beyond, which she went about dealing with very quietly. She was also a great friend and a great mentor to people of politics of all shades and opinion in these Houses and outside them.”
“I have no doubt that those involved in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme will be following this story here today. There is a story and it is important that we be ambitious enough to fill the 50 beds that are in place in this facility.”
“She may or may not have seen it on yesterday's RTÉ News website with the headline, "'No options' for psychiatric patients held in prison, judge warns". He was sitting at Cloverhill District Court in the prison. He has said he will now have to look at alternatives. It is really important. The solicitor for the HSE, Alan Doyle, is on the record as saying that ten beds would open hopefully by the end of March but was not in a position to confirm that. Could we be ambitious and say that we will have 30 beds open this year? I am not asking the Minister of State to say that now because clearly she will have to think about it and talk to the people on the ground. However, we have the facility and we have the beds. They are there; let us open them.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive statement. The reality is that there are beds that have not been opened in the facility. Some 50 beds remain empty while people remain in squalid conditions in our prisons. I accept that a lot has been achieved and I would be the first to say that. The reality is that we need to have these 50 beds. We have budgeted for it and the taxpayers have paid. The beds are in place. It is really important that we prioritise. I hear the Minister of State's point about incremental increases. I would like us to be in a position to say at the end of the year that those 50 beds have been filled. I draw the Minister of State's attention to this article, which I will send on to her office.”
“The Government press release referred to a new change and a new direction, and one that we all welcomed. I understand that, as of yesterday, one third of the facility's beds are not opened. Some 50 beds remain empty while people remain in squalid prison conditions. I take this opportunity to thank Saoirse Brady, director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust. There is a report on yesterday's RTÉ News website with the heading, "'No options' for psychiatric patients held in prison, judge warns". Referring to a case before Judge Alan Mitchell, the article states, "Solicitor for the HSE, Alan Doyle, told him that it was hoped 10 beds at the CMH would be opened by the end of March but that this had not been confirmed." I am here to work collaboratively with the Minister of State and I know she is with me.”
“Some were bipolar or had schizophrenia, others were experiencing psychotic episodes, yet despite being in touch with mental health services they were denied the support and the appropriate and necessary treatment they clearly required. The HSE and the national forensic mental health service is clearly under-resourced and overwhelmed. I have spoken directly to some of the people involved here and this is what they tell me. The Minister and I both know and agree that prison is not a therapeutic place. It cannot address the trauma nor heal people who are unwell. Prison staff are not fully equipped to support people with specific psychiatric healthcare needs and we accept that.. The Central Mental Hospital is a facility that cost approximately €250 million when it was built.”
“It acted as another focus or advocate for the crisis we are referring to here today. I acknowledge Conor Ryan's professionalism with RTÉ's "Prime Time" and RTÉ itself for the amazing investigative programmes it has produced. "RTÉ' Investigates" exposed what many families, clinicians and advocate organisations have been telling us for years. The State is relying on prisons to manage many people with severe mental illness. The State is failing to provide adequate and appropriate healthcare, despite our domestic and international human rights obligations, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The RTÉ documentary highlighted people who had already been diagnosed with serious mental health conditions.”
“This harrowing documentary laid bare the reality of what the Irish Penal Reform Trust had regularly told us, as politicians in both Houses of the Oireachtas, as did other advocacy groups. It showed the anguish of family members who fear for the well-being and, in many cases, the lives of their loved ones experiencing mental disorders and the health crisis around that. It showed people in the criminal justice system crying our for help that never came in many cases and families watching their loved one's physical and mental health dramatically deteriorate. Conor Ryan of the "RTÉ Investigates" programme's retelling of the families' stories of grief and pain flowed through our screens and into our homes. It was really public broadcasting, maybe at its saddest, but at its best because it shone a light in a very dark place.”
“I welcome the Minister for State back to the Seanad. It is always good to see her. I thank her for coming here to deal with this Commencement matter, which falls within her remit and responsibilities. I want to set the scene here because that is important. Ironically, I had tabled this Commencement matter yesterday but it was not selected. I am lad it was not selected because today I will be quoting from Judge Alan Mitchell. A posting by RTÉ at 12.10 p.m. yesterday was really interesting because it very much relates to the point I am going to make. I said to the Minister of State I had watched the "RTÉ Investigates" programme from about two weeks ago entitled "The Psychiatric Care Scandal". It was broadcast over two nights. It was, to say in the least, very disturbing but very necessary viewing.”
“The next slot was identified for the Independent Group but there is no one taking that slot. I note Senator Noonan has to leave to attend a committee meeting. He is a member of the Cross-Party Group and will have ten minutes. He has indicated he will share if that is okay with all of the Members here. Is it agreed we take them next? Agreed. The rota after that is clearly set out. The Cross-Party Group will take this ten minute slot, the next slot is for Senator O'Loughlin for Fianna Fáil, then it is Sinn Féin, which has indicated they will be sharing, followed by Senators Flaherty and Byrne. Is that agreed? Agreed.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We very much appreciate his giving his time. The Minister of State has eight minutes to set out his stall. Group spokespersons will have ten minutes each and time may be shared. The Minister of State must be called to reply no later than 6.53 p.m. It may be earlier but that is the guideline. Statements must conclude by 7 p.m.”
“There will be a more detailed question-and-answer session with the Minister at the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food. Senator Daly and other Senators here are members of that committee. I wish the Minister well. It is another challenge but I have no doubt we will get over it.”
“I know this is an ever-moving and ever-evolving situation but we need to be up to speed on the status of these vaccines. Supply of the vaccines is critically important. What vaccines are licensed to be used here? What have been approved? What work has been done in relation to that? This is really important. It is important to keep our veterinary practitioners and other relevant stakeholders up to speed in what is best practice. That is what is really important. It is about how we are going to communicate to the ordinary people, how we are going to communicate to the consumer, how we are going to communicate with the farmers involved, and the challenges around that. I thank the Minister for coming to the House and facilitating statements and some engagement.”
“The Minister is right when he says it is important that we get the message over that bluetongue has no impact on human health. That is a very strong message we need to get out there. There will be scaremongers who will be saying that this is not true. We have got to follow the science. I believe the Minister that this is an important message. The communication, and how we handle this crisis in very simple language, is really critical and important. The Minister might confirm what vaccines are currently authorised for use on animals in the Republic of Ireland. Circulars issued from the Department of agriculture said that the duration for the immunity period guaranteed in the specifications of a vaccine have "not been determined to date" but trials are ongoing in other countries. Will the Minister please comment on that?”
“When we talk about animal health, consumption and food, and we have talked about this to a great extent in the last few weeks, people are asking questions about the vaccine, for example the BTV-3 vaccine, and its availability in Ireland. Perhaps the Minister will touch on availability - what vaccines are actually available, licensed and permitted - and the impact on our meat and consumption. This is a critical area of concern. Then we must ask about the supply chain and the consistency of vaccinations, what is the right choice for the flock or particular herd, and what is the advice there. Teagasc has done a certain amount of work in this area. It is important that we have Teagasc. I do not doubt its ability. It is about education and communication.”
“It is confirmed that the Republic of Ireland had its first case of bluetongue back in January but the cross-Border trade for breeding stock is at a standstill now. We are effectively at a standstill between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This is ahead of major sales shows, which somebody else referred to. It also affects new bloodlines that are now going to be shut down temporarily but at a particularly crucial time in sales. Pedigree and commercial cattle and sheep are particularly exposed as they rely on the genetic exchange, the cross-Border sales and the movement of highly valuable animals. This has an impact on us also. There has been a lot of talk about vaccinations.”
“One wants to be up on one's feet, shrewd and capable. I wish the Minister well. This is just another thing to land on the Minister's desk and it is very much a challenge. The Minister has summed it all up. Ireland has now lost its disease-free status for bluetongue and this clearly has ramifications for trade. That must always be a concern to us all. The Minister touched on the renegotiation of the veterinary health certificates, VHC, to facilitate ongoing trade, which has been impacted with the loss of Ireland's freedom from bluetongue and includes live animal exports. Clearly we have a massive cross-Border trade and there would be major challenges. If there was ever a showcase of agriculture, Northern Ireland is an amazing place for anyone who is familiar, or not that familiar, with farming.”
“I welcome the Minister and I thank him for facilitating our statements on bluetongue today. I know the Minister has had ongoing engagement and will continue to do so. We may have submitted parliamentary questions to the Minister's office in the last few days in relation to this subject. I know the Minister is committed to coming back to us and I want to thank him for doing that. I also want to acknowledge the very significant and important role of our chief veterinary officer within the Department. It is an amazing role and she is an amazing person who does the job. I ask the Minister to convey this to her and her team in Agriculture House, and also to the Minister's staff in agriculture. If anyone thought the Ministry of agriculture was an easy one, the last few months have made it very clear that it is a very busy Department.”
“We also know it may take until 2027 to get that scheme running. People are now on notice - I suggest this be called a tax amnesty - that from now until the beginning of 2027, if they are in the ownership of derelict sites or derelict and empty properties, they have a 12-month window to engage in this scheme and other imaginative schemes to revitalise derelict sites and property. We need these properties to get housing for all.”
“I welcome the Government's decision to expand the buy and renew scheme, which is aimed at returning long-term disused buildings into high-quality sustainable homes. This is a really welcome initiative. Under the newly expanded scheme announced by the Government this week, building contractors will be able to acquire and refurbish vacant and derelict properties directly before selling them on to the local authorities or approved housing bodies, AHBs, for social housing. Previously, only the local authorities and the AHBs could deliver the scheme under the programme. I have received correspondence from Revenue, dated 6 February, in relation to the derelict sites. As a result of an announcement by the Minister of Finance in budget 2026, responsibility for the collection of the derelict sites taxes will rest with Revenue.”
“On the proposed Order of Business, I am pretty confident that the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will be discharged today in a timely fashion. I encourage all Senators to come together and respect the different positions taken. There has not been a lot of time. The Order of Business proposes that this Bill be discharged today and a motion for earlier signature by the President be taken. There is no counter-proposal as of now, so it is important we just get on with the business and listen respectfully to what people have to say, as is the general rule in the House. I note the proposal in the Order of Business. I have no objection to it and I am reasonably confident the Bill will be discharged in a timely manner this afternoon.”
“Yes, we highlighted it but the Government did not listen to the Opposition in the Dáil and the Seanad and now we have a crisis, but it is a crisis of the Government's own making, nobody else's. I wish the Rotunda Hospital every success in a plan but if we have plans and statutes on planning and development, we need to think hard before we agree them because this is a result of legislation agreed by this Government in these Houses.”
“The problem starts with the fact that some of us in these Houses did not listen and respond to the debate at the time and allowed this to happen. The Government cannot retrospectively change planning. There is a suggestion today that An Coimisiún Pleanála will go through a critical infrastructure process, which it may well do, but it will have to start all over again. That is the planning process the Houses legislated for. I usually take issue with An Coimisiún Pleanála, but in this case, it did nothing wrong. It operated within the law and within the constraints of the Planning and Development Act as legislated for and provided for in these Houses.”
“I think the Taoiseach is wrong, not because of the issue but because we had a Planning and Development Bill that was guillotined in both the Dáil and the Seanad and under which I raised the issue of An Coimisiún Pleanála and its power to override its own inspectors. We know from this article, but we also know from the facts, having read the file today online, that Dublin City Council recommended planning permission. It then went to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which considered it de novo . Ultimately, an inspector was appointed and made a decision that permission be granted, but An Coimisiún Pleanála overrode its own inspector because we in these Houses empowered it to do so. Where does the problem start?”