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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“The Minister will know the critical infrastructure corridors that run through our forestry across the country and the challenges that has created, in particular in some cases, but not all, inappropriate planting. There are challenges around public and private forestry, which is about a 48% to 52% split. Coillte deals with State forestry. There are challenges. These are important infrastructural corridors and they have great potential for add-ons for other services. There will be a cost. There are ongoing issues with the IFA, which expressed a lot of concerns about the proposed legislation, in particular the protection of forestry corridors. Who will pay for clearance to keep lines free? Forestry falls under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, but we need to engage with the IFA, private landowners and farmers.”
“It is an enormous Bill and a lot of money is involved. I took the time to look at the first quarter results for the ESB for 2025 and I want to share them with the House. Underlying operating profits were €424 million, in line with the same period for 2024. Profits after tax were €313 million. Increased investment in critical infrastructure, which to be fair it has invested in, was €1.3 billion. Net debt increased slightly above last year at €6.6 billion. A significant sum was investment in capital investment projects. I could go on. The figures are clear for anyone to see. They are on the website and people can look at them. As someone who is on the agricultural panel, I have a particular interest in forestry. There are a lot of concerns about it.”
“Once enacted, the Bill will allow the Government to issue €1.5 billion in additional capital stock in ESB Networks. As my colleague said, any time we talk about ESB Networks we talk about the cost of energy. We know about the VAT audit and the add-ons to everyone's bill. There is a cost factor for domestic customers. They are always keen to know what is going on. People want to know why the cost of the production of energy and electricity is the highest in Europe. We of course need to talk about industry and business. Behind all of that, we need to invest in infrastructure. We need to catch up, which is a challenge. To be fair to the ESB, it has a great track record in that regard. The Bill also provides for an increase in the statutory borrowing limit for the ESB, as the Minister set out, from €12 billion to €17 billion.”
“I welcome the Minister and thank him for coming before the House. Clearly, there is an element of urgency, as he has outlined. He explained why pre-legislative scrutiny was waived. I want to put a few issues into focus. I thank the Minister for his detailed presentation. The Bill was published on 30 October. It went through the Dáil and completed Second Stage on 5 November. It is now before us. I am always conscious of people who are listening in and I try to set the scene for an external rather than internal audience. We will have the opportunity, subject to a deadline tomorrow, to submit amendments. I do not envisage putting down any amendments, but I want to use this opportunity to flag a few concerns with the Minister. I am best placed here to get some sort of productive response from him.”
“The Minister, Deputy Calleary, launched its strategic plan for 2025 to 2027. We all know of the important work of the citizens information service and the bureaus around the country. Key to their work is that they are people-centred, empowering, trustworthy, independent and, importantly, they are accessible. This strategy will require a roll-out of finances and support to get it through. The Minister acknowledged that. He is an exceptionally committed Minister. He is particularly interested in all of this. It was launched in Buswells Hotel yesterday. I commend him on his ongoing support to the organisation and the many volunteers who work in this network. It is important that, commensurate with this, the necessary resources are put in place. I acknowledge the work and commitment of the Minister and the Citizens Information Board.”
“I call for a debate on Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the new Government's national plan on housing. It is important we do not rush to any judgment, that we see the detail of it and drill down into it. It will take some considerable time to look at it over the next few days. It is important and we have to set it in the context that in the past 12 years there have been four national housing plans. I do not need to point out to all of us who are politicians who was in power for that period of time. I want to look at it and tease it out. We should have a substantial amount of time set aside in this House. We are full-time Senators. We have time and we can make more time. This is one of the most important issues. I ask for that to happen. I commend the Citizens Information Board.”
“I thank the Senator and thank the Minister of State for giving us that extra time. It is appreciated. It is a very important matter. We are waiting for the next Minister. I thank the Minister of State for giving his time this morning.”
“Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome to the Gallery the students from St. Joseph's secondary school in Lucan. They are exceptionally welcome, as are all who travel with them. We are dealing with Commencement matters now, which are topical issues that Senators raise. They have four minutes to raise them and then the Minister comes in and responds in four minutes and there is a small bit of engagement and debate. That is what is happening now while the students are here. I call on the Minister of State.”
“There may be a need for further guidance to the county councillors. They are hearing one thing and the managers are saying another. The Minister of State might consider whether it is appropriate to send an additional circular or provide further information. I would undertake to circulate such a thing. It is important that the Department has clarified that point. I genuinely wish the Minister of State and the Government well with the new national housing plan, which is being discussed at Cabinet today. It will be launched tomorrow. It is entitled Delivering Homes, Building Communities. I recognise that all of us, as policymakers in these Houses, must unite and come together with one voice to deliver new homes for our communities. I wish the Minister of State well.”
“I thank the Minister of State. He has demonstrated the benefit of having a line Minister with expertise and knowledge. I thank him for his robust, honest and frank response. There was a lot of meat and honesty in it, which is to be welcomed. I thank him. That again illustrates, as I have said previously, the importance of having the relevant Minister from the relevant Department before the House. This is a clear example of an excellent response. This is clearly a Minister of State who knows what he is talking about. I acknowledge that because it is important. My one takeaway for the Minister of State relates to the lack of a cap. I note the point he makes. However, there are county managers saying they are controlled by the €11,000. The Minister of State has clearly stated the parameters and clarified the position.”
“The city and county managers tell me there is a limited amount of funding per unit. What the Minister of State launches tomorrow may address some of these issues. Addressing them may be part of the plan or it may not, but I realise there is a Government commitment to tackle voids. I would really like progress on what the Minister referred to as the development of the programme in relation to voids. Where are we with that?”
“The Minister of State will be aware that some local authorities are not maintaining their housing stock. I can confirm for the Minister of State, if he does not know it already, that some local authorities have not had officials visit their houses for over 30 years. Tenants I identified and spoke to in three local authority areas told me that although they have had tenancies for over 40 years, not once has any official entered their properties. Since it entails a landlord–tenant arrangement, this sounds very unsatisfactory to me. It would not be tolerated in the private sector. The Minister of State will be aware that I tried to bring in changes in this regard but did not have a lot of support. How and ever, let me refer to the refurbishment programme and the lack of funding.”
“People are told they are put on a waiting list based on priority, and that is a matter for each local authority according to its social housing allocation plan. There are thousands of people in council houses up and down the country. We effectively have a housing assistance payment, HAP, that has been rendered useless. In the national press today, there is a story that in the past four weeks, only one of the 50 people approved for the HAP in the Meath County Council area was able to secure a HAP property. That is the scenario. I know that no one is here to vindicate or commend it. We all know we have a housing crisis and we look forward to the plans tomorrow. My concern is about the number of vacant properties, the unoccupied units, the underused housing stock and the planned maintenance or lack thereof.”
“There is not a day on which, like many Senators and councillors around the country, I do not receive calls to state there have been voids for a year, two years or three years. I walked the streets of Waterford, our beloved city, and was amazed by the voids and also empty private properties. Waterford is a classic example of a city that is really tackling the problem head-on. The Minister of State is a strong advocate in this regard, which I acknowledge. When you have been years on a public housing list, you know every social house in the place because your hope and aspiration is that you will be in one of them one day. What is happening is unacceptable. There is a chronic lack of social housing, and social housing lists are continuing to grow.”
“I have found him to be most effective and engaging regarding anything I have raised with him concerning his Department, just as I have found the Minister of State to be such. The Minister states in the letter that the programme for Government commits to introducing a new voids programme and that work is under way in the Department to roll out that programme. That is very important. I am conscious, of course, that the Minister of State is going to launch, in the next day or two, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, with the aim of providing 90,000 starter homes over the five-year period. However, I am also conscious that there are thousands of social houses empty. I like to call social housing “public housing”, a phrase I prefer to use. The housing is a public asset. The homes are provided from public funds. It is important.”
“I thank the Cathaoirelach for selecting this Commencement matter. It is timely and perhaps even a bit premature given that Cabinet is today considering the Delivering Homes, Building Communities document, but that is for another day. We may hear something tomorrow. I welcome the Minister of State. I appreciate his coming here because this is an area in which he is directly involved and has vast experience. Also, he is a Minister of State in the relevant Department, which I appreciate and acknowledge. This Commencement matter really arose from correspondence I received from the Minister, Deputy James Browne, dated 1 October 2025. It is a very positive letter. I thank the Minister for it and for his ongoing engagement.”
“He was a proud man and he was proud of them. We were proud of him. He left an indelible mark on us. It has not finished yet. We owe it to his memory to continue to advocate for the undocumented Irish, to empower the Irish people, to be proud of our tradition of immigration but also welcoming difference from different communities and different people. That is our call. That is Billy Lawless's call, that we are open, we are human, we are loving and we are caring. Our doors are big enough to receive all and make them welcome: welcome in this House and welcome in this country. Billy Lawless left those seeds of hope, inspired us with that vision, and I believe we will continue to aspire to that in his name.”
“We all know more about his family than they know about themselves because that was Bill's honesty. You get to know people when they are unique, empathetic and true to themselves. That was Billy in every sense of the word. I then think of what has happened this week with the election of Mayor Mamdani in New York. Remember I said that the flag that Kennedy brought us was from New York. I quote one line from Mamdani's great speech in which he said, "New York will remain a city of immigrants: a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant." That is a very moving thing. That is typical and it relates back to Billy and his commitment to immigrants, difference and the rich tapestry of diversity. I salute our guests in the Gallery who were always there to support Billy.”
“I think about the young impressionable 13-year-old boy and Kennedy's visit to Ireland in 1963. Billy modelled his life on what Kennedy and others stood for. He addressed the issues of the undocumented Irish, the forgotten Irish, the ones who were rejected, the ones who had no driving licences and no identification, were working in the black market and were taken advantage of, and later on, the ones who wanted to return to their homeland and could not come because they had no documentation and Ireland was a changed place anyway. Billy was a liberal and a humanitarian. He advocated for his people. He was deeply connected with his roots. He was deeply connected to and had a great affinity for the Jesuits, who had educated him. He was fiercely proud of that. He loved his family dearly, as Senator McDowell said earlier.”
“We welcomed him with open arms into our very collective elected group, the Seanad Independent Group. Today, I think of Kennedy again. This morning, I asked to go and see the Kennedy flag, the flag that John F. Kennedy brought to this House back in 1963. The flag was the battle flag of the 69th New York Volunteers - I will finish in a few moments on New York - an Irish brigade in the American Civil War. He gifted that flag to the Irish people in recognition of the contributions of Irish immigrants in the United States. That is a very special flag. That and our Proclamation are the two endearing and very special symbols in these Houses. A room has been opened that was specially designed for it. I hope that those in the Gallery may be able to visit it today.”
“He had a love for Kennedy, an affinity for, understanding of and empathy for what Kennedy stood for in the broader sense of what Kennedy was about in terms of immigrants, migration, forced migration, and saying goodbye to your family and loved ones never to return. Many went to the United States and further. There was no land of honey or dreams there. Many Irish people faced resentment and rejection. Many of them were even turned back. Now we roll on and think what is happening again all over the world. Are we going to learn from that? My colleague Michael McDowell said it right. Billy Lawless was a gentleman. He was a humanitarian. He was an entrepreneur. He was neither left nor right, as so many people want to pigeonhole us. He was a man who brought humanity to everything he did and everything he wanted to do.”
“Before I start, I wish to acknowledge and pay special tribute to three people who were very close to Billy. One is Councillor Anna Grainger, a very close friend of Billy's. It is great to see her in the Chamber. The two other people could not come here today: the former RTÉ political correspondent, Seán Duignan, and his wife, Maria. I know they are tuned in and were very special friends to Billy and Anne. Coming up today I asked what could be said about Billy Lawless. I am a great believer in the phrase that to understand the man, you must understand the boy. As we all know, Billy Lawless was born in 1950. John F. Kennedy came to Leinster House in 1963. Think what the 12- or 13-year-old boy, Billy Lawless, the Jesuit-educated boy from Galway, thought about. The one thing Billy Lawless spoke about every day was John F. Kennedy.”
“I hope all of us, in any party or none, in this Chamber will use our influence in the hope that there can be a resolution to two matters: a recognition, payment or contribution - let us not get hung up on the word or title - for the people who are out there and seeking on behalf of others some recognition of their labour in institutions and the toll it took on them; and an enhanced medical card. It is not unreasonable that they should be given an enhanced medical card as they face into elder age and several related health issues. I hope these talks go well today because these people are not for turning. They have nothing more to lose. They have sacrificed too much. Let us be advocates for them. Let us support them. Let us use our influence in the houses of power, here in the Oireachtas, to get justice for them.”
“It is important that we remember them, particularly at this very moment when the Government, with the Defence Forces, are commemorating and giving thanks to the people who serve this country. I would like to think that, next year, we might look at how we as a parliament directly facing this obelisk can in some way be part of that commemoration in years to come because there is a natural synergy for that to happen. I will finish with this, with the indulgence of the Cathaoirleach for one second. As we speak, there are meetings going on regarding the hunger strikers, namely, the people who lived in institutional care who were not given the supports and services they deserved. That is for another day and we have had a lot of debate but I wish those talks well.”
“I have just come from a commemoration service across the square with An Taoiseach - many other Members of the Oireachtas were there - dedicated to members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and others who have served the State. This morning, the focus was very much on the families of people in service who died in the past 12 months. There were several wreathes laid there and it is still going on. Maybe if people have time, they might go over to the memorial that is directly opposite our gates. It is important we remember them. These are people who served the State with distinction, and when there was loss of life in service, their families suffered. While there is an initial period of time, the hurt and the loss is lingering for them.”
“Finally, in relation to homelessness, her legacy will, of course, be Focus Ireland and the work she did there. Is it not a shame, as we close the figures for the last month on housing, that we are told by the Government that 16,614 people were living in emergency accommodation in September and, more disturbingly, 5,238 of them were children? Let us be grateful for the work Sr. Stan did but be committed to continuing that advocacy work through our political engagement in these Houses.”
“Her belief, of course, was that everyone had a right to have a home and this was central to her advocacy and her work. Of course, we know of the foundation. In the few minutes I have left, I want to touch on three key issues. Sr. Stan set up the Immigrant Council of Ireland. When we think about what has happened in our country in the last week, if there has ever been a need for the Immigrant Council of Ireland, it is now. We must have a great sense of gratitude for the pioneering work she did there. She advocated equality and was very proud when, in May 2015, she announced publicly that she would be voting yes in the marriage equality referendum. When asked about that referendum, she said exactly that, that she meant marriage equality. That was not an easy thing to do for someone in a religious life in 2015.”
“As the Cathaoirleach said earlier, she was from a little village outside Dingle in County Kerry, a place she dearly loved. She was a proud Kerrywoman. She spent a lot of time in Kilkenny, but she was not from Kilkenny. Indeed, much of her later time was spent in Dublin. Her life's work was one of service and dedication, and always driven by the principle of humanity. She was one of many great women who had served in religious life in various congregations in Ireland and we must never forget them, for they were pioneers themselves and did great work. As I said, Sr. Stan was someone I knew. She was a constant voice for those who felt locked out of homes, of opportunities, of education, and of supporting and, sometimes, nurturing families. These were all issues she had to confront.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach for the introduction to the presidential election. It is over and the people have spoken. The people have voted and they are sovereign. Along with my colleagues on this side of the House, I congratulate Deputy Catherine Connolly - she is still a Member of the Oireachtas - on becoming our elected President. Her inauguration will be next week, and I know many of us will be there and look forward to joining her in those celebrations. I also acknowledge her Oireachtas personal assistant, Béibhinn O’Connor, who played such a pivotal role in her election. Many of us in these Houses will know her. I turn now to Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy, a woman whom I knew and had great admiration for. I do not want to talk about her with a sense of sadness. Today, I want to talk about her in a climate of gratitude and thanks.”
“I welcome the Minister. We are here to have statements and a debate on higher education with the lead Minister in this area of responsibility and expertise. He will have ten minutes to make an introductory opening statement and group spokespersons who have indicated - I have a list of them in front of me - have eight minutes. All other Senators have five minutes. The Minister will then be called on to reply not later than 6.20 p.m., but it may be earlier. Statements will conclude at 6.30 p.m. That is the running order. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.”
“We would be lost without him. There are always new people coming and I know that he will share his breadth of knowledge and experience with the people who follow him. To Peter and his family, I wish them well and know I join with Members in wishing him well and a happy retirement. I have no doubt he will have more time to do the things he loves to do. Well done to Peter.”
“What an onerous responsibility that is. Members know there is much public commentary about the inner workings of these Houses. It is Peter who heads that up with the commission. I take this opportunity to wish him well. Members will have a lot opportunities themselves. It is important we put it on the record. We have already paid great tribute to Mr. Martin Groves, our former clerk, and I hope there will be confirmation of the clerks in both Houses shortly. I know Peter well. He has done an amazing job. He is here day and night. He is fully committed to the institution and, more importantly, the reputation of this Parliament. He has served us with absolute distinction, way beyond what most Secretaries General would do, and that is not to take away from Secretaries General. I wish Peter and his family every success and say "Many thanks".”
“I warmly welcome the ambassador of the Czech Republic, a beautiful country I have visited many times. He is very welcome to the Upper House of our Parliament. I wish to use my time to give thanks and pay a brief tribute to the Clerk of Dáil Éireann. Why do I say Dáil Éireann when I mean Seanad Éireann? Mr. Peter Finnegan formally departs us today. He is a man of immense record, integrity, hard work and commitment. While we will see him around, and it is for Peter to do his own farewells, announcement and speech, I have worked very closely with him in the audit committee of the Oireachtas and other committees here, and I know of his wealth and breadth of experience, integrity and guidance to both Houses. Why I say it in this House is because it is last day for Peter but also he is the Secretary General of the Oireachtas.”
“We have to find a way, whether an enhanced payment, a pension, a recognition payment or call it what you like, but they must somehow be given recompense and some contribution for their labours within our institutions.”
“I know they are committed on all sides. It is not a criticism of anyone in here or in the Dáil, but let us highlight it, because this is not going to go away. It is a simple, human ask to acknowledge the hurt, disappointment and setbacks that these people have had, and the role the State played in that. Their physical and mental health is really important. I ask that we highlight it wherever we can in the next days, in the corridors of power and these Houses. The other thing is the enhanced medical card. It is not too much. The issue of a pension is more difficult and more protracted. We have to accept that many people incarcerated in these institutions were used as slave labour.”
“There is a time for us all to move on and to make way for other people. I was thinking that as the Cathaoirleach was talking about him. I raise the issue of the continuing hunger strikes of people who were in institutional care. We have had many debates about this in these Houses. There has been much talk of support. What are these people asking? When I spoke to a number of people involved in this campaign, they said they have nothing to lose. That is a profound statement for people to have to make. They are committed to their struggle and to highlighting the issue. They are seeking an enhanced medical card. Bearing in mind the age of these people and the people they represent, it is not too much to ask. I ask people who have the opportunities to meet their parliamentary parties this week to highlight it again.”
“I join the Cathaoirleach in condolences to James Doolan, a professor and Senator, and remarkable man. I lived close by him in Monkstown because he lived there for many years. He was always a thorough gentleman. He brought great wisdom. He was one of a handful of really great, distinguished Senators in this House. He had varied and wide contributions to make. He was an experienced and well-travelled operator anyway. It was great to see that. I am always conscious when people come into this House, be they nominated or elected, that we need diversity of background, tradition and age. The age has crept down for some and not for others. Other opportunities and encouraging people to come into these Houses, legitimately as Taoiseach's nominees or through the election, is something that we need to bear in mind.”
“That is a very comprehensive response for which I thank the Minister of State. I am glad he confirmed that the compensation had risen to €3.4 million. He mentioned the role of EY. No one does anything for nothing and everyone has to be paid. The outstanding issue is how the demolition will be dealt with appropriately, along with the repurposing of the site and compensation. I hope to come back here in a few months and put the same Commencement matter down. It is to be hoped that, at that stage, we will have a response that the business has been signed off on and completed, in line with the legislation passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement on this matter.”
“I hope we can get some sort of pathway and timeline to resolve those outstanding issues so we can say in the next few weeks and months that, once and for all, the complete package is that fur farming is banned, the farmers and the people involved in this enterprise have been fully compensated, the workers who were involved in this have been compensated or a relevant financial position put in place for them and we can progress. This is about honour and commitment to what we agreed when we signed up and supported this legislation.”
“The legislation made provision for the payment of this compensation based on the income loss, non-income, cost for the dereliction and the cost of providing alternative enterprise because we are talking about people's livelihoods. What is the plan? What is the scheme of things? What is the timeframe? I looked this morning at the Veterinary Ireland policy document on fur farming. It made a strong case. It sets out the European model and the concerns about animal welfare. It made absolute sense. I acknowledge that very significant document from 2018. There is no dispute. Fur farming is banned in Ireland. Most of the compensation has been paid out, but there are a few outstanding issues.”
“In January 2023, the then Minister for agriculture, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, signed the legislative order which saw the closure of fur farms in counties Kerry, Donegal and Laois. Over €2 million compensation has already been given to existing farm owners. My concern relates to one in County Laois. There are extenuating circumstances around it. I do not want to get into the naming of it because that is not relevant. What is relevant is that there was an agreement entered into with fur farmers to close them down. They have complied with that, they have humanely destroyed any breeding stocks they had, and I understand there is now no legal fur farming in Ireland. Therefore, the issue is the outstanding issue of the payment.”
“I acted proactively and robustly on behalf of the three owners because I recognised that they had a valid business regardless of my views on animal welfare in relation to mink farming, which I do not support, but I support the fact that they had legitimate legal enterprises within this State. The State took a decision in conjunction with stakeholders, conscious of European directions in relation to this matter and conscious to a whole of range issues. It was decided that the remaining fur farms would close, but at the commencement of that would be a package of compensation for the employees and farm enterprises. That would be the replacement of alternative agri-related uses for these farms.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important Commencement matter. I thank the Minister of State for coming here to address this. In essence, I have asked for the Minister to make a statement on mink farms in Ireland, now closed, and to confirm the status and compensation agreed with the affected operators and if there are any outstanding matters in relation to same. The Minister of State will be aware that the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 provided for the statutory prohibition of fur farming along with a compensation scheme. I wish to be clear; I fully supported the legislation.”
“Premier wheat for use in distilleries has been mentioned. I call for a serious debate on the tillage sector. I acknowledge the enormous work the IFA did in its pre-budget submission. All is not over and we will have other opportunities for it to continue to engage with us. That is part of the democratic process. I wish it well.”
“I want to acknowledge and thank the IFA. While I have had many differences with it from time to time, it put enormous work into its pre-budget submission. Its representatives engaged and spoke to many of us about issues. I want to highlight one issue that it has highlighted today which is that tillage funding falls short of political commitments. It is not about a blame game, but we have a serious crisis in tillage. The IFA has worked hard to highlight that and highlight the economic benefits to our rural communities, to the wider community and to the international community, and the challenges around it. The budget announcement of €50 million for tillage growers was short of the €65 million it sought. Can we have a debate about tillage? Tillage is critical to this country. There are many other crops we should be looking at.”
“I thank Senator Andrews for his courageous journey. He walked his talk. It is great to see him back. Clearly, a few days away from home grub is good for the old diet; he is looking well. I ask him to mind himself. It was a huge undertaking. I think I speak for most people in this House in saying he can be assured of our support. It is traumatic. There will be days of unwinding. There will be recurring nightmares of the horrific issues he has seen and encountered. He is brave and courageous. I am proud that he is one of our colleagues in the Seanad. He not only brought a light to the issue, but he brought a light to himself and to the Upper House, something I am very proud of. I am going around with the IFA budget 2026 document. One would think it is a bible. Everyone stops and asks what I am doing with it; the budget is over.”
“They have a very strong mandate to represent their communities and are best placed at the heart of local communities to represent all stakeholders equally. I commend the Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, on his announcement of the appointment of the first Garda rural crime lead. It is a very positive step. I join the deputy president of the IFA, Alice Doyle, who issued a statement last night strongly welcoming the appointment of Superintendent Michael Corbett as An Garda Síochána's first rural crime lead. This is another important facet of community policing, particularly in rural areas. I salute the Garda Commissioner for that appointment and the recognition of the need for a lead in rural communities. I acknowledge the support for that appointment from the deputy president of the IFA.”
“There is an inconsistency in this regard because that does not happen in many of the Dublin local area committees. The structure in the cities is slightly different from that in the counties. I thank the Minister of State for setting out his stall. There is a lot of work done, with more to do. We need consistency. We can see how few local authority areas have got the bodies up and running so there is a lot of work to do. There is a lot of recruitment and engagement to be done. The Government should trust our city and county councillors to continue to take the lead in this really important work. We should remember that they are democratically elected. They are representative of communities - minorities, majorities and other stakeholders. They have a mandate. Not too many people around the table have the mandate they have.”
“I know the Minister of State has every confidence in our city and county councillors, as I do, to engage respectfully and meaningfully on behalf of their communities. The issue is when all of these 31 committees will be established. Let us engage with our city and county councillors on this issue and give them as much information as possible. I ask for uniformity and consistency in the approach in supporting our city and county councillors in local community policing.”
“I am asking for clarity. If not today, maybe the Minister of State's officials could send out a briefing note on it. Who will actually chair each of these 31 new policing partnerships? Is it fully open to a city or county councillor to be considered? Some of them are being told "No", or that they have to go through different processes. There is inconsistency across the 31 local authorities. We need some clarity on that. Could the Department could send out a memo to sitting county councillors in order that they can understand what is going on? I am asking the Minister of State to take it back to the Department. We need to trust our city and county councillors. We need to engage with them and empower them in this collaborative approach with An Garda Síochána for policing.”