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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“I welcome the Minister of State to the House. She is here on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley, who, I understand, is tied up with parliamentary business and cannot be here today. I am very conscious that the national housing strategy for disabled people 2022-27 provides a framework for the delivery of housing for people with all levels of disability. I also understand, of course, that housing is ultimately the responsibility of the Minister for housing and is not the responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Foley. However, there is a level of dovetailing or cross-interest here in the sense that the Department of Children, Disability and Equality actually funds the provision of supports for community living in collaboration with the HSE.”
“It is not necessarily a good thing either but I refer to a sense of positivity about promoting and enhancing equal opportunity for women and men to access all aspects of a meaningful career in agriculture. I thank everyone who spent the time here and actively engaged. It was a really good evening's work and we have had tremendous feedback from it.”
“We have ratified this convention and it is important, therefore, that we now take steps to seek its full incorporation into Irish law. I ask if that could be progressed if possible. Finally, in one sentence, I want to thank Members right across the House who came here last night and engaged in the debate on women in agriculture. There was an exceptionally positive sense of engagement. I met the Minister afterwards and he, too, took away from it that great sense of cross-party engagement in relation to the promotion of the UN designation of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. It showed that when we work together and collaborate with each other, we can get consensus. It is not all about consensus, and I do not really like consensus in politics.”
“However, at the very end of his statement as published today by RTÉ, he raises and mentions the following. These are his words and not really mine. RTÉ reports that "Thirty-four years on from the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child... the Ombudsman for Children has called for full incorporation" of the convention into Irish law. Dr. Muldoon went on to describe Ireland's EU Presidency as "a pivotal moment in time for rights across the board". I agree with him. The Deputy Leader will recall that we had a very extensive and robust engagement in relation to the Mental Health Bill and this particular convention kept coming up. In fairness to the Minister, she pointed out that it is really a challenge across all aspects of Government, not just health, mental health and children.”
“I want to touch on the issue of the Ombudsman for Children's report. It was covered very extensively on all social media outlets and on "Morning Ireland" this morning. As always, I am very supportive of the ombudsman. I know we all are here. Some might describe him as a thorn in the side of Government but that is not always a bad thing. We need to be prodded every now and again and challenged on issues around children. There is a very strict protocol and code around the conduct of the work of any ombudsman and he is always within the parameters of that. I welcome all of that and I know he has engaged extensively through the Oireachtas committees on children but also in response to Oireachtas engagement generally. I want to acknowledge that.”
“There is an interconnectivity to all of these things that bring about lively, sustainable and vibrant rural communities. I thank the Minister. I wish him well for the very exciting six months of the Presidency of the European Union.”
“I ask the Minister to keep the focus on active engagement in sustainable agriculture, horticulture and forestry, and the great role of and great opportunity for women. I go back again to the issue of how we support and empower women, but also men and everybody who wishes to be involved in agriculture and sustainable food production. That is what it is all about. We are going nowhere if we do not have food. At the same time, we also want to continue to demonstrate our practical support for rural communities, for they will die if they do not have agriculture and land-based economic activity. At the AILG conference a few weeks ago, there was a presentation by the GAA on its clubs, which are dying in parts of rural Ireland. Parish life is collapsing in parts of rural Ireland.”
“That was circulated yesterday, and was very helpful. I am grateful for the cross-party support for this motion. We really have something very special. I have a final appeal. The Minister will be embarking on a very busy six months from July with the Presidency of the European Union. It is a very special, privileged place. Deputy Heydon finds himself at the centre of that as the Minister for agriculture and by being a central part of agricultural policy across the European Union. It is challenging and exciting, and I wish him well. More than anybody, the Minister has an opportunity, and the Irish EU Presidency has an opportunity, given that agriculture will be one of the key pinnacles of policy development during the EU Presidency.”
“It was good of the Minister to share his personal experience. Everyone had a personal story to tell in their contributions. That is unique. It represents something of our love for the land, our love for agriculture and our involvement. Everyone who came here clearly has a huge interest in this. I acknowledge the Leas-Chathaoirleach, who is an active and proactive member of the agricultural panel. We collaborate and work well together. I thank her for that ongoing support. I also acknowledge the president of Macra na Feirme, who is a woman, and the vice president of the IFA, Alice Doyle, who is proactive and very engaging on all things agriculture. I want to commend the Library and Research Service, which serves this House so well. It provided a blog and background information on the matter.”
“I will not delay. It has been a long night. I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for his ongoing support. I acknowledge the presence of Mr. Bell, one of the Minister’s officials from the Department of agriculture, and thank him for his positive contribution and engagement on the background information. I flagged the wording of the motion to the Department, and I found it very helpful to have its constructive engagement. There is a lesson for us all. Where we work closely together and collaborate, we can get consensus. I thank all of the Senators who took part in the debate. It is one of the most positive debates I have been part of in all of my years in the Seanad. Everyone who came here today had a real interest and personal experience. I again thank the Minister. I know the Minister's family, and I knew his mother.”
“Let us include and promote farmers and women to take their rightful place in a sustainable way so that we can build our rural communities. I thank the Minister. He has also been the Minister of State at the Department of agriculture, so he has continuity. He has been behind much of this. I suggest that we should not throw out this book, our rural future, but instead update it, renew it and renew our vigour to promote agriculture access for all.”
“There are challenges and there is added value to foods, particularly in the dairy sector. We see that with yoghurts and so on. I went to Tesco recently with a delegation from the Oireachtas. I was so impressed to see so many new products on the shelves that came from Ireland. We have to be proud of our achievements. I acknowledge the significant work of Bord Bia. It is an amazing organisation. Like every organisation, it has its problems from time to time, but it is a showcase of our Irish food, horticulture and agriculture. It is a proud ambassador for us and we are proud of its work as an ambassador across the world. I commend it on that work. Women have a significant role and want to play an equal role. I talk about farmers and equal opportunity. I also talk about male farmers.”
“It is now a science, so training is critically important, as is helping women to access agriculture and horticulture. It is not all academic. Much of the work can be learned through practical experiences. The Minister knows this because he has a young family. His children of seven, eight and nine could teach him a few things. Most children of 14 and 15 on a family farm in a protected setting are managing farm machinery and there are risks associated with that. They glean a vast amount of experience on the ground from the practicalities of agriculture. It is not all for the academic. There is practical learning. I know that Teagasc has done a lot of work in this space. How do we transfer knowledge in agriculture? How do we promote more food? I talked earlier about the 80% of food that we are bringing into this country.”
“We know that clusters of housing are important. With my focus on women here today, we know that women who went into farm partnerships may be in farm partnerships with their parents. They may wish to build a new home on the farmland, particularly if it is extensive farmland. They do not necessarily want to live with their parents or grandparents. They want to establish their own families. That is supporting women in rural Ireland and women and new families in agriculture. Rural housing is critical. There is a greater focus in this document on developing our food hubs. I think of the food hub in Athy, which the Minister would be strongly associated with. I think of BIA Innovator in Galway. Hubs and innovation are important. Agriculture is now a science. It is not about putting a pair of wellingtons on and chancing your arm.”
“I ask at some point that the Department look again at this, because all of this is still relevant. It may need slight updating. Things happened in the process of 2021 to 2025 that set back some of the key objectives, but the key objectives here talk about rural communities and equal opportunities in rural communities. They talk about rural housing. I am regularly here talking about rural housing and how we can address it. For 15 years, I have received letters from various Ministers talking about rural housing guidelines. We need rural housing guidelines. The other day, I heard the Minister for housing talking about his plans to release rural housing guidelines. I again say that we do not need the Minister to publish rural housing guidelines right now. We need to publish draft rural housing guidelines and to seek consultation on them.”
“Mary Anne Hurley and Alice Hand from Munster Technological University, Dr. Áine Macken-Walsh from Teagasc, and the Minister's staff at the Department of agriculture. Finally, I thank the farmers, both female and male, who gave me their time to share their experiences and stories to assist me in a greater understanding of their ambition for greater and more equal opportunities for all in agriculture. I see I still have four or five minutes and want to touch on a few key issues. The Government's programme, Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, was an amazing document. I read most of it again today in preparation for this motion. I looked again at a further edition of its work programme, really focusing on some of the issues that may not have been addressed.”
“They are great ambassadors for agriculture and particularly great ambassadors for women who want to partake. I thank Agriland for its active and innovative communication in all things agriculture and food science. I thank Dr. Maura Farrell from NUI Galway, whose teaching and research are rooted in rural and agricultural geography, with a central focus on rural gender studies, rural development, land use, agricultural change, and the socioeconomic resilience of rural communities. I thank Jackie Flannery of the Irish Rural Association for her strong and consistently articulate advocacy for rural affairs. I particularly thank the research team of HER-SELF, a project that the Minister initiated, which I acknowledge. I thank Dr. Martina Roche and Dr. Noreen McNamara from Maynooth University, Dr.”
“The Report of the Commission on Generational Renewal in Farming, which the Minister published in 2025, identified 31 barriers to generational renewal and specifically noted the importance of improving gender balance. This now provides a clear roadmap of progress for many of the matters that I have raised this evening. I am conscious that there are many players in agriculture but I want to take this opportunity to thank a few people who helped me to develop some thoughts on this motion. I acknowledge Philip Boucher-Hayes. RTÉ’s flagship agricultural and rural affairs radio programme, "CountryWide" has featured many successful women in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and in artisan food related to agriculture. I listen to it every Saturday morning. I am sure most of us do, either in the car or out working.”
“We could capture students in that period with just one elementary module as part of the agricultural science syllabus for those who choose it. That is really important in terms of agriculture. The United Nations sustainable development goals, which form part of my motion, are important. Goal 5 specifically addresses gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls everywhere by 2030. Irish data from the Census of Agriculture 2020, which the Minister will be familiar with, highlighted that women are under-represented in the agriculture sector and their valuable contributions every day to family farms are essentially invisible. Advancing gender equality is crucial to the sustainability and success of the agriculture sector.”
“I would like to see a module on the green certificate included in the leaving certificate agricultural science course. Such an initiative would support and recognise students’ love and knowledge of farming and open up more possibilities for them in agriculture and innovation as a career path of choice. Too many students leave secondary school not too sure where they are going. A gap happens between second and third level education as young people may take a year out, and they drift from agriculture. I spoke to a family member the other day who said they never really did the green certificate and that they were sorry they did not. When you start making money it is very hard to go back into education and training.”
“Negative impacts of not wanting the farm include loss of talent, pressures on men who do not wish to continue farming, reports of depression and loneliness. You might hear comments like “He got it handy”, “ He didn’t make it, he got it”, “He got his feet under the table” and “He got into this place”. These are somewhat derogatory remarks but they are challenging for those who are insecure and do not necessarily want the farm. There are missed opportunities in relation to alternative opportunities for the farm and impediments to women’s ability to fulfil their potential and desire to be farmers. Supporting women who wish to pursue careers in farming is critical to the sustainability of farming and rural communities. Statistics show there are more male than female students studying agricultural science at leaving certificate level.”
“I spoke with an agri adviser the other day and she told me she was on a farm some time ago and was praising the farmer for the fine farm enterprise he had. He told her in reply he hated the farm and resented it and was expected to return home from abroad to look after his parents and the farm. He was 70 years of age, single and, he said, very lonely, but he felt he had a duty to serve and continue the line of the family farm. Qualitative findings suggest greater dialogue on the impact of the son as heir norm on the sustainability of the agriculture sector and the burden this is for some is needed. We also hear so many times of the child who deserves the farm but does not get it. The land deserves the child who has the greater interest in farming it. It is of course a lifestyle choice and a choice for all involved.”
“Data shows us over half of farmers in Ireland do not have an identified successor in place. Where there is an identified successor a significant majority - over 80% - of those identified as successors are male. Time and time again I have been told by farm families that there were mixed views on succession norms in Ireland. A few farmers spoke of being equal opportunity parents in that whichever child was most interested in the farm would go on to work on the farm, regardless of gender. I am encouraged by that. Their sense was that this was the case with an increasing number of farmers although this view is not, as the Minister knows, reflected in the quantitative data available to us. The son as heir mindset can potentially lead to problems, particularly if the son had little interest in farming. That is a challenge.”
“There are many tax liability challenges Government needs to address for the transfer of the family farm to be fair and successful. As policymakers and legislators we need to get a clearer picture from the national farm survey. This requires separate data on on-farm work, off-farm work and care work. Information on how labour is organised on farms, including hours worked and the types of activities carried out such as administrative or bookkeeping tasks, should also be captured in any new survey. Policymakers and legislators also need to understand the extent to which off-farm employment contributes to family farm income, so further analysis is also needed in that area. On acquisition of land and succession, one of the biggest barriers to working as a primary producer is a lack of access to land whether one is male or female.”
“Big agriculture, with its focus on livestock and grazing, is only part of the story of agriculture and food production in Ireland and indeed across the EU. Women farmers are renowned for introducing diversity to farming and that is a critical point I want to acknowledge as part of this debate on the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer. Farm succession is perhaps one of the biggest issues when it comes to women entering agriculture, or certainly one of the biggest issues when it comes to access to the farm. Farm succession planning is critical for the transfer of the family farm. Transfer of ownership of the farm is about more than land, as the Minister well knows. It is also about transferring skills, knowledge and labour to ensure the continuation of the agricultural enterprise.”
“I pay tribute to the amazing work of Rooted in Strength: Women, Climate and Food Justice, a celebration of the role of woman farmers organised by An Talamh Beo, which means living land, a member-led organisation of farmers, growers and land-based workers pursing change to food and agriculture systems in Ireland. From small horticulturists to beef, pork and sheep farmers and producers of milk, cheeses and yoghurt, all are committed to producing and selling healthy, nutrient-dense food grown in harmony with our environment. In Ireland approximately 90% of food, mainly dairy products and beef, is produced for export. That is something we can celebrate and be proud of. However, it is estimated about 80% of food on the Irish market is imported.”
“My motion seeks to focus on the promotion of the role of women in rural development, farming and food production. It is important we fully implement the national women in agriculture action plan to recognise the role of women in farming. I thank the Minister and acknowledge he commissioned the HER-SELF research project on women in agriculture, which is a very significant document and a very significant collaboration by women involved in agriculture. The outcome of the recommendations of that project which the Minister promoted and established also established for us all a baseline position on women in agriculture and provide for us an evidence base to inform policy in this area.”
“Thank you. I welcome the Minister to the House. He is no stranger to me and I hope I am no stranger to him. I thank him for coming to deal with this motion. I want to set the context that the United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. That is a very significant designation and we have been talking about it at the agriculture committee for the last 12 months. It is a global initiative that aims to increase awareness of the crucial role women play in the agri-food system and more specifically in food security, nutrition and poverty eradication. I acknowledge the programme for Government of 2025 recognises the need to do more on gender equality across society. Gender equality objectives in the UN sustainable development goals are core principles of the European Union.”
“I move: “That Seanad Éireann: acknowledges that: - the United Nations General Assembly declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF); - only 13 per cent of farms in Ireland are owned by women; - women make up 41 per cent of the global agri-food workforce; despite this, they often have a lack of access to land, finance, technology and training; - women play an essential role in agri-food systems, for which they do not receive enough recognition, and the United Nations (UN) is trying to address this; - Ireland is co-sponsor of the IYWF at the UN General Assembly, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is supportive of this initiative; - empowering women in the agri-food trade leads to positive outcomes - hunger diminishes, dietary diversity increases, incomes grow, and households are more resilient to shocks; and it is estimated that by empowering women in agriculture, food insecurity could be reduced for 45 million people; - closing gender gaps and empowering women in agriculture intersects with issues in relation to food poverty, malnutrition, education access and economic deprivation; notes that: - the UN is playing an important role in helping to uphold international standards in relation to gender equality; - Ireland is committed to supporting the UN as an institution; - the Programme for Government recognises the need to do more on gender equality - gender equality is a key objective of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and a core principle of the European Union, and the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regulations place particular focus on promoting the participation of women in the socio-economic development of rural areas, with special attention to farming; - the Programme for Government already contains commitments: to examine potential barriers for women farmers within the taxation system; to implement the National Women in Agriculture Action Plan; to support gender equality including promote female succession; and to liaise with the Revenue Commissioners to address any taxation barriers to female participation; - a number of further IYWF events are planned and will be announced shortly; - work has progressed on the Women in Agriculture Action Plan and a final report will be available later this year; calls on the Government to: - reaffirm its commitment to the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer; - extend a nationwide campaign to inform civil society of the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer; - promote the rights of women to address concerns around farm succession, examine the impediments by adding a wife or partner to a farm property and increase their participation in agriculture; - launch an education campaign to promote women in agriculture with an aim of incorporating it into school and university curriculums; and - introduce funding, resources and targeted schemes to enable greater involvement of women in agriculture and associated activities.” As you outlined, a Chathaoirligh, we have 16 minutes.”
“The modernisation of public financial reporting and accounting is central to reforms under way by the Minister's Department of public expenditure, national development plan delivery and reform. Recent public statements by the Minister have left me in no doubt as to his political determination to seek value for money for national infrastructural projects. Addressing capital costs, overruns and public accountability are critical to public confidence. We must get that message across as part of the sell of this important legislation. I very much welcome the Minister's assiduous attention to financial oversight, control and governance in this space. I wish him well.”
“It was those who shouted the loudest, who had more money and who had more access to big Government who got their way too many times. We see all around this country bad planning decisions, and bad decisions generally, that were made and not sustained because the right processes and screenings were not in place, but that is behind us. We are going forward. I like the Minister's legislation because it is positive and is setting out a framework. What is more important than anything, and I did not hear the Minister say too much about it here today, which is not to say he is not giving it that attention because I know he is, is that governance and oversight of public money are critical in any project.”
“Planners and engineers should be asked, and it should be provided in this legislation that it be obligatory, to translate complex engineering and environmental data into clear, non-technical language to bring clarity to the proposed projects coming through this system. It is important we have outreach, inform our communities, and that we give everybody in our community a strong, independent and equal opportunity to shape critical infrastructural projects and processes. We need to inform, consult, involve and collaborate. At the heart of any meaningful public engagement, there has to be genuine respect for all stakeholders. We must empower all of them and foster community trust. Trust has simply broken down in many cases.”
“We need clear mitigation in planning and structured, open transparency, rather than treating community consultation as a mere regulatory hurdle to be overcome at any cost. Again, we have to learn from that. We need to engage early, not after design. We need to consult communities during policy and design phases well before a formal planning application is made to ensure local knowledge and inputs are there, particularly from our local councillors and local government in this area, but also community activists, NGOs and others that have a view and a knowledge on the ground of what could potentially be a threat to their community or environment. This would also reduce negative impacts. It is important we make information accessible. The Minister talks a lot about transparency and I commend him on his work in that area.”
“We have huge potential for rail, including the western rail corridor, and how we embrace telecoms, the ambition around it and rolling it out, and major healthcare. Today is not the day to talk about mistakes in major infrastructural and capital projects for healthcare, but we have a lot to learn from mistakes in the past. We have major challenges around pieces of infrastructure in agriculture, specifically related to the food enterprise. I think of Guinness's initiative down in Kildare and the challenges around that. Compromises were reached, but we could have potentially seen years in delay there. However, it was resolved because there was communication, which is very important. Best practice emphasises early, honest dialogue with communities and citizens who feel threatened in any way by major projects.”
“I wanted to make those two points to the Minister. When I think about it, I am someone who has come from over 20 years in local government. I know the importance of public engagement and supporting local concerns, but I also take responsibility. We are leaders in Irish society and on policy, and we must be responsible in how we lead. However, the core principles of fair engagement and public consultation are worth pointing out because that is where much of the problems have happened in the past. I hope we can learn from them. Fair engagement for planning and critical infrastructure is important. I hope we will see sustainable energy in wind and wave. There is also water, gas, electricity, housing, water waste - waste treatment and waste and water networks are very important for critical infrastructure - roads, transport and rail.”
“In summary, the Minister for Public Expenditure will make a recommendation to Government That is also important because people need to know what the projects are. The Minister does not want politicians standing up in Dáil Éireann every day to tell him what they want. We are legislators by the way. Many people do not quite get the story here. We are the weakest local government in Ireland, partly because we do not have movement by national legislators and the Government to empower local government to make decisions and to communicate on local issues. I welcome this Bill. It is an important body of work where the foundation, if laid and communicated correctly, will aid, abet and assist the progression of our economy and help us all to realise the potential we are ambitious for in our country. That is very important.”
“The Minister statement reads: Section 2 notes that nothing in this Bill will affect existing or future obligations of the State under European law or existing or future entitlements of the State or any person under European law. This is included to demonstrate that this Bill will not interfere in any way with our EU commitments, whether these are on our climate change targets or environmental protection more broadly. I welcome that. That is the sort of clarity we need when we are talking about infrastructure. It is the sort of clarity we need if we want to allay the fears of potential objectors who have had genuine concerns about efforts to build infrastructure projects in the past. The Minister's note also says: Section 3 of the Bill deals with how projects or programmes will be designated as critical infrastructure.”
“I welcome the Minister to the Seanad and thank him for his engagement and opening statement in relation to this Critical Infrastructure Bill. We have to shy away from thinking parochially here. We have to think of the bigger picture. This is about the economy, sustainability and our future. It is about putting critical infrastructure in place for housing, for jobs and employment, for the development of agriculture, for innovation, for the pharmaceutical industry and for all of the other exciting things that await us and our people, who are highly educated and ambitious to stay here, to work here and to contribute to our economy. I will refer to two or three points from the Minister's opening statement. As he has said, there are ten sections to this Bill. It is relatively easy to read.”
“I have a huge interest in Irish heritage gardens and all botanical and horticultural matters. I never visit any of those three sites without being exceptionally proud of the amazing horticulture and of the skill and artistry of horticulture and landscape design. I commend the Office of Public Works. When it restores homes in the hearts of estates, and these oases, they become alive. There are coffee shops, artisan foods and other activities. I say and ask the Minister of State to convey to the people involved: well done to the Office of Public Works. Well done also to the Minister of State, who I know to be centrally involved in driving three key projects in the past 12 months.”
“Finally, at Altamont House and Gardens in County Carlow, we see the Office of Public Works undertaking a massive restoration of a period house. It acquired that place. What is great about the OPW is it is a national organisation. We in Dublin are privileged and lucky, as are some of the larger cities, to have period gardens. What I particularly like about Altamont is you can go there for free. Every garden and public space I visit around Ireland outside Dublin and the big towns, there is a charge for it. In this case, however, there is no charge. There is a mere ask to put €1 in a machine to park for two hours at Altamont, which is very reasonable and fair. It has the most famous collection of snowdrops - Galanthus to those who know them. That is a wonderful achievement.”
“There are various sites and planning permissions for it. I was out there Sunday week and again saw it all boarded up - what a shame. The great Victoria amazonica aquatic pool plant is no longer there. I know that is a project in hand and at some time the Minister of State might apprise us of progress there. The next thing for which I thank the Office of Public Works is the acquisition of Kilmacurragh house in County Wicklow, a further extension of the National Botanic Gardens. I am delighted to say I was there two weeks ago and saw the restoration the Minister of State has been involved in, that he has driven and is determined to see, albeit incrementally. It is an impressive operation and the house is being restored. That is an amazing piece of work and an amazing site. I ask people to go and see it.”
“I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his comprehensive report on the work of the Office of Public Works and the priorities and progress statement. I also thank him for his drive and enthusiasm since he became Minister of State in this area. I will single out three projects I am associated with. First, the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin is the jewel in the crown, the greatest oasis, rated as the best - outside of Edinburgh - botanical gardens in the world. I trained there for a number of years and know it well. I have been to Kew and worked in many botanic gardens across Europe and I know it is a wonderful jewel in the crown. I thank the OPW; Matthew Jebb, director of the National Botanic Gardens; and his staff. I make one ask. The fern house there is falling to the ground.”
“This could have been a more devastating and damaging fire. We know about the environmental consequences from it too. My ask here today is that the Government keeps it under constant review. I fear this may not be enough money but I am not qualified to say that. Having talked to stakeholders and people involved on the ground, there is a view that the Government should keep it under review. I think it will do that. This is not a criticism but I think we need to be actively keeping it under review. These businesses and this community have been devastated by this fire. It has been a great effort by all people in the services, particularly the Government, which stepped up with and advanced this funding. Hopefully, we will keep it under review.”
“Clearly, the Tycor centre is a hub and has a serious impact on the community, and on enterprise and business, in the heart of Waterford. I acknowledge that payments of up to €5,000 have been made available for businesses, which will have to submit full applications and then eventually a follow-up with possibly €30,000 in funding. This approval has clearly come about by serious engagement with the Ministers of State, Deputy Butler and Deputy Cummins, by all of the local TDs, Senators, and my colleague, Senator Conway. I also acknowledge the very significant work by Waterford City and County Council, the officials and the fire services. Senator Scahill talked about the services there. We are fortunate in this country to have an amazing ambulance service, an amazing fire service and all of the responders in the health sector.”
“I acknowledge that the Government has approved a €750,000 support fund for businesses impacted by the devastating fire in the Tycor Business Centre in Waterford that we talked about last week. That was a devastating fire. It clearly had an impact on the community, the businesses there, and the social activities and the community activities in that centre. I learnt much about them from my colleague, Senator Conway, who of course was a city councillor there for many years. It has had an impact on over 200 jobs, between 30 and 40 small businesses, and community and social enterprise and schemes that are there. Our thoughts and our hearts are with them. We also want to see that centre rebuilt. We want people to get back there.”
“Did he think it was the right thing to do or did he say, as the pragmatist he normally is, and I have a lot of respect for him, to leave it on the agenda to be debated and for Members to vote, accordingly, against it. I do not think the Minister is a man who interferes with or curtails debate. However, he is now wearing a different hat. He is now the Minister, the big boy up in the square. I say that respectfully because I like him, which is important, and I believe in him. I think he is a reforming Minister, so I am somewhat disappointed that this should happen on his watch. Again, maybe the Minister was not aware of it but, if he was, I want to know when he became aware of it, if he did anything to stop it, if he advised caution or if he said to proceed with it.”
“If he has an opportunity and thinks it is appropriate and right, I would like him to share with the House any knowledge he had about his officials approaching any of the staff here, whether the Clerk, the Clerk Assistant or any of the civil servants in the House, to in some way curtail or bring pressure to bear, overtly or covertly, in relation to this amendment? Quite frankly, I do not think that is good enough but maybe the Minister was not aware. Many things seem to happen in Ministers' offices that the Ministers do not seem to be aware of or, conveniently, are not informed about. At some point, the Minister might share with us whether he was aware of it and, if so, if he cautioned against it.”
“Regardless of any amendment coming on the clár for this Bill, if the Minister decides that he does not want to proceed, the Members vote accordingly. That is the party system. Whether the Minister likes an amendment or not, he is in control. I say that respectfully to the Minister. We do not need this internal, divisive approach. We do not need to curtail Opposition Members who want to engage. I ask that that be noted. There is a bigger issue here about how the permanent establishment seems to be drawn in or come under pressure in some way to curtail. I do not know if that is the case but I feel that it sometimes is the case. The manner in which this sort of thing is communicated has to change. We need to look again at that. I will put one question to the Minister.”
“The record shows the consistency with which the working affairs of our Chamber have been, shall we say, undermined, at best. That is not good enough. Senator McDowell has made a very clear case for reinstating this amendment as valid on the clár, our agenda today. I want to be pragmatic. The Leas-Chathaoirleach can use her powers under Standing Orders to perhaps suspend the House for a period of five or ten minutes to allow some consultation in the anteroom. We need a way forward; it is as simple as that. I am loath to have robust political debate in a private chamber outside this Chamber but we need to move on at some point. We need to acknowledge that this was not the right thing to do. We all know that the Government has a vast majority in the House.”
“I want to be concise in what I say. I wholeheartedly agree with my colleague Senator McDowell. This is as much about how the decision was communicated as the decision itself. I have raised this issue time and again. I am looking at the letter here, dated 14 May. This is not the way to do business. It is not the Minister's fault, per se , but I will come to him in a second. I welcome him and his officials to the House. Parliamentary democracy is at the core of this and this sort of thing undermines confidence in parliamentary democracy. Without going into it at any great length, we have seen Bills on a whole range of things guillotined since this Government took office. That shows disrespect for the Upper House, the revising Chamber. That is a pity.”