Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is mór agam labhairt i Seomra na Dála don chéad uair inniu agus is mór an onóir dom í bheith anseo thar ceann an phobail a roghnaigh mé mar Theachta Dála. It is a great honour to speak in this Chamber for the first time as a TD for Dublin Mid-West. I want to thank my family, especially my wife, Teresa, our three boys and my Dad Jimmy. I am thinking especially of my late Mam today. I am eternally grateful to my loyal supporters and, most important, my constituents for placing their trust in me. That trust is not something I take lightly and I will work every day to justify it.

The programme for Government is not just a document, it is a statement of intent. It is a commitment to deliver for the people who sent me here and put my party, Fianna Fáil, in government. For my constituents in Dublin Mid-West, delivery means real action in improving their everyday lives, be it in transport, housing, education or childcare. The policies in this programme for Government will shape the Ireland we leave to the next generation, and we must get them right.

For my part, I will work with my colleagues to ensure that the commitments in this programme comprise an action plan, with a laser focus on delivery. Over the past few years, under the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, significant progress has been made in tackling the housing crisis. More homes have been delivered than at any point in recent decades. New supports for renters have been introduced and major investment is driving housing supply. However, we need to do much more. Too many people are still struggling to find a home they can afford, and too many young families are unsure if they will ever be able to buy. The strong commitments in the programme for Government must be delivered with urgency because housing is not just a policy challenge, it is about people’s lives, security, and futures.

Public transport is a core quality-of-life issue. We need public transport that is reliable and efficient, with responsiveness from the NTA and we need more public transport options in Dublin Mid-West, which provide essential connectivity for communities. For example, we badly need a Luas for Lucan, and we must end the scourge of ghost buses right across Dublin Mid-West. We also need to ensure that rapidly growing communities, in Dublin Mid-West especially, have access to adequate road infrastructure for all modes of transport.

I welcome the continued progress on childcare. Parents should not have to choose between work and affordability and childcare workers deserve fair pay for the vital role they play. This Government has committed to lowering costs, improving accessibility, reducing the administrative burden on providers, which is important, and supporting the childcare sector in developing its capacity. This will likely need a partnership approach with providers, as we are all united by the one objective of providing children with the best possible start in life. That start in life needs to continue in our education system. I will fight to ensure that the necessary investment in our local school buildings is delivered, but also that sufficient capacity exists for rapidly growing communities right across Dublin Mid-West. I support the improved approach to special education in this programme for Government but now we need to see follow through on delivery, especially in terms of provision of the appropriate supports for all children with special needs in the education system. Fundamental to the delivery of the investment we need is a strong, resilient, and knowledge-based economy, as committed to in the programme for Government. Support for our SMEs is crucial, as well as ensuring that lreland is a competitive and attractive place to do business for international companies. Maintaining and enhancing a culture of innovation and lifelong learning is core to this, as set out in the programme for Government, especially as we respond to the digital and green transformations brought on by the advent of Al technologies and the need for climate action.

The world of work is changing rapidly. The jobs that our children will do have not been invented yet. Our greatest asset has been the talent of our people. We need to ensure that they are set up for success.

Cuirim fáilte faoi leith roimh an leathnú amach de Ghaeilge 365, cur chuige nuálaíoch i leith labhairt na Gaeilge a chruthóidh dúshlán dearfach d'údaráis áitiúla ar fud na tíre, ach a léireoidh bealach dearfach do pholasaí labhartha na Gaeilge amach anseo.

My message today is simple. I am here to work and I am here to fight for the people who put me here and I am here to ensure that this programme for Government delivers for them.

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