Seanad debates

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and I support the Order of Business, as outlined by the Deputy Leader. I would like to wish everybody a very happy new year and say how pleased I am that we have had the formal announcement today that we will have a St. Brigid’s bank holiday, starting in 2023. We know, of course, that it will be 18 March this year which will be a day of commemoration, sadly, of all of the lives lost during the Covid-19 period. It is a great recognition for our matron saint of this country. Brigid’s values, 1,500 years later, are strong values of equality. She was the very first feminist in this country and cared deeply for those who were downtrodden by society. She looked after both women and men equally and cared deeply for the environment, for the farming community and for the animal kingdom.

Of course all of us in Kildare have a special relationship with Brigid. I was reminded just before I came in that when I became mayor of our county, the first thing that I did was to put a bog oak St. Brigid’s cross in the chamber, where it still is and of which I am very proud. This is deeply appreciated by the people Kildare and, I have no doubt, by the people of Ireland.It is particularly about remembering all those healthcare workers and others who put their lives on the line to ensure the rest of us could be safe. I thank the Taoiseach and the Cabinet for listening.

In speaking about Kildare, I also raise the Commission on the Defence Forces. We in Kildare do not, of course, have the monopoly on the Defence Forces but the headquarters are in the county. The commission's report is due in the next few weeks. I really hope it has teeth and it will finally address the recruitment and retention problem because nothing else has to date. Again, members of the Defence Forces were very much at the forefront in helping us deal with the pandemic. Currently, 700 new recruits are needed but there are no available instructors to teach the recruits. As a result, the recruitment cannot happen. It is not good enough and this position must change.

I also raise the question of insurance. We all know how difficult it is to get and repay a mortgage, and these costs add up. Insurance is a very big part of that cost. I was contacted yesterday by a young couple who finally bought their house and are due to get married. They did everything properly and evaluated their house before purchase so there could be no issue with it. Unfortunately, there was storm damage to the roof and they put in a claim to Aviva insurance, which is a very reputable company. They have now been told it is not the insurance company's problem and this couple will have to rectify it by themselves. They will have to pay another €6,000 on top of already excessive insurance and mortgage payments. We must have a debate on insurance in the House so we can ensure the insurance sector is adequate and fit for purpose.

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