Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, as has everybody else who has spoken. The war has started overnight and I think about what the people are going through at the moment.

This week, the Tánaiste announced the terms of reference for the Shannon Estuary economic group. It is seeking expressions of interest in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary regarding what can be carried out on the estuary in terms of docklands and ports. Limerick has the second largest port in Ireland in terms of depth. There is huge potential there for job creation and industry locating right along the Shannon Estuary. The group's findings will be reported by October and this is a positive announcement for Limerick and the mid-west region, which I welcome.

I am alarmed by the number of burglaries, in particular burglaries on farms. Sergeant Leech from the crime prevention unit in Limerick has warned farmers to secure their farms and perhaps consider CCTV for buildings that they cannot see from their houses. He has also discussed securing properties in terms of proper fencing, gates and so on because there has been a significant escalation in the number of robberies on farms. This is something farmers are going through. It is very sad that the number of burglaries on farms has escalated.