Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the comments welcoming and congratulating Seanadóir Tom Clonan.

The results of the International Panel on Climate Change report, which was published yesterday, are scarily stark and the message is clear. We cannot long-finger what needs to be done. Of course, while we have ambitious targets and we need to acknowledge them, there are real questions with regard to the urgency in meeting those targets. In particular when I look at this city of Dublin, we have to ask about the urgency in encouraging people to start walking and cycling in the city. We have a draft transport strategy for the city which envisages it will take 20 years to 2042 to have over 50% of the population walking, cycling or travelling by bus. That is not good enough.

Communities where I live, like Cabra, Phibsborough and North Strand, are crying out for segregated continuous cycle lanes. While there has been some progress in recent years, the overall pace of progress is way too pedestrian. We also need to see an urgency with regard to retrofitting houses, not only because of the cost of living crisis, but because people want to play their part. Again, in the areas that I am most familiar with, 22% of the houses have a BER rating of F or G. Many of these households are low or middle income and they cannot even put together the 20% that would be needed to meet the State grants to try to undertake attic insulation. We have to do better.

Ten days ago, I stood with the family, friends and community of Terence Wheelock, who died in a Garda station 16 years ago. There was a GSOC investigation in 2014.There were inconsistencies, inaccuracies and more questions than answers in its report. The family needs an independent inquiry. In this regard, I appeal to the Government, including the Minister for Justice, and An Garda Síochána. For Terence's family, community and the wider public in Dublin's north inner city, we need to build trust with the Garda. It is vital that we stop the sore of distrust and ensure the family and community get an independent inquiry, not only for Terence but also for those growing up in the community who want to see justice for his name.