Seanad debates
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
2:00 am
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2025, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, statements on the post office network, to be taken at 1 p.m. and to conclude at 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, statements on national parks, to be taken at 3 p.m. and to conclude at 4.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed four minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 4, Private Members' business, Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022 – Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 4.30 p.m. and to adjourn after two hours, if not previously concluded.
Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the women from Templeogue Women's Shed whom I met on the way in. It is wonderful to hear that the women's shed is thriving in Templeogue. I want to speak generally about the women's shed and men's shed movements. They are a wonderful asset to communities in both urban and rural Ireland. The men's shed movement originated in Australia and came to Ireland in about 2011. I have the good fortune to work with a number of the men's sheds in my own county of Kildare. The women's shed movement started at a later stage and it is a wonderful way if making friends and fostering inclusion. Only last week I met some of the women from Newbridge Women's Shed. It has about 80 members. Those who moved to the town in the recent past and knew nobody there beforehand have said it has been a lifeline. The issue I want to mention, and we may look for a debate on this, is the supports that are needed for the men's shed and women's shed movements. I mentioned some of them. In Kildare, the men's shed in Rathangan has restarted but they do not have a physical place to meet. At the moment their meetings are around walking and outdoors, which in itself is wonderful, but it is obviously important as we approach the winter months that they have a physical place to be. Regarding the women's shed, while there is an overall movement to help co-ordinate and organise men's sheds, that is not there for the women's shed movement. I believe it should be in place and that more Government funding should go to help support both the men's shed and the women's shed.
I want to give a shout out to Berney Brothers saddlery in Kilcullen, County Kildare, which is in existence 145 years. They are master craftspeople in making saddles for all the top trainers and jockeys in the country. Brendan Clifford retired last week after 51 years. Members of the Clifford family have all been involved since the start of the Berney Brothers saddlery 145 years ago. Brendan joined straight from school in the early 1970s. I want to say well done and congratulations to Brendan and I wish continued success, of course, to the wonderful family business that is Berney Brothers.
I want to briefly mention Sudan and the situation there. The humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with 25 million people inside the country urgently needing assistance. Millions of people have fled to neighbouring countries which are hosting many millions of Sudanese refugees and that is causing problems there. We need to have more humanitarian support and we need sustained pressure on warring parties to cease hostilities and work towards a political solution. We need to have a debate in this House on that soon.
Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I want to convey my sympathy to the family of Jim Finucane, who has passed away. I knew him for many years. Jim was a councillor in Kerry. Indeed, the Cathaoirleach would have known him well. I campaigned with Jim in Dublin many years ago and I knew him very well over the years. I wanted to say that but there will be further occasions for this.
I will turn to the issue of an excellent Teagasc briefing in Buswells Hotel which the Leader attended with me this morning. It is a great tribute to Teagasc that it holds an annual briefing to let Oireachtas Members see what it is doing. Two very important issues arose today. One was the whole question of water quality and the nitrates derogation. The nitrates derogation is crucial to farmers. The Commissioner will be in Ireland on a listening mission this Friday and I hope she will realise what is at issue here - first, that water quality in Ireland is improving and very serious steps have been taken under the leadership of Teagasc and, second, that it is crucial to farm incomes that we have the nitrates derogation in this country.
That neatly links to the second issue, because if you do not have income, viability and sustainability, you cannot have succession, or it is not of interest to have succession. The question of succession arose today. One very heartening thing to hear is that women are entering agriculture in the same way as men, as should be the case, and that any taboo, inhibition or traditional reluctance on the part of women to become farmers and takeover family farms has diminished considerably. That is good. In general, the succession issue is important and every strategy should be put in place to deal with it. I ask the Leader that we have a debate on succession and the strategies to achieve it. There are many well-being issues and income issues. There is the cost of succession and the fear of the various costs associated with it.There is one thing I thought of that could be in the mix for our discussion. It is no longer in vogue but when there was a financial incentive in the past for farmers by the way of a pension, an income or an honorarium, to give up the farm to the next generation, that helped. However, there are a number of tax incentives there. I hope we can have a debate at some point on the question of succession in agriculture, on the need for the nitrates derogation in Ireland and on agriculture in general.
One final point that came up today was the mental health of farmers and their well-being. That is very important. One of my own sons has done study in this area. The well-being of farmers is a really important sphere. Of its nature, farming can be a lonely profession.
Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Yesterday, I spoke on the issue of tracker mortgages and the plight of those who were moved off trackers by the banks before the banks were ultimately forced to do something. I did, as promised yesterday, write to the Garda Commissioner and it has been passed up the line. Enough has been said about that for now.
As a result of yesterday, I have had several contacts already this morning on the issue of vulture funds. Vulture funds are charging up to 9% on mortgages when the high street banks are charging about 3%. This is daylight robbery. People who are currently paying a vulture fund and have been for some time should go back to the bank with which they originally took out their mortgage and ask can they replace the vulture fund mortgage with a new mortgage with the bank. The difference can be as much as €400 a month, or more depending on the size of the mortgage. People should go to their credit union. People should go to a high street bank or a credit union and look for a mortgage when they can show proof that they have been paying their mortgage to a vulture fund for the last number of years while making repayments on their mortgage. If they are refused by the banks, I ask them to contact my office. I will put my email address where they can contact me out on my social media accounts today. It is absolutely outrageous that the banks that we saved in this country at a cost of €64 billion have flogged off a load of mortgages to a shower of vulture funds that are making massive profits on the loans they have taken over. They are making massive profits and it is unfair on the citizens of this country. The first duty of any country is to protect its citizens. This is the least we can do if there are high street banks that are now reporting profits in the billions of euro. We see PTSB is up for sale at €2.6 billion. Bank of Ireland has returned €1.2 billion and AIB has returned over €900 million in profits this year. Surely these banks can take back on the mortgages of people who are capable of making repayments and allow those families to get some bit of respite. I am asking people now to go back to the banks, get the name of the person they are dealing with if they are refused the mortgage and let us highlight this for full public scrutiny. It is outrageous that people are struggling and banks were telling them two or three years ago what they could and could not buy for groceries.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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First, I acknowledge the victory by Zohran Mamdani in the mayor of New York election and congratulate him on it. It is a victory for positive, fact-based politics and is a rare light of hope in a very depressing political world. I wish him well. It is important for all of us that he is successful.
I wish to address the State's continued uncritical willingness to grant Exchequer funding to Greyhound Racing Ireland in spite of rampant animal welfare abuses and a complete lack of transparency. Greyhound Racing Ireland received €19.8 million in budget 2026, bringing the total amount of taxpayers' money handed over to greyhound racing since 2001 up to €387 million. When we look at the League of Ireland, it got €3 million in one year and is expected to be grateful for it. Greyhound Racing Ireland gets €19.8 million. It is insane. I hope this is an issue that is discussed thoroughly before this allocation is approved. There are valid concerns regarding animal welfare in the greyhound industry, particularly regarding breeding practices and humane treatment during and after races. I have raised the barbaric practice of surgical artificial insemination a number of times in the House but that is only one of the many abuses committed against greyhounds in Ireland. This is prohibited when it comes to any other type of dog. The State has a responsibility to ensure the well-being and welfare of greyhounds involved in the industry and I am deeply concerned by the lack of scrutiny given to the greyhound industry and its increasing allotment of taxpayer funding. I recognise that greyhound racing provides social and economic benefits in specific communities but it is vital that any State funding to this sector bring with it full transparency and accountability in terms of how it is spent. Recent research has revealed that hundreds of greyhounds are dying each year due to racing. In the first eight months of this year, 242 greyhounds suffered injuries at races and more than half of those were euthanised by track vets. In 2024, 202 greyhounds died on the track or shortly after, amounting to roughly 5% of all active racing greyhounds that year. This poses a serious question about how dogs are being treated during races and if their owners are genuinely concerned with their well-being as living animals or if they are solely regarded as vehicles for gaining a profit. Likewise, there is a clear lack of efficiency when it comes to the greyhound industry setting up care homes for retired greyhounds and the value of the public money being spent for this purpose. I have raised this with the public accounts committee and hope this will be heard and investigated soon. In March 2021, there was a commitment that there would be four care homes set up for greyhounds by the industry but only two have been set up since then. Last year, these two care centres got €291,000 between them in funding but only managed to re-home 36 dogs. It puts the bike shelter to shame. It is up there with the bike shelter and it is to be condemned. In comparison, care dog homes set up and run by dog welfare professionals separate from the industry are able to provide for multiples more at a fraction of the cost. Many of the rescue centres do not get State funding but have to fundraise. They do immense work and are significantly more efficient than the greyhound racing care homes.
Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
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My Labour Party colleagues in the Dáil introduced a motion today calling for the State to urgently adopt a well-overdue compassionate and health-led public approach to drug use. While the Government has promised over the years to pursue a health-led approach, it has failed to put this into effect. All over our country, in small villages, small towns and cities, people are struggling with problem drug use and addiction. They need support and not to be cast into the throws of the criminal justice system. We all know friends and members of families who are affected by addiction. Nobody could argue that the current policy on drugs is working. It is time we took problem drug use out of the courts and offered support to people who need it. Criminalising and stigmatising people in addiction leads to a system that undermines and dehumanises those who need our support, care and compassion. It is time to change it. I went into the Chamber to watch the debate and the Minister said she would support the motion. It recalls the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use and the ongoing work of the Joint Committee on Drugs Use, both of which have recognised that criminalisation is not working. Other countries all across Europe have shown us the direction and that progressive drugs policies can work. As we know, Portugal took the brave step 20 years ago to decriminalise personal possession, which resulted in fewer deaths, more people in treatment and overall rates of drug use falling below the EU average. Portugal chooses health over punishment and we need to adopt the same approach here. This evidence of what Portugal has done shows us it works. Drug use in Ireland is changing. Cocaine, for example, is now the most common drug addiction treated in Ireland, accounting for 40% of all treatment cases in 2024, and crack cocaine is rife in our cities.It is not okay that we continue to throw young people into the criminal justice system. The message behind the Labour Party's drug motion is simple - take drug use out of the courts and replace an ethos of crime and punishment with one of health and humanity. This will free up the courts, free up Garda time so that gardaí can deal with serious crime like violent crime, and free up resources so that services treating young people and people struggling with addiction on the ground receive multi-annual funding and supported front-line services.
The use of banned drugs is spread fairly evenly across all sectors of society. In contrast, drug law enforcement targets poor and disadvantaged users and our prisons are full of young people from poor and disadvantaged communities caught up in the illegal drug trade. Their drugs conviction condemns them to a lifetime of difficulty gaining employment, housing and insurance and with community participation, relationships and travel. Some 70% of the State's prison population report having addiction issues. The figure is 85% of women, which indicates they should not be in prison. Drug reform means no one is criminalised and people are less likely to overdose, less likely to be poisoned by contaminants and more likely to seek help, if needed. Among so many young people, addiction presents a problem but underlying issues that need to be addressed often precede drug use. These include trauma, sexual abuse, physical abuse, exclusion from school, not being looked after, incarceration, poverty and neglect - I could go on. Our communities deserve better. Young people deserve better. I hope the motion by my colleagues in the Dáil will be supported.
Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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For the information of Members and clerks, every Wednesday at 11.30 a.m. in Senator Ruane's office, there is karaoke. They are more than welcome to take part.
Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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No, it is from 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail)
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Sorry. I thought it was night-time.
Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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I brought sweets because I do not have a note in my head but it is a good, uplifting wee hour.
I will talk about defective blocks and 100% redress. I know that households are treated differently from services. There are many schools and childcare facilities in County Donegal - I am sure it is the same in Mayo and other counties affected by defective blacks. I am sure Senators would welcome a discussion on what can be done for childcare providers. My two children attend the local crèche in Ardara. It is an amazing service for all the children in Ardara. Next week, that service may not be fit for use because the building is affected by mica. Some services in rural communities are not included in the 100% redress scheme. That is a conversation I would like to bring to the floor of this House.
Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail)
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I add my support to the agriculture industry and associated businesses. Senator O'Loughlin mentioned her local saddlery business associated with agriculture and Senator O'Reilly voiced his support for shifting nitrogen targets and the nitrate derogation. I support both Senators.
Something I know would be close to the Cathaoirleach's heart is the pension entitlements of pensioners. The Cathaoirleach is very proactive and I ask him not to forget me when the Minister comes to the House, particularly in relation to auto-enrolment and pensions. The situation is slightly up in the air. Councillors' entitlements under the new auto-enrolment system do not seem to have been totally clarified. As we have talked about before, under the Moorhead report, there was to be a review of councillors' pensions. The previous Minister of State, and quite a good one he was, Deputy Brophy, was due to upgrade and have the Moorhead report looked at in relation to pensions. There is to be a review, which was built in. We are nearly a year late. It would be worthwhile, through the Cathaoirleach and the Leader, to bring the Minister to the House for a discussion on this issue.
As we know, everybody else is entitled to participate in auto-enrolment, which is coming up on 1 March, I think. It is being rolled out, to use another pun, in case Senators did not get the first couple of puns. It is going to take effect. There are a lot of anomalies for councillors. They will only get paid for their first 20 years, no matter how long they as a councillor, when they receive their gratuity and lump sum at the end of their term, after the age of 50, of course. Lots of councillors serve for 30 years. We are trying to encourage councillors to continue because so many of them start young. In Westmeath, a lot of councillors who started recently are quite young, in their 20s and 30s. We are not giving them any incentive. If they start at 25 and serve for 20 years, they will be 45 years of age, which is still young. Councillors have a lot of experience and we should try to encourage them to stay in the council. Instead, they will get no further pension. They do not get anything else at present. The bit of gratuity they get is not going to increase any more after 20 years. There is no incentive to stay on as a councillor after the 20 years are done. We have to address this. In fairness to previous Ministers, Deputies Peter Burke and Darragh O'Brien, they brought in provisions for councillors and looked at their pay and conditions. The Moorhead report was to be reviewed after a year and harder commitments were to be made in relation to pensions. With auto-enrolment coming up in March, we have an ideal opportunity to piggyback on that and address the anomaly of the gratuity, which has to be addressed. I would appreciate if the Cathaoirleach and Leader would talk to the Minister and get him into the House to thrash out these important issues.
Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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Last week, I travelled the length and breadth of Donegal and looked at houses with defective blocks. To see the scale was overwhelming. It is enormous. I never thought it was so bad. I saw the anger and pain of people about this scheme, which is working for some but not for others. Senators can imagine how it was with my phone last night when the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, came on and announced a pyrite scheme for the people of Finglas. That is brilliant for Finglas. We have nothing against the people in Finglas. It is great they are getting a scheme but, once again, Donegal is coming up short. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Browne, come to the House for a discussion on the mica redress scheme. That needs to be done because it has been going on for 20 years in Donegal. There are supposed to be changes coming. I would like the Minister to come in and tell us what is coming, what can be done to ease the pressure on the people in Donegal and whether we can get this to move forward. Changes can be made that would help people. Can we get the Minister in and ask him what is going and what is going to change to try to help the people of Donegal?
Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I have great concerns about the health committee's recent pre-legislative scrutiny report on the health (assisted human reproduction) (amendment) Bill. This report is not based on a general scheme but on the policy paper from the Department of Health. The committee admits this is not best practice. Why are we bypassing legislative norms for a matter as ethically complex and legally fraught as surrogacy? The committee invited only two stakeholder groups to make submissions, both of which are advocates for surrogacy. There were no dissenting voices, ethicists, women's rights groups or child welfare experts. Is that what inclusive scrutiny looks like? The report repeatedly references a right to procreate and a constitutional right to a private life and family life. Where in Bunreacht na hÉireann, the European Convention on Human Rights or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is there a positive right to have a child? Reproductive autonomy is a negative freedom, not a contractual entitlement to another woman's body.Now, with the EU's anti-trafficking directive explicitly recognising the exploitation of surrogacy as a form of human trafficking, I ask whether the Attorney General has reviewed this Bill for compliance. The directive places a binding duty on member states to ensure no woman is coerced, deceived or exploited in surrogacy arrangements. Yet, this Bill currently offers less oversight of high-risk international surrogacy than for domestic arrangement. This is scandalous. This Bill is not just flawed, it is dangerous, and I will not stand by while the State legislates for the commercialisation of pregnancy and motherhood.
Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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It is with deep sorrow that I rise to pay tribute to the late Kerry Fine Gael councillor, Jim Finucane. He was a dedicated public servant whose passing is a profound loss to County Kerry and, indeed, to all of us who had the privilege of knowing him closely. Jim devoted over 30 years to political life as an elected representative, serving with distinction and unwavering commitment. A native of Tarbert in north Kerry, he carried the values of his community with him throughout his life. Later, he made his home in Tralee where he built both a successful business and a loving family alongside his wife Sheila. Together, they raised three children, James, Jill and Orla, who were the pride of his life.
Jim's passion for Kerry ran deep, especially when it came to Gaelic football. He was a proud supporter of his beloved Austin Stacks club and rarely missed a match. His enthusiasm for the game reflected his broader love for community tradition and the spirit of Kerry. Only last week, Jim was appointed honorary consul of Ukraine for the south-west of Ireland, the first such position in the country. It was a fitting honour for a man who led first and foremost with humanity.
Jim was more than a councillor; he was a mentor, a friend and a man of integrity. His legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched and the example he set for public service. His first words on leaving when he shook the Leader's hand were "Seán, my friend". To Sheila, James, Jill, Orla and the extended Finucane family, I want to extend my deepest sympathies. May Jim's memory be a blessing and may he rest in peace.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I join Senator Kennelly in expressing my sympathies to Jim's family. He was a great Kerryman, a great public representative and a great human being. He had an interest in a wide range of areas beyond his beloved Kerry, everything from Ukraine to the United States of America, in which he had great interest. He attended many functions on behalf of Ireland in New York, Boston and beyond. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I wish to be associated with the fine comments of Senator Kennelly in relation to the late Jim Finucane. He was an absolute gentleman and a pleasure to meet. As the Senator said, he did incredible work supporting Ukrainian citizens coming to Ireland initially. I extend my condolences to his family and friends.
I ask that we have a debate with the Minister for housing on wastewater treatment. In Tipperary, we have ongoing problems with water quality and capacity. Huge investment is being made in Irish Water to build new infrastructure across the country and in cities. In Clonmel, we have had problems for years because we are at capacity and cannot develop for that reason. Changes are being made whereby the water system is being moved to Monroe. The quality of water is not as good as it was originally. This is having a huge impact on locals there.
Over the last three months, we have had serious issues with the Goatenbridge water treatment plant. Thousands of people from the Goatenbridge area, Ardfinnan, Grange, Cahir and that area have been on boil water notices for four months. Then, almost on a weekly basis, the water is out for a number of hours. Tomorrow, it will be out all day for what Irish Water claims are minor works or minor upgrades. This is happening on a weekly basis, with very little clarity on when it might end. It is causing huge disruptions to homes and businesses. In our area, when the water is out, it essentially means that a lot of the childcare providers in Clonmel have to close because they do not have any water and for health and safety reasons, they cannot have young kids on the premises all day with no water and no toilets working. This means that everyone has to change their schedule for the whole day and pick up their kids and bring them home. They have to tell their boss they cannot stay at work because childcare facilities are closing. It is having a huge impact on the whole region. We have not had the Minister for housing in the House for a while to talk about water and water infrastructure. Taking into account the plan for investing in infrastructure, we also need to look at upgrading and improving the infrastructure we have in place.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome guests of Senator Conway, Michelle Madden and her daughter, Sinéad, from Ennis. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for being here today.
Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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I call for an urgent debate on the National Ambulance Service. In an article today in my local newspaper, The Anglo-Celt, a whistleblower from the National Ambulance Service contacted the newspaper to express concern about ambulance cover in Cavan, which is at an unsafe level. The newspaper also reports that morale among staff is at an all-time low. There are also obvious recruitment and retention issues. It states that Cavan is regularly left with reduced numbers of ambulances. If the roster is left as it is for the week beginning 17 November, it is going to be very unsafe. There is only one ambulance rostered for that night at the Cavan ambulance station. This happened a couple of times in October as well when there were days when there should have been four ambulances on and there were only three. It means that an ambulance from Finglas must come into Cavan to cover, but if the service receives a call-out in Finglas, the ambulance will not make it to Cavan to ensure it can cover any call-outs there.
The newspaper also reports that ambulances in Cavan are sometimes called into Mullingar. In one case, the crew drove past Mullingar hospital to get to someone and by the time they got there, the person had got so fed up waiting they had made their own way to the hospital, so the whole journey was wasted. Why was that incident not serviced by the ambulance service in Westmeath?
As well as the rostering issue, there is also a recruitment and retention issue. The situation in Monaghan is similar, with paramedics in Drogheda having to answer calls in Monaghan and ambulances from Swords having to travel to Monaghan. I call for an urgent debate on this issue. There has been an increase in the number of call-outs, but that is to be expected with the increase in population. We need to increase recruitment and ensure retention within the service.
Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I join my colleagues, Senators Boyle and Flynn, in raising the issue of defective concrete blocks. I entered politics six or seven years ago. We obviously all enter politics to try to help people, communities and society, and the most pronounced and most pressing issue since I entered political life has been defective concrete blocks, in particular the pyrite situation in County Mayo and the mica situation in County Donegal. People buy a house in good faith, pay their local property tax and home insurance and play by the rules in trying to build their forever home. I have met affected families, joined them in protest and seen the difficulty and challenges they face in everyday life. The stress and pressure that puts on people cannot be overstated.
I welcome the changes that have improved the scheme over the past number of years, but more needs to be done. I ask that the Minister come to the House to discuss this issue in advance of publishing new guidelines and policies. Hundreds of homeowners are affected in counties Mayo, Donegal and Sligo and across the western seaboard, and in other pockets of the island. We need to create schemes that work for people. We need to make sure the scheme is orientated to each of the individual families and homeowners who have experienced their own challenges and difficulties. Each situation is unique and different.We need to make sure that we have a tailor-made scheme for that. We need to make sure that this never happens again. There is still no test for defective country blocks in the industry, which is scandalous. We need to tackle this head on and take it seriously.
There is a meeting in Ballina this evening which I, unfortunately, cannot attend, but I wish Margaret Walsh and the Mayo Pyrite Action Group the very best. They gathered homeowners together to collate the priorities of each individual homeowner. I hope the Minister can deliver and respond to the asks of homeowners who, through no fault of their own, are in a difficult situation. For them, their families and communities and for the future of homeowners, we must deliver. I call on the Minister to come to the House as soon as possible to discuss the measures that are to be enacted to ensure that we deliver for these homeowners in their hour of need.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome to the Gallery the ATU Project WAVE group, who are guests of Senator Nessa Cosgrove. Their teachers are here from Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon. They are welcome to Seanad Éireann . Thank you for being here today. We are delighted to have you here.
Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)
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I would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy on the passing of former Councillor Jim Finucane. He was a true party man and gave his life to politics in Kerry. He will be sorely missed. I would like to pass on a vote of congratulations to my local GAA club, Aghabullogue, which won the premier intermediate football county final last Saturday. I wish the team the best of luck with the Munster final against Thurles next weekend in the all-Ireland intermediate football. It is a massive achievement for the club. It is the first time since 1910 that it will now be promoted to a senior grade. We also have a very proud history in Aghabullogue in that the club was founded in 1884 and was the first club to win an all-Ireland for hurling in 1890. I congratulate the lads and wish them the very best of luck for next weekend.
I want to raise the urgent need to reform the long-term illness scheme to include inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, Crohn's disease and colitis, which affect over 40,000 people in Ireland and are medically recognised as lifelong incurable autoimmune diseases. While the Minister for Health has cited section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 to justify the scheme's exclusions, the section does not list specific conditions. It grants the Minister discretion to proscribe any long-term condition. The current list of 16 illnesses was created administratively in 1970 and has not been reviewed in over 50 years. I do not believe this is a legislative issue; it is a political issue. Crohn's and Colitis Ireland's recent report revealed that people with IBD face an average of €3,252 in annual costs, with 60% facing financial hardship, 47% avoiding care due to cost and 26% delaying taking medication in order to make their supply last longer. This is unacceptable for a condition that the State refuses to acknowledge through adequate supports. I urge the Minister to come to the House to discuss the issue and meet with Crohn's and Colitis Ireland to begin a formal review of the long-term illness scheme.
Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I, too, join in the sympathies expressed to former Councillor Jim Finucane. I also welcome the guests of Senator Cosgrove. Some have been in the Seanad so many times over the past couple of weeks, I am worried they are eyeing up some of our seats. They are all very welcome here today.
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland recently published a report showing the average cost of rebuilding a home rose by 7% nationally over the past year, following an increase of 6% last year. Thankfully, it is below the 12% increase we saw in 2023. Increases vary across the country, from 3% in Cork to 5% in Dublin and 9% in the north west. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland is rightly urging homeowners to check their insurance policies and use its rebuild calculator to make sure their properties are properly insured.
That is where the problem arises. When people update their insurance to reflect higher rebuild costs, their premiums can rise sharply, which hits families hard, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. We must have a real discussion in the House. It is encouraging to hear other Senators call for the Minister, Deputy Browne, to come to the House for a debate on defective blocks because we have to consider how these cost increases are affecting homeowners, not just in terms of affordability but also in terms of risk.
Too many families are underinsured without even realising it and if disaster strikes, such as a fire, flood or defective blocks, they could face paying tens of thousands out of pocket because their policies no longer cover the full rebuild cost. We cannot ignore this. The Government, insurers and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland need to work together to raise awareness, simplify insurance reviews and explore ways to protect homeowners from sudden cost increases. Owning a home should bring security, not a fear of what happens if costs keep climbing. It is time that we had a conversation in the Seanad and work to ensure families across Ireland can protect their homes fairly and affordably. I welcome the call to have the Minister, Deputy Browne, address the Chamber on this and other issues.
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I, too, would like to be associated with the sympathies expressed to the Finucane family on the passing of the legend that was Jim Finucane. I had the privilege of having a cup of tea with Jim about three or four weeks ago after he was appointed to his position as honorary consul for Ukraine when he was in Dublin. I believe it was the day after he had been appointed. He was a great and lovely man and will be sadly missed.
I also echo the welcome to Michelle Madden and her daughter, Sinéad, in the Gallery and wish them all the very best. They retired recently from business. Madden's Furniture was a stalwart business for many decades in the town of Ennis. It gave great service to the community and I wish the family every success in the next chapter of their lives.
From a business perspective, I would like to ask the Leader to organise a debate on the future of tourism in this country. As the only representative of County Clare in the Seanad, it is my duty to constantly remind the Chamber and powers that be of the importance of tourism in our county. I was concerned to learn that there is expected to be a decline in the number of American tourists visiting this country. The American market is extremely important for the west coast in particular because Americans spend quite a lot of money. We know that when a trend starts, it takes a couple of years for it to percolate its way to having an effect. Now is the time for interventions, in particular with the American market. I know the geopolitical situation is a bit tricky at the moment, but there are a lot of people in America who love coming to visit Ireland and would love to visit Ireland. We need to remind them of what we have to offer in this country. We need to have a debate on not just summer tourism but also winter tourism and tourism all year round because we cannot be weather dependent, as we know. If the Leader could arrange, in his own time, a debate on tourism I would be grateful.
Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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Ní raibh deis agam go dtí seo gach rath a ghuí ar ár nUachtarán nuathofa, Catherine Connolly. I want to wish, as I know many in this House and elsewhere have done already, our President-elect Catherine Connolly the very best for her tenure as Uachtarán na hÉireann. I have had the pleasure of serving on the Coiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus na nOileán with Catherine. Whatever disagreement I might have from time to time with Catherine on some issues, sometimes very important issues, I have always found her to be a very calm, courteous and open person. Those characteristics will serve her very well as she strives to be a President for all the people of Ireland.
We live at a time when we need unifying forces in our country to bring people together. In that regard, we need to take notice of what happened on polling day, with an unprecedented 13% of people who went to the polls doing something other than registering a preference for one of the validly nominated candidates. The decision to spoil votes in the circumstances that took place cannot be viewed as an antisocial act.This was a clear expression of displeasure by many voters at the inadequacies of the presidential nomination process this time round in particular and, I believe, at the unacceptable - in many voters' eyes - lack of choice and lack of representation of diversity on the ballot paper.
Ireland is much less homogenous than it was before. There is much more division among people and people's ideas. Even within political parties, there is probably a greater level of division than heretofore. It behoves the political system to ensure that people have somebody they can vote for on polling day. As we have a single transferable vote system, there is no reason political parties could not think outside the box, for example, where they have the numbers to nominate more than one candidate from the Oireachtas.
That is the reason I have called for an all-party Oireachtas committee to be set up to look at our presidential nomination process and to hear from the public, political parties, political scientists and others to see how we can ensure that the public dissatisfaction that was recently registered does not have to happen again and how we can do it better in future, in light of the changing Ireland we are in.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I have just come from a commemoration service across the square with An Taoiseach - many other Members of the Oireachtas were there - dedicated to members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and others who have served the State. This morning, the focus was very much on the families of people in service who died in the past 12 months. There were several wreathes laid there and it is still going on. Maybe if people have time, they might go over to the memorial that is directly opposite our gates.
It is important we remember them. These are people who served the State with distinction, and when there was loss of life in service, their families suffered. While there is an initial period of time, the hurt and the loss is lingering for them. It is important that we remember them, particularly at this very moment when the Government, with the Defence Forces, are commemorating and giving thanks to the people who serve this country. I would like to think that, next year, we might look at how we as a parliament directly facing this obelisk can in some way be part of that commemoration in years to come because there is a natural synergy for that to happen.
I will finish with this, with the indulgence of the Cathaoirleach for one second. As we speak, there are meetings going on regarding the hunger strikers, namely, the people who lived in institutional care who were not given the supports and services they deserved. That is for another day and we have had a lot of debate but I wish those talks well. I hope all of us, in any party or none, in this Chamber will use our influence in the hope that there can be a resolution to two matters: a recognition, payment or contribution - let us not get hung up on the word or title - for the people who are out there and seeking on behalf of others some recognition of their labour in institutions and the toll it took on them; and an enhanced medical card. It is not unreasonable that they should be given an enhanced medical card as they face into elder age and several related health issues.
I hope these talks go well today because these people are not for turning. They have nothing more to lose. They have sacrificed too much. Let us be advocates for them. Let us support them. Let us use our influence in the houses of power, here in the Oireachtas, to get justice for them.
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank all the Senators for their contributions.
Starting with Senator O'Loughlin, she welcomed Templeogue Women's Shed and called for a debate on supports for men's and women's sheds. I will certainly try to organise that with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, at the earliest opportunity. We all agree that men's and women's sheds are hugely important for local communities as a place for people to gather, share ideas and have a bit of a laugh and a bit of fun. The Senator also acknowledged Berney Brothers' Saddles and Brendan Clifford, who has retired. Senator O'Loughlin also called for a debate regarding the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, will be here tomorrow with regard to international aid and there may be an opportunity to raise the ongoing atrocities in Sudan.
Senator Joe O'Reilly raised the issue of the Teagasc briefing we had this morning and the issues relating to the nitrates derogation and water quality. I have asked for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on this post the visit of the Commissioner on Friday. The Senator also called for a debate on succession issues, and I will request that. Next Wednesday, we have a debate on farm safety and farmers' mental health as a sort of combined effort from the Departments of agriculture and Health.
Senator Craughwell raised the matters of vulture funds and mortgages and the ongoing coverage by RTÉ in the past number of days. I suggest that the finance committee take this up because there is a broader piece there that may be worthy of investigations.
Senator Andrews raised the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor-elect of New York. I wish him well in his term. The Senator also raised the issue of funding for greyhound racing. As the House knows, there is a motion to progress the greyhound racing fund to committee. There will be an opportunity in the coming weeks for the Minister to present the greyhound and horse racing fund. There is an annual debate on that. No doubt, the Senator will be able to register his concerns - as he has done here today - directly with the Minister. Obviously, the welfare of greyhounds is hugely important in the industry and to the Minister. In the 2019 figures, there were over 4,000 full-time and part-time jobs in the industry and there are active owners who derive economic benefits, but none of this would be possible without the greyhounds themselves. It is absolutely vital that they be cared for and that there be supports for retired dogs.
Senator Cosgrove raised the issue of the Labour Party motion regarding decriminalisation of drugs. As far as I know, the Government is not opposing that motion and agrees on health-based approaches and drug use. I have to say I do not particularly support decriminalisation. I do not see what positives that would infer on people. The damage drug use can do to people's lives should not be underestimated.
Senators Flynn, Boyle and Duffy raised the issue of mica. Senator Flynn raised the issue of commercial businesses apart from that of homeowners. That issue alone might be worthy of a Commencement debate. With the ongoing issues relating to pyrite and mica, I will request a debate with the Minister, Deputy Browne. I know the new housing plan is due to be published, I believe, next week or so and we will be requesting a debate anyway on that plan, but this is a specific issue on which I will request a debate with the Minister.
Senator Davitt referred to councillors in respect of pension entitlements and auto-enrolment. I will request a debate on the matter. I am not sure whether the local democracy task force will deal with those issues under its terms of reference, but I will certainly request a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, on them.
Senator Keogan mentioned the pre-legislative scrutiny of the assisted human reproduction Bill and wondered if the Attorney General had had oversight of it. The Attorney General has oversight of the drafting of all Bills, so the pre-legislative scrutiny report will now go to the Department and will be taken on board in terms of the instructions to the Attorney General. The Attorney General's office, in relation to the drafting of that Bill, will be taking on board issues that may be raised by the Government.
Senator Kennelly, supported by Senators Joe O'Reilly, Martin Conway, Scahill, Ahearn, Lynch and others, mentioned the untimely passing of the late Jim Finucane, a former councillor. At only 68 years of age, he was a young man with more than 30 years of public service. From Tarbert, he lived in Tralee. Our thoughts and prayers go to his wife Sheila and their children James, Jill and Orla. I am sure that will be a huge funeral in the Kingdom. As dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Senator Ahearn referred to the lack of wastewater capacity in the Clonmel and south Tipperary area. We know the importance of this in terms of housing delivery and improving water quality, which is hugely important for the derogations we spoke about earlier. We must improve our river and water quality across the country. I will request a debate on issues pertaining to Uisce Éireann, wastewater and water quality with the Department of housing. Senator Tully called for a debate on the National Ambulance Service regarding rostering and recruitment issues. I will request that again. I am not sure if the Joint Committee on Health has done anything lately on this matter, so perhaps the Senator can raise this issue with her colleagues who are members of that committee. I know that the National Ambulance Service has changed to a national call-out system rather than one based on geographical areas, so ambulances are travelling further than perhaps they once would have done. That seems to be the model that has been developed. I will certainly request a debate on that matter.
Senator Lynch congratulated her local club, Aghabullogue GAA. The Senator also called for a review of the long-term illness scheme to include inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's and IBD. I suggest that she tables a Commencement matter seeking a review of the long-term illness scheme. I will request a debate with the Minister on the issue.
Senator Scahill mentioned the report by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland that shows the increase in house rebuilding costs and emphasised that if homeowners do not engage, they could miss out when it comes to premiums where there is flooding or fire. Again, insurance works on the basis that an asset of greater value means people pay increased premiums. I will certainly request a debate with the Minister in that regard as well.
Senator Martin Conway requested a debate on tourism. I will reach out to the Minister, Deputy Burke, on that matter. There have been some concerns. Although tourism numbers for August this year were higher than August last year, I think there has been an overall reduction so I will request a debate on that.
Senator Mullen congratulated an tUachtarán nuathofa, Catherine Connolly, on her election, and her inauguration will take place next Tuesday. The Senator called for a debate on processes in relation to the franchise and the nomination process. As I said before, there can be too few candidates on the ballot paper and too many. I certainly believe that on this occasion, the electorate would have benefited from extra choice, but as the only party that ran a candidate, do not blame us. I have requested a debate on that matter in relation to the franchise.
Senator Boyhan rightly acknowledged those who have died in the service of the State and the memorial that took place earlier at Merrion Square. Certainly we remember all those who died in service of the State. The Senator also wished that the talks go well in relation to those who are on hunger strike and are former residents of institutions, and I certainly know that they rightly deserve to get what they ask for and seek. I am sure they will put every effort into that and I wish them well in their endeavours.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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Regarding the debate on the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, that motion will go to the committee, but will it come back to the House for a debate?
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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Just about itself, not mixed in with lots of other issues. Will there be a debate on that motion?
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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A debate takes place every year on the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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So that will go to committee and will come back to the House-----
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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A debate, yes, absolutely. The Minister will be in at that stage, and then there will be a motion, which will either be agreed or Senators have the right to oppose it if they so wish.