Seanad debates
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
2:00 am
Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, changed from Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 – Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m.; No. 2, National Treasury Management Agency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 – Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1; No. 3, Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 – Order for Committee and Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 2 p.m., and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which in relation to amendments shall include only those set down or accepted by the Government; No. 4, Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 – Second Stage, to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude at 6.30 p.m., with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time may be shared, and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 5, Private Members' business, Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2026 – Second Stage, to be taken at 6.30 p.m., with the time allocated for this debate not to exceed two hours.
Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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I read with great concern yesterday reports to the effect that Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, is concerned that tailbacks of traffic heading to Dublin Port through East Wall and the Dublin Port tunnel are so great that they may force the closure of access to the port for heavy goods vehicles, HGVs. TII is so concerned that it has suggested increasing the peak toll from €13 to €14. The number of cars using the port tunnel is rising so quickly that TII is recommending this increase to deter private car drivers from using it. The volume of such traffic is increasing by more than 8% a year. TII has indicated that this is unsustainable and could undermine the purpose of the tunnel, which is to give HGVs access to the port.
As already stated, TII is recommending an increase in the toll from €13 to €14 in order to discourage overuse of the tunnel by non-commercial vehicles. The toll was increased to €13 in January 2025 from the previous amount of €12. In January 2024, it rose from €10 to €12. The level of the toll has been rising incrementally over the years. The use of cars through the Dublin Port tunnel has also been increasing year on year. The incremental increases to the toll are not reducing car use.
The reason that there is such a heavy volume of cars going through the Dublin Port tunnel is because the population in north County Dublin is increasing. If anything is unsustainable, it is the lack of decent public transport in north County Dublin. A lot of housing is being built there, which is welcome. People need housing, and I do not have a problem with that. However, I do have a problem with commuters from north County Dublin being punished by a State body, namely TII, suggesting an increase in order to deter these people from using the tunnel. People do not want to use their private cars, but they have no other option because the public transport infrastructure in north County Dublin is so underdeveloped. Housing is being built, which, as I said, is welcome, but thought is not being put into what people have to go through on a daily basis in the context of dealing with traffic congestion. No one wants to pay €13 to use the port tunnel. People are not the tunnel just because they want to; they are using it because they have no other option. I am talking about people who live in the towns of Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan and in more rural areas such as Balruddery, Ballyboughal, Oldtown and Naul. They have no other option. They do not have good, developed public transport. They have to travel across Dublin to get to work. I call on the Government to intervene in respect of this matter and to speak to TII about it in order to ensure that the workers of north County Dublin are not punished and the toll is not increased.
I invite all my colleagues to the Rush festival, which will be taking place on the August bank holiday weekend. This is a fantastic family event that takes place over three days. The highlight is going to be the Fingal Rush air display, which will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, 2 August. It will be a fantastic weekend. I love it every year. Live Forever, an Oasis tribute band, will play in the pavilion, as will the 80s Generation on the Sunday night.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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We will fly over for that with Ryanair.
Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail)
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This is a fantastic festival organised by Rush Community Council. There will be beach volleyball, historical walks, a sandcastle competition, which my kids love every year, a didgeridoo rave, which is something I have not experienced before but am looking forward to, a food and drink fair and yoga on the beach. Senators should come to Rush over the August bank holiday weekend.
Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I cannot wait to get to Rush.
I wish to express my support for the greyhound industry in Ireland and for the regulated practice of hare coursing, both of which make a significant contribution to our economy, our rural communities and our cultural heritage. The greyhound sector supports approximately 5,000 jobs across the country, providing employment in training, breeding, veterinary care, transport, hospitality and many other related services. For many families, particularly those in rural Ireland, it represents an important source of income and economic activity. At a time when sustaining rural communities remains a national priority, we should recognise the valuable role this industry continues to play.
Beyond its economic contribution, greyhound racing is also a social and community activity. For generations, families have gathered at tracks and events across the country, creating lasting memories and maintaining local traditions. The vast majority of owners and trainers have a genuine love of their animals and devote considerable time, care and resources to ensuring their welfare. These dogs are not simply racing animals; they are valued companions and an important part of family life in rural Ireland. Like the horse industry, greyhound racing is one of Ireland's oldest sporting and cultural traditions. It is woven into the fabric of many communities and has been passed down from one generation to the next. Rather than abandoning that heritage, we should work together to preserve and strengthen it in order to ensure that it continues in a responsible and sustainable manner for many years to come.
The same can be said for regulated hare coursing. The Irish Coursing Club has been in existence for over 100 years. Today, it represents 108 affiliated clubs across this country. Over the 100 years of its existence, coursing has evolved into highly regulated activity, operating under strict rules and oversight. Supporters remain committed to operating within a highly regulated environment, supporting hare conservation, combating illegal hunting, protecting rural traditions, supporting local economies and maintaining positive relationships with statutory bodies.The facts often cited by supporters are worth noting. Research indicates that there are 18 times more hares in areas where organised coursing exists. During the 2023 and 2024 coursing season, 99.52% of all coursed hares were released back into the wild. Independent research has also found no observed difference between coursed and non-coursed hares. In addition, the coursing community continues to support efforts to combat illegal hunting by promoting regulated and accountable activities.
There is also a significant economic impact. Hare coursing is estimated to generate economic activity in excess of €17 million, benefiting local businesses, hotels, restaurants, shops and service providers in rural areas. Not everyone agrees with greyhound racing, and in a democratic society, different opinions should always be respected. Strong views exist on all sides. However, it is important that debate be informed by facts rather than misinformation. Honest discussion, transparency and continued focus on the highest welfare standards will help to ensure that public confidence is maintained.
The comments by Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews yesterday about the greyhound industry were shocking. He said, "the greyhound industry ... has a shocking dog welfare record. It is absolutely shocking and there is no transparency or accountability." These comments should be withdrawn from the Seanad record. This is damaging to the greyhound industry in this country, which many people in rural areas and I support.
The greyhound industry and regulated hare coursing remain important pillars of rural Ireland. They support jobs, contribute to local economies, preserve valued traditions and bring communities together. By continuing to promote regulation, responsible practices, animal welfare, conservation and transparency, we can ensure that these long-standing traditions continue to make a positive contribution to Irish society.
I wish all the travelling Kerry supporters and the Kerry team a safe trip to Dublin on Sunday afternoon.
Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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We will not make it to Rush this weekend but we might make it over the weekend of 24 July. I also wish the best of luck to the Louth and Mayo teams in the upcoming weekend.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I have to respond to Senator Clifford-Lee, who gave a great plug for the coastal swimming place in Rush. I am not quite sure how I would go or how I would recommend people to go, given the difficulties she outlined in relation to transport through the tunnel. Last week, she articulated concerns over the cap at Dublin Airport. Clearly, there is a bottleneck with transport out there. On a more serious note, I agree with her that the issue with the tunnel is a challenge, but there are also challenges with housing and transport. With the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to discuss those issues. It is a valid point and I support her on it.
On building a caring society, Family Carers Ireland has a presentation in Buswells Hotel this morning. There I met Councillor Richie Molloy, a colleague of mine and of the Leader's from Clonmel. That organisation has nine requests, as follows: a fair and adequate income for carers; the abolition of the carer’s allowance means test, which should not come as any surprise to those in government who committed themselves to doing something about it but nothing has happened yet; a right to respite; the full funding of the carer guarantee; the delivery of the statutory home support scheme; prioritisation of supports for children with additional needs; the delivery of housing, transport and climate justice; support for family carers in paid employment, which is an important point to make; and future planning and assisted decision-making.
These nine pillars encompass 54 specific proposals aimed at improving the lives of people who need care and those who care for them. Family Carers Ireland, FCI, believes that most of the 54 specific proposals in its pre-budget 2027 submission can be achieved. I personally believe that the FCI proposals provide a roadmap for creating a more equitable, more sustainable and more responsive care system for family carers. I ask that my colleagues across all parts of this House would advocate for the measures outlined in the family carers budget 2027 submission and perhaps raise it this evening at their parliamentary party meetings. I do not doubt people's commitment. Behind all of this, of course, is resourcing. It is an important issue and I hope that we will articulate and advocate for these nine pillars for Family Carers Ireland.
Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise the case of an 18-year-old woman living in Cavan. She was admitted to Cavan General Hospital in September 2025. She was 17 at the time and spent four weeks there with symptoms of vomiting, constant headaches and light sensitivity. One doctor thought it was chronic meningitis and talked about doing a lumbar puncture but other doctors disagreed. No procedure was carried out and no determination was made as to what was actually wrong. She was given antibiotics and sent home. She ended up back in hospital in November, this time for nine weeks, again with similar symptoms, only worse. She was very dizzy, collapsing and not able to keep food and liquids down. Again, no conclusions were reached and no adequate treatment was prescribed. She ended up being admitted in May for a week. She was discharged on a Friday, but had to be brought to hospital by ambulance the following Thursday and was readmitted for another four weeks.
Of the last nine months, she has spent 18 weeks in hospital. She is vomiting, collapsing and very weak. When she was readmitted in May, she was put on a heart monitor because her heartbeat was erratic. Bloods were taken every day but she got no clear explanation as to why this was happening or what the right conclusion from the tests was. She collapsed several times while in hospital but this was not actually documented by the hospital. A dietitian was only notified of her condition on the day that she was being discharged. The dietician was very worried about her and said that she should have been peg fed for the time she was in hospital.
She has now been referred to community services but there are very long waiting list there. There was no referral for a second opinion. Even though this was mentioned, it was not actually done. Her notes to her GP were inaccurate and did not include some of the medication she was prescribed. She has now ended up on 20 tablets a day. An 18-year-old woman on 20 tablets a day is outrageous. Her notes talked about appointments made for her that she attended but she had not. Even the records around her care were not accurate. She has lost 10 kg in weight and has missed out on a year's school, including missing her leaving cert.
It is not that the first time I have raised concerns about healthcare in Cavan General Hospital. The vast majority of staff are excellent. The hospital is under-resourced and under pressure. The Minister for Health needs to address the inefficiencies in Cavan General Hospital. I am concerned about the hospital and about patient care. I do not want to see the hospital undermined in any way. We are delighted to have a hospital in the county, but it has to be one we have trust in. I am calling on the Minister for Health to address the issues in Cavan General Hospital.
Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I very much welcome the move by the Government to recognise Rosslare Europort as a tier 1 category port. This is a significant development, not just for Wexford, but also for the entire south-east region. The issue that I want to highlight is the long-awaited and much discussed road that will run to Rosslare Europort and will ultimately connect it all the way up to Belfast. The stretch of the M11 motorway from Oilgate to Rosslare has been under discussion since 2009. Finally, the route has been selected and detailed design is getting done so that the application for planning permission can be made.
There are 170 individual landowners whose properties have effectively been sterilised because they have been included in a route since 2009. The latest information that I have is that the planning application cannot be lodged until 2027 and then it will take approximately two years to go through the planning process. We need to have a debate in this House with the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, as the Minister responsible for infrastructure, to examine why large infrastructure projects like this road are taking so long to get through the planning process.What changes can be made in order to speed that up, whether through legislation or by other means as a result of the accelerating infrastructure task force? The result should be the speeding up of this much-needed motorway.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I remind Members to turn their phones back on when they leave the Chamber.
Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I wish to discuss accessibility in our towns and villages. On 29 May 2026 we had Make Way Day, which was the day when historically our local authorities go out with a number of organisations led by Disability Ireland to highlight the lack of accessibility around many of our towns and villages. I have raised this issue a number of times before but I do not believe it is being looked after properly. The NTA is predominantly responsible for funding this within the local authorities. We look at such issues as tactile paving, dropped kerbs, many pedestrian crossings, safe walking and wheeling routes. I have raised the issue repeatedly within the local authority. Whenever the NTA gets involved, matters seem to become more complicated that needs to be the case. I was out with a group of people within the past 12 months. We looked at trying to bring a wheelchair to the local train station. When we got close to the train station we had to turn around, go back about 500 m to where there was a dropped kerb, cross the road and then cross the road at two other points before we could actually get to the train station. It is a simple thing. An engineer has one idea as to how something should be done but we really need to look at the lived experience. I would love a conversation in this House whereby some discretionary funding could be allocated to local authorities in order that, rather than all of us going out on Make Way Day to take a photograph and then wait 12 months to do it again, some action could actually be delivered in the 12 months in between to make towns and villages more accessible.
A little time has been allocated for this. I wish to promote the local festivals in my area over July and August, starting with the Boyle Arts Festival next Thursday, 16 July. I encourage people to check out the website for that. From 25 July to 2 August there is the famous Castlerea Rose Festival, quickly followed by the Castlerea Agricultural Show on the bank holiday Monday. Tickets for that are available on the Castlerea Rose Festival social media page and on the website as well. For anyone who has not had their fill at that stage, there is the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival, which kicks off on 1 August.
Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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Yes, the Senator did start it, but we may as well all get the promotions done. It is a great opportunity to promote.
Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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When people are finished in Rush they might come and see the wonderful offerings we have in Roscommon. I wish the very best of luck to all the voluntary committees that have put extensive work into that.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the guests of Deputy Noel McCarthy in the Public Gallery along with two work experience students, guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, as well as Lucan Youth Fun Group, guests of Deputy Gogarty. I do not know about their definition of fun but I am sure being in the Seanad must be high on the list of fun things to do in Dublin. I now call Senator Clonan.
Tom Clonan (Independent)
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With the Cathaoirleach's leave I would like to propose an amendment to the Order of Business today to take No. 20 on the Order Paper before No. 1 in order that I can introduce my Adult Safeguarding Strategy Bill. I need to get a seconder.
Tom Clonan (Independent)
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I thank the Senator. The Adult Safeguarding Strategy Bill that I hope to introduce fills the gap that exists in Irish legislation around adult safeguarding for our elderly citizens and for all of us who at some point in life will need care. This Bill is consistent with what the Government has set out in the programme for Government. I thank all my colleagues from Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Aontú, the Green Party and the Civic Engagement Group and from my colleagues in the Seanad Independent Group for co-sponsoring the Bill. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the House. We have some way to go on this but they have indicated that they will not oppose it. That is emblematic of this House in that we can see in Westminster and Washington the aggravated polarity in those Chambers. However, this remains a collegial House. While we often disagree here, sometimes vocally and strenuously, we are colleagues and we have the best interests of the public at heart. This legislation if progressed will bring Ireland into line with the rest of Europe in relation to adult safeguarding and will fill that gap.
In the late 1970s, as part of the Finglas youth project we used to cycle out to Rush and Skerries. I would say they were delighted to see us coming. We each had 50 pence to spend in the shops. They were probably even more delighted to see us going back. On a serious note, that part of county Dublin, Rush, Skerries, the Naul, Ballyboughal and Man of War is the most beautiful countryside. It is a hidden heartland of the county. The best of luck with the festivals.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator neglected Roscommon in his comments. I wanted to make the intervention before he did so himself.
Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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We too have plenty of great festivals in Donegal.
Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I am not going to name them but everybody's welcome.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Time does not allow for going through all the festivals in Donegal.
Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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I wish to take up an issue that is close to our hearts in Donegal and that is the lack of home care services. Patients are being discharged from hospital because they have been approved for home help. However, when they get home many receive a letter saying there are not enough staff to provide all the approved hours. As a result, they are not getting the care they need and families are left trying to cope on their own. Many vulnerable people are struggling without this necessary support. Too often this leads to patients becoming unwell and ending up back in the hospital. This is upsetting for the patients and their families. It places additional pressure on the hospital.
Approving home help hours is not enough if there are no carers available to deliver them. We need to ensure that home care providers and staff are in place before they are discharged from the hospital. People deserve real support not just approval on paper. We need to prioritise the workforce capacity alongside funding for approved home care hours and provide real support for people who need it most. Investment in recruitment, retention, pay, training and conditions for these home care workers is essential if we are to build a sustainable service moving forward.
This is a real issue that I have been coming up against in the past three or four months in Donegal. Families are at their wits' end trying to cover these hours that they were assured they were going to get. Will the Leader address it with the Minister to see whether we can get any movement on it? People are pressed to the pin of their collar as they are. They really need that support.
Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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I would like to raise and support a proposal that Senator Nelson Murray previously raised in relation to the notification of passport renewals. It is a good proposal and a very good idea. As we know, all of our offices at certain times of the year are inundated with requests and frantic last minute attempts to try to get passports for people who need them for a holiday, family trip or even a family emergency. It causes a lot of stress and anxiety for families. It would actually be interesting to have a study on the financial implications of it for families who lose out on trips, accommodation and travel abroad. I welcome the reply that was given. It means that going forward, there will be an opt-in for a reminder. In this day and age, at times there is overkill with GDPR. Everyone would welcome a little reminder from the Passport Office to say that their passport is due to expire in six months.What kind of world do we live in if that cannot be done for each passport holder? A reminder should be given. People will see the benefit in ten years when their passports are due to expire and they need to renew them. We will begin to be aware much sooner, though, with earlier notifications for people's whose passports are due to expire quite soon. A reminder would take a lot of stress and hassle out of people's lives. Everyone gets reminders for things such as tax and insurance renewals. This should be no different. If a message went out to people asking them if they would like a reminder for the short term, be it next year or so on, as opposed to waiting ten years, then that would be very worthwhile and positively received.
Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
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I wish to raise the issue of insurance reform. Progress has been made. My colleague Senator Nelson Murray often raises the matter. We cannot afford to lose momentum in this area. The latest report by the Society of Actuaries in Ireland confirms that the reforms introduced in recent years are working. Since the personal injury guidelines were introduced in 2021, the average injury award has fallen by almost 30%. That is significant and the Government deserves credit for staying the course on this, but we are not there yet. Insurance premiums remain far too high for many people. I hear that from small business clubs, charities and community organisations every week. As somebody who has run social enterprises in the community - we have a new one opening in Wicklow town this Friday - I know the pressure that insurance costs place on such organisations, like Tiglin, that simply want to serve their communities. In some cases, insurance costs can be the difference between expanding and shutting down.
The report also highlights that legal costs continue to drive up claims. The Central Bank has found that claims dealt with through the Injuries Resolution Board are resolved in half the time of those that end up in litigation. Of course, that is better for everyone. It supports the person who makes the claim and the person who pays the premium. Therefore, we need to encourage far more cases to avail of the Injuries Resolution Board.
I urge the Government to progress the judicial council (amendment) Bill because we need a fairer and more predictable system with proper international benchmarking. It is not about denying people fair compensation; it is about striking the right balance, with which everybody in this House would agree. Ultimately, lower claims must translate into lower premiums but we are not seeing that at the moment. That is what motorists, businesses, voluntary organisations and families across Ireland have been promised and that is what they deserve.
I second the amendment proposed by Senator Clonan.
Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
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I rise to speak about the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. For decades, the narratives that surrounded CAP have been a battleground of maximising the different sectors that can extract the most from the budget, be it the suckler cow sector, the sheep sector or the tillage sector, yet the fundamental human element has constantly been ignored. I refer to the quality of life of the person working the land. For generations, farmers have not taken time off. They have not got time to take time off. I will supply some figures: a dairy farmer takes 19 days off, on average, in a total year, so is a complete slave to the land; 63% of beef farmers are forced to work off farm due to the poor income, using up to 19 days of their annual leave to work on the farm; and 87% of Irish farms rely primarily on their own family labour.
Farmers do not get sick leave. They do not get time off. When there is snow on the ground, people in other sectors can ring their workplaces and say they do not intend to go to work because the roads are slippy. Unfortunately, farmers must get up and milk their cows, feed the cattle and look after livestock. A farmer does not get the same privileges as workers in other sectors. They do not get time to say that they are taking a day off, even when bereavement hits. Therefore, I welcome the new CAP proposals, as they will support family bereavement on a farm. The proposals will support a farmer so that they can take five days off with their spouse, travel down the country and spend time away from the farm. Such provision will help with mental health in young farmers and older farmers . I welcome anything that supports our rural communities.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the next speaker, I welcome the friends of former Member, Mary Wallace, to the Gallery. Anois, Seanadóir Nelson Murray.
Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)
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A lot of my colleagues have spoken about their wonderful villages and towns and how gorgeous they are. Unfortunately, when I was scrolling on the social media page for my local authority, Meath County Council, yesterday, I was saddened to see the numerous new reports of graffiti all around Navan, including on the Circular Road, Convent Lane and the brand new pedestrian and cycle bridge. It is soul destroying to see that. Navan town has been part of the Project 2030 plan and the town is looking beautiful, so it is sad to see that people have used spray paint to leave graffiti on numerous walls, buildings and bridges.
Every time that graffiti needs to be removed, council staff must divert time and resources away from other important services, like maintenance work, that benefit the wider community. They benefit people's mams, sisters or somebody in a house that needs boiler maintenance, yet staff have to go and take off graffiti. We cannot spend millions of euro regenerating towns only to allow them to be vandalised. Graffiti is not a victimless act. It costs taxpayers and businesses thousands of euro, damages civic pride and discourages people from spending time in town centres. We need a zero-delay clean-up policy, strong enforcement and meaningful engagement with young people so that Navan remains a town that people are proud to live and work in and visit.
Should we consider creating a national arts and mural strategy that each council can avail of? Should there be tougher penalties for those offending? Should we set up a QR code at peak locations so that these crimes can be reported? We have the Criminal Damage Act, which includes the offence of defacement of property, and the Litter Pollution Act 1997, which clearly includes graffiti as a specific offence, but they are not working. We cannot continue to spend taxpayers' money making towns and villages vibrant communities but have people who are, for some reason, trying to reflect their artistic skills by spraying graffiti on newly built buildings and walls. Should we start meeting them? Should we see what they want? Do they want specific mural walls? I think they should get them and that they could add to towns. In New York, for example, you can see many beautiful buildings with gorgeous artwork on them. Wicklow has been a great county for it as well. Should we start meeting these people and giving them a platform and an opportunity to express their artistic flare? We should also combine that with tougher penalties? We need to stop this. I would welcome a debate on the matter.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I missed Senator Kennelly's comments, as I was a bit late getting up, but I believe that the Senator has asked me to withdraw or retract a statement I made. Yesterday, I made the statement that the greyhound industry "has a shocking dog welfare record. It is absolutely shocking and there is no transparency or accountability." Hell will freeze over before I will retract that because there is any amount of evidence. There is no transparency. There is no accountability.
Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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Every week, the Senator comes into this House and gives misleading information on dogs.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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The Senator will not interrupt me. We can debate the issue. I suggest that we invite the Minister in. I have got plenty of evidence and there is no transparency or accountability----
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I will give the Senator more time, but just so everyone is aware of Standing Orders 52 and 53, the balance of those is that anybody who speaks in this House must be conscious of any utterances they make injuring the "occupation, trade, office or financial credit" of the person or entity they are speaking about balanced with the public good. Every Senator who comes in here has that obligation of doing both, so they have to take that into account when they are doing it.
Senator Andrews, if he would like to continue.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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I am conscious of the clock. Will the Cathaoirleach add a bit of time?
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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There is plenty of evidence that there is no transparency or accountability in the greyhound racing industry. The Committee of Public Accounts is already investigating some of the issues related to greyhound racing.
On another issue, Leader, the charred remains of a dog were found in Ballymun last week.This dog was so badly damaged it was nearly impossible to identify it. Animal welfare officers described it as one of the most distressing cases they had ever encountered. NSPCA animal rescue made the grim discovery on Thursday and said in a social media post that inspectors did everything possible to identify the animal, including scanning for a microchip. Tragically, the remains were so badly damaged that identification was not possible. The NSPCA added that what appeared to be a stick or pole was lodged in the dog's body. This is one of the most distressing cases NSPCA inspectors have encountered. No animal should ever suffer or be treated in this way. The NSPCA's post has been widely shared and commented on, with people outraged and amplifying the charity's call for information. It is very important that the Garda investigates this serious animal cruelty properly and issues a public update. It is really important that some information is given to the public. So far there has been no statement from the Garda and no arrests. It is very important that someone is held accountable for this. It is another example of failure of animal welfare in this country. I would be more than happy to see the Ministers for agriculture and justice come to the House to debate and discuss animal welfare across the board.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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As Senator Andrews has just pointed out, you can interrupt Senators when they are speaking and ask to be allowed to speak but not afterwards.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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He had to learn that lesson the hard way.
Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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Do not be late tomorrow Senator because every week you come in here and target the greyhound industry and it is out of order.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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For the benefit of Senators, Senator Andrews tried to make a point of order-----
Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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He is targeting the greyhound industry.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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-----after a Senator had completed their speech. You can interrupt a Senator during their speech but you have to ask permission. If the Senator allows you to do so 30 seconds time will be added on to the Senator who gives way. After the speech it becomes the next Senator's time.
Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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The Cathaoirleach is explaining what happened last week.
Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the people from Limerick who have arrived in the Chamber who are with Councillor Noreen Stokes. They have arrived at an opportune time and I pay tribute to Noreen. Her family, friends and supporters have helped her since she got elected and they are all very welcome.
I want to raise two issues regarding regional balance and call for two debates. One is on the almost 3,000 people who are registered for apprenticeships with Limerick and Clare ETB. Apprenticeship is an area that is expanding very much and it is a topic we need to have a debate on as to how we can expand apprenticeships. Third level education does not always work for everybody. Certainly people who go into apprenticeships do very well. They are working along with the likes of TUS, UL and the education and training boards in terms of developing their skills. It is an area we should look at on a national basis.
Last Sunday, 28 June, more than 11,000 passengers went through Shannon Airport. We have a debate later today on raising the cap on Dublin Airport, which is in the Fingal area. I believe we have to have balanced regional development around airports. I would like the Minister for Transport to come to the House for a debate on how we can better utilise all of our airports. We have so many airports. In the first quarter of this year 1.2 million people travelled out of Shannon Airport, which is way up on other years. I would like a debate on this.
Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I want to start by acknowledging the courage and determination of Kelly Lynch's family and especially her mother. Her determination in the face of unimaginable grief has been extraordinary. As a mother I cannot imagine the grief of having to bury your own child. On top of this, Kelly's family has to mourn her death while advocating for justice and answers. Kelly was just 23 years old when she was found in the Ulster Canal in Monaghan. Almost immediately her family raised serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding her death. They pointed to details that simply did not add up, including Kelly's hair, her shoes, her clothing and the extent of her injuries. Instead of these concerns being properly investigated they were dismissed.
The handling of this case is troubling. The scene was not properly isolated and Kelly's clothing was returned to her family without any forensic testing being conducted. Kelly had 93 injuries and yet the police were far too quick to rule her death as misadventure or suicide. They did not follow up on the family's concerns and critical opportunities to preserve evidence were lost. Since then an independent review by pathologist Dr. Fintan Garavan has challenged the original conclusions, finding evidence that he believes is consistent with a violent assault rather than an accidental death.
I welcome the Garda Commissioner's decision to order a review into the handling of Kelly's case but a review on its own is not enough. The real question is what will change because of this review. What accountability will there be? What will change in the Garda so that another family is not put in the exact same position? Every sudden or unexplained death should be treated as suspicious until a full and proper investigation proves otherwise. I ask again that the Minister for justice meets Kelly Lynch's family. It is so important that he hears their experience of failures in the justice system in this country.
Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I thank all of the Senators for their contributions. When Senator Maria Byrne was speaking her guests came in and I acknowledge Councillor Noreen Stokes, a very good councillor in Limerick, and her team of supporters who are here with her today. She is a great friend and advocate for Senator Byrne and myself.
Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee spoke about the announcement by TII on increasing the toll at peak time from €13 to €14. This increase also happened in 2025 and 2024 and essentially it will have increased by almost 50% in the space of three years. As Senator Clifford-Lee said, people do not necessarily want to use the tunnel as it is an expensive route to take when going to or coming from work or doing normal daily business but there is no other option and this is a problem. When we have an increase in population to the extent we have in north Dublin because it is a beautiful area to live, we have to make sure it is financially viable for people to be able to do their daily business. I will speak with the Minister to see whether these constant increases can be delayed, or at least that this one could be reconsidered by TII. It is not fair on the public.
Senator Clifford-Lee started a trend here on festivals. The Rush festival is the only festival that is having an air show and when I go home to my kids that is the one they will want to go to. I wish Rush festival well with this and with the sandcastle competition. If I brought my little son to that he would stand over all of the sandcastles and break them so it might be best if he does not come. These festivals in general right across the country, whether in Roscommon, Rush or anywhere else, are hugely important to local communities. They bring people together. I know we say it jokingly here in this room but genuinely, the more we can do to highlight good local festivals run by volunteers and promote them our communities, the better.
Senator Kennelly spoke about the greyhound industry, which was followed up by Senator Andrews and there are obviously differing views on it. Every year we have an opportunity in this House to talk about the greyhound industry when deciding on the horse and greyhound fund. It is tradition and something people are really passionate about, particularly in rural areas. I know this myself being from Clonmel. I see how it has an impact on our town every February when we have coursing in Clonmel and the impact it brings to our town throughout the year. For people who are involved with dogs, horses or any animals it is all about care and love for those animals. People love what they do. That being said, we need to make sure these animals are treated right and treated fairly. We can have differing views on this and still protect our heritage and support people.
Senator Boyhan spoke about family carers and after I speak here I will be going out to meet Councillor Richie Molloy who is a great councillor in Tipperary.He has been a supporter of Family Carers Ireland and worked there for a long time. Family Carers Ireland has a number of asks, some of which are in the programme for Government and are to be delivered over the lifetime of this Government. I have no doubt that they will be. I will meet Family Carers Ireland afterwards and speak to it about what we can do as a group of Senators.
Senator Tully spoke about an 18-year-old girl who seemed to have been in hospital four times for a combined total of 18 weeks. She had a lot of complications. This is not the first time Senator Tully has spoken about Cavan hospital. I will say again today what I said the last time, which is that we will have a debate on health. We will make sure that the Minister for Health comes into this Chamber for a debate in the autumn to discuss many issues, but in particular the number of cases raised by Senator Tully that have happened in Cavan.
Senator Cathal Byrne spoke about the important route of the M11 between Belfast and Rosslare. The port in Rosslare being categorised as a category 1 port brings huge advantages and opportunities for the area. We need good infrastructure in the area. The Senator outlined the problem on the M11 due to the fact that a lot of important road infrastructure projects could happen. We see it on the N24 from Limerick to Rosslare where landowners are blocked from developing their lands simply because they are on the chosen route or in the buffer zone of where a new road could potentially be built. However, even though the roads have not been developed, people still cannot build on their lands. It is a huge frustration for landowners. The Senator outlined how people had been in that position and waiting since 2009. It is just not acceptable. As a Government, we want to increase infrastructural development and the speed of development. Hopefully, that will shorten the timescales on such roads.
Senator Scahill spoke about the accessibility of towns and villages. The Department of rural affairs was set up a number of years ago and good money is being put into rural towns and villages across the country, in particular in the public realm. Within that, priority should be given to accessibility. When we are transforming a whole town from being a more car-reliant town to a more pedestrian-friendly one, accessibility should be a number one issue. Councillors put an awful lot of work and consultation into it but accessibility for people with disabilities sometimes seems to be forgotten. I was talking about accessibility yesterday in terms of beaches but town centres are another key element of this matter.
Senator Clonan requested a change to the Order of Business. I am happy to agree to that. I do not oppose it. I look forward to the Bill coming to the Seanad. As he says, it is important that we align ourselves with our EU colleagues. Let us see what they put forward and how we can work with it and ensure that it works for all of society. It is very important. I thank Senator Clonan for that.
Senator Boyle spoke about the lack of home care services for people who had just come out of hospital. These are very vulnerable people who need our support. As I said in response to Senator Tully's request, we will have the Minister for Health in after the recess. That will be a good opportunity for Senator Boyle to raise the concerns he is seeing in Donegal in relation to people who are not getting enough home care.
Senator Duffy spoke about passport renewal notifications. Senator Nelson Murray raised this in a Commencement matter last week and got a very positive response from the Minister's office. A lot has been done in the Passport Office. It has invested a lot in recent years in personnel and the speed of turnaround, in particular for the renewal of passports. We now have a new top-of-the-range style of passport that has gone into operation since 1 July. Notification is a simple thing that would be very helpful. Everyone knows it is done for car tax and there is no reason it cannot be done for passports. As Senator Nelson Murray was informed last week, that commitment has been made by the Minister, which is to be welcomed.
Senator McCarthy spoke about insurance reform. Again, a lot has been done in this area but more could be done. As he said, we have seen a reduction of 30% in claims but we also need to see a reduction in the cost of insurance for people. If claims are reducing, then people's premiums should be reducing. The overall goal of the Government is to reduce the cost of insurance, particularly on businesses because it has a huge impact on them if their insurance costs increase dramatically and unexpectedly in the space of one year.
Senator Brady spoke about the CAP. He gave a really good account of the family aspect of a farm and the impact it had. It is a big day for his family, as his daughter Leona is turning 18. That is a big day for Caroline and the Senator. I wish her a happy birthday. She is a great asset to him when she comes up here to help him out every so often. I come from a farm and I know how it is. The harvest is starting at home this week. Our winter barley looks like it is ready to go, today or tomorrow. There is huge excitement but there is also pressure as well. Senator Brady spoke about the role of the family in the work. That is what happens at home with us as well. It just has to be done when it has to be done and everything else has to be put aside. Most other jobs are not like that. What often gets forgotten about is taking time off with the family and going away, bereavement, and things like that. When we are doing the CAP reform during the EU Presidency - the Minister, Deputy Heydon, will be very influential in regard to it - we need to look at quality of life for farmers. We do it in every workplace across the country and for some reason we think farmers just get on with it, but there is an issue in terms of prioritising quality of life.
Senator Nelson Murray spoke about the graffiti in Navan. Is there an opportunity to speak to those involved about murals or different ways of using their artistic skills? There is a place in Brooklyn, New York called Williamsburg that is amazing for artistic people who have done up the area and it has become so popular now. There is an opportunity to reach out to these people. We spend so much money trying to redevelop towns and villages. What we do not want is to have people doing something that takes away from that investment. We want to make places as aesthetically pleasing as possible but instead of just vilifying these people, we should try to encourage them and ask what we can do to support them. Some of them are very talented and it is about directing them in the right way.
Senator Andrews spoke about dogs. I touched on that at the start. We obviously all have different views on this one. It is important that, when everyone speaks here, they speak factually. As we all know, people have the freedom to say whatever they want in this Chamber. I do not think that should ever end.
Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the apprentices in Limerick. It is the same in Tipperary. It is a real challenge to get new apprentices to come in and to see the opportunities that are there. It is a good opportunity to bring the Minister for higher education into this Chamber to speak about that as he has not been here for a while.
The Senator also spoke about Shannon Airport and regional development. Regional development of the airports at Shannon and Cork is always a challenge. Dublin is our number one airport. We will have a debate on that later on in terms of the passenger cap. Dublin is the key for us in terms of tourism coming into this country, attracting people and businesses, and having a top class airport as our number one airport. There is more that we can do in terms of regional development and Shannon, Cork, Waterford and Knock can play a role in that.
Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about the tragic case of Kelly, who died a number of years ago through circumstances that were determined but where there are conflicting views as to what happened. It is not appropriate for me to speak too much about it but I welcome that the case is being reopened. I will take on her request regarding the Minister for justice meeting the family. I will speak to him directly to see if that is possible. I am sure he will be more than open to doing it.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Clonan has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 20 would be taken before No. 1." It was seconded by Senator McCarthy. The Leader has indicated that he is prepared to accept the amendment. Is the amendment agreed to? Agreed.