Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Order of Business is No. 1, Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026 - Committee Stage (resumed) and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m., with the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 3.45 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government; No. 2, Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 4 p.m., and the proceedings thereon, if not previously concluded, to be brought to a conclusion at 7.45 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government; and No. 77(4), Private Members' business, motion regarding protecting rural Ireland, to be taken at 8 p.m., with the time allocated to the debate not to exceed two hours.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming both the Belgian ambassador and my friends Joeleen and James. Anyone who has visited Chat N' Chew in Newbridge will have met Joeleen. I certainly hope her lunch today will be up to the usual standard at Chat N' Chew.

It was lovely to meet with our former colleague Catherine Martin last night. She brought in a group of musicians, artists and representatives of the Irish Music Rights Organisation, IMRO, including Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Danny O'Donoghue, Tom Dunne and others. They were in for a debate in the Dáil on protecting artists' creativity. There is a concern that Irish artists' copyright will be undermined by artificial intelligence. It is clear they need stronger legal protections, licensing rules, etc. I would like to see a debate on that in this House when we come back in September.

I wish Des Egan, teacher, poet and Newbridge resident, a very happy 90th birthday today. Des is creative director of the Gerard Manley Hopkins Literary Festival, which The Irish Times has always called the best literary festival in Ireland. Des is originally from Athlone and he and his wife, Viv, chose to live in Newbridge. The festival starts next week, on 24 July, with people from 27 countries coming to Newbridge. It really is a wonderful festival. I wish Des, Viv and their daughters the best of luck with it.

I am sure Members will join me in wishing Áine Lawlor well on her retirement last Sunday. Áine was a consummate professional, full of integrity and sincerity and very fair to everybody who was on her panel. Continuing the theme of Kildare connections, she is a grand-niece of the late Rathangan author Maura Laverty, who wrote many books and wrote the very first soap opera for RTÉ, "Tolka Row". We wish Áine well on her retirement.I wish to talk about a serious issue relating to the blueway. The blueway and greenways are important for both visitors and residents. There is an urgent public safety issue affecting residents, particularly the residents of Ballyteague, around the use of the blueway in County Kildare. There has been the illegal use of scramblers and quad bikes on public roads along the blueway. This is causing considerable concern. It has escalated. It is not just an issue of antisocial behaviour now but an issue of public safety. Residents have suffered serious injuries. One had to have a three-hour surgical procedure. Another had to have 12 stitches in his head. In a separate incident, another resident was allegedly assaulted by a quad bike rider, dragged along the roadway and thrown into a parked vehicle. That incident also resulted in hospitalisation. It is only a matter of time before a fatality occurs. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the most basic expectation of any citizens, which is that they should be able to live safely in their own communities. I am calling for an immediate multi-agency response involving the Garda, Waterways Ireland, Kildare County Council and the relevant Government Department. I would like to see the Leader escalating that issue. I would like a debate on the topic.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I express my deep concern at the devastating wildfire that affected Killarney National Park yesterday evening. It is one of the most treasured national landscapes in the country. Initial reports indicate that the fire was caused by human activity, with concerns that the reckless use of disposable barbecues may have been a contributing factor. Killarney National Park is not just a tourist attraction. It is a unique habitat of national and international importance. The fire has damaged valuable peatland, bogland and native woodland, putting wildlife, biodiversity and fragile ecosystems at risk. Early assessments suggest that approximately 25 ha of land have been affected. At a time when we are experiencing exceptionally dry and warm weather, every one of us has a responsibility to act with care in our countryside and our public communities. The use of barbecues, open flames or any activity that creates a fire risk in such conditions is simply unacceptable. What may seem like a harmless act can, in a matter of minutes, destroy habitats that have taken generations to develop and places lives in danger.

I pay tribute to the extraordinary efforts of the firefighters yesterday evening, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, and its service staff, the aviation helicopter crews and all the emergency personnel who responded so quickly and professionally to this incident. Their dedication, bravery and swift action prevented what could have become an even greater environmental catastrophe than that we saw on 23 April 2021, when nearly 2,000 ha of the Killarney National Park were destroyed. Yesterday was just a reminder of the of the serious consequences that can arise when risks are taken with fire. The land and trees are so dry at the moment that a spark could destroy every amenity we have.

I commend the organisers, volunteers, local businesses and everyone else involved in making the inaugural Horizon Festival in Ballybunion such an outstanding success over the weekend. What was achieved was nothing short of remarkable. A dedicated group of local people came together with a vision for their town and delivered a festival that attracted huge crowds and created an atmosphere that will live long in the memory of all who attended. For one weekend, Ballybunion's vibrant seaside town was truly alive. Its streets were filled with music, entertainment and visitors, while local cafés, restaurants, pubs and accommodation providers all benefited from the influx of people. It was a fantastic showcase of what can be achieved when a community works together with ambition, determination and pride in their place. The Horizon Festival has firmly put Ballybunion back on the map as a destination, not just for its world renowned beach and golf links but as a town capable of hosting major cultural and community events. I hope this is just the beginning and that the festival will go from strength to strength.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Before I call Senator McCarthy, I welcome his guests, Ms Emma Kelly and her son, Adam Egan. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I call Seanadóir McCarthy.

Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I extend the welcome to Emma and Adam. I first met them through our homeless services at the Lighthouse Homeless Café. They came to access services. Adam is a bright lad. He is studying away. He is a fanatic when it comes to basketball and I hope that one day, he will play for Ireland, if not in the NBA in the US. Like so many others, his biggest obstacle is not his lack of ability on the basketball court. It is his lack of somewhere to call home. When I have Adam here as my guest, it is hard to allow talented young people to have their future determined by our housing crisis. He deserves the same opportunities as any other young person to pursue his education and follow his dreams. I hope that all of us in the Seanad, as Members of the Oireachtas, are remembered for removing and not creating barriers. I hope we ensure that people such as Adam are given every chance to fulfil their dreams. I wish Emma and Adam every success. I thank Emma for volunteering at the Lighthouse with my manager, Mr. Rob Byrne. It is something special.

I welcome the Belgian Ambassador to the House. He is a wonderful representative of his country. His wife, Mrs. Poy Petklai Nihon, and son, Mr. Ananda Nihon, are very welcome to Ireland. I wish them a happy Belgium Day next week.

I want to mention employment opportunities. We hear a great deal in this House about the shortage of staff and the difficulties when people are trying to recruit. Perhaps we do not spend enough time looking at the many thousands of people who are willing to work but remain locked out of employment because of the way we recruit. I met a lady in this House yesterday called Ms Edel McSorley, who is one of the directors of Mr Price. Over the past 16 years, it has built 75 stores around Ireland and employs 2,000 people. Some 90% of the staff come through community employment partners rather than the traditional recruitment channels. What impressed me the most is that this is not just a corporate social responsibility project but its model of business. Instead of asking who fits a particular job, it looks at the person and asks how to build a role around them. It replaces barriers with opportunities. It recognises that interviews and certain work environments do not suit everybody and works hand in hand with community partners to make it work.

As someone who has spent over two decades in Tiglin, trying to get people from homelessness, addiction and domestic abuse back into employment and education, I can say that the Mr Price model works very well. The dignity that comes with earning your own wage, being part of a team, feeling included and knowing that you are valued cannot be overstated. A job changes far more than just giving an income. It changes confidence and independence. I congratulate Ms McSorley and everyone at Mr Price on having the courage to think differently when it comes to recruitment and also proving that inclusive employment is the right thing to do and makes good business sense. I hope that many other employers across Ireland look at this model and ask themselves why they are not doing the same thing.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I start by wishing Argentina well tonight against England in the World Cup semi-final. I will support anybody who is playing England until England is not occupying Ireland. I wish Argentina well tonight.

Yesterday, I met 21-year-old Jodie Donovan, who, at the age of 14, noticed that her mobility was not like that of her friends. It took doctors five years to diagnose that Jodie has Friedreich's ataxia. It is a devastating diagnosis. Despite this, Jodie has a lovely, bright, warm personality, and despite all the challenges, she is a happy and resilient young person. It is truly amazing in light of what she is going through. Across the floor, there have been calls for Jodie and others with Friedreich's ataxia to get the medication that will significantly slow its progress and give them some hope. This should not be about politics. It should be about people such as Jodie. Those people got the news last night that the medication they need, namely, Skyclarys, was again further delayed by the HSE. This is devastating for all those with Friedreich's ataxia. The Government needs to make the right call and ensure that they get the medication they need. The HSE needs to stop stalling. Time is precious and the decision has been pushed out for another four weeks. People with Friedreich's ataxia do not have that time. They desperately need a better quality of life.As I said, they are unbelievably positive despite the challenges they face.

I also raise the issue of the South Bank and Whitebank roads off the Seán Moore Road in Ringsend. Some 65 buses, along with cars, arrive when there are concerts in the Aviva stadium. They park at one end of the Seán Moore Road. The Aviva stadium management previously agreed to ensure sufficient Portaloos would be in place for those arriving. Apparently, some 3,500 people can arrive into that area through buses and cars.

Deke’s Diner, located at the Seán Moore roundabout, can only do so much with the limited toilet facilities it has. He does what he can to support people, but he is being overwhelmed. Aviva management and Dublin City Council need to ensure that previously agreed arrangements are in place. It is unacceptable and the amount of public urination causes poor health standards. This is because the Aviva management is not doing what it agreed to do. It is important that Dublin City Council holds it to account and that the Aviva management steps up to its responsibilities in this regard.

Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to speak about Skyclarys. Yesterday’s decision was disappointing. Any issue around health should also not be politicised. It is not helpful to patients. Clear and honest information needs to be relayed to patients. I had to speak to one politician who said that strings could be pulled for patients. These already upset people are being used. I have no time for it. There is no space for that in this Chamber.

Yesterday’s decision was disappointing. It is not an outright “No” to Skyclarys. Instead, the HSE has referred it on for further consideration. It means the process is still alive. I am calling on the HSE to set out a clear and urgent timeline for the reimbursement of Skyclarys. People need to know the timeline. Families have already endured an extraordinarily long process. The health technology assessment began in September 2024. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE, completed its review in December 2025 and commercial negotiations have taken place. Yesterday, instead of reaching a final decision, another stage was added. If it is about pricing, our pricing is in line with other EU countries. We cannot expect to get special treatment in Ireland and undercut everyone else.

Every week matters to a person living with Friedreich’s ataxia. It is a progressive, degenerative disease. Time lost cannot be recovered. Mobility, independence and quality of life continue to decline while this process continues. I appreciate that the HSE has a job of work to do in this regard, and I know the decision yesterday was not a “No”, but it is another wait for people who do not have time. After two years of assessment, review and negotiations, patients need certainty.

The bigger picture is that the process is not working. Decisions should never take this long. Last month, it was Givinostat and this month, it is Skyclarys. It will be something else next month. The process needs to change. I call on the Minister to come into this House because we need a discussion about the reimbursement process, orphan drugs, rare diseases and early access programmes.

Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Today, we had the funding announcement for the women in sport programme. A total of €4 million is going into it. While this is something that happens every year, it is important to acknowledge it when it comes around because the moment we stop acknowledging and calling for it is the moment it falls off the agenda and no longer becomes a fund that we get to announce every year. This programme was introduced in 2005. Since then, ring-fenced funding has amounted to €30 million. There are a few pillars in the programme that this funding supports, including officiating and leadership, governance, participation and visibility.

I want to make a point on visibility. When we talk about empowering girls and women in sport, putting them on a pedestal and making sure they are in the media and public eye, it is important to differentiate between celebrating Irish women in sport and giving out about what is wrong. There are media and social media companies out there whose modus operandi online is to be outraged and give out about what is wrong. It is not to celebrate the wins, victories and achievements of young girls and women in sport. I want to make that distinction because it is important. If we are going to be populist online and look for clicks to go viral, then we are not being solution-focused or putting women and girls on a pedestal or making sure that visibility piece is achieved. Online platforms that say they are trying to promote women need to actually do so, rather than always giving out about what is wrong.

I have seen social media companies complain and be outraged about something that happened to a woman in sport. On the same day, however, they could have been talking about a young Irish cricket player who got her first cap for Ireland or a young Irish swimmer who finally made the breakthrough with a national title. When we talk about women in sport, I want to make sure the visibility piece is proactive, positive and solution-focused, rather than populist and negative.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to see Senator Byrne in the Leader’s chair. I wish him well in that job. I also wish him well in his new position as Government Whip.

There are three items I wish to discuss today. First is the exempt development regulations, which are being covered extensively in the media. We know the committee met last night to discuss these regulations and they are before the Dáil today. We expect they will be before the Seanad tomorrow. There is much talk about these exempt development regulations. They have gone through a process, whatever issues anyone has about them. What I want to renew today, however, is a call for the Minister to release the 900 public consultation submissions to the exempt development public consultation process. A mockery is being made of the public consultation process. I know from my engagement with both the Department and the Minister that over 900 submissions to the consultation process were received. No Member or parliamentarian will have had the opportunity to consider the anonymised version of these consultations, which contain many good suggestions in favour of the regulations and many concerns in the contrary. It is a mockery that no one can see the content, however. I do not seek the names of individuals or the geographical spread.

I once again call on the Minster to release those submissions. He is no stranger to this appeal because I have been engaging with him in this regard. He is fully aware of it. I can confirm that last week, as I was getting no progress, I submitted a number of freedom of information, FOI, requests. The Department has confirmed it has received all of those requests. This will come about through that process. It is for the Minister to decide. Maybe he will do so tomorrow when the regulations are dealt with. However, when Senators are in this Chamber discussing these regulations tomorrow, they will have no sight of any constituent who made a submission. That is my first item.

Second, I thank the Minister for education, Deputy Naughton, for organising a formal briefing today on the planning and building unit and its overview for 2026-27. It is an important opportunity for Oireachtas Members to attend today, given that issues around school building programmes are a regular occurrence.

I also commend the IFA, which is carrying out an engagement process for Oireachtas Members in relation to budget 2027 in the Mansion House this afternoon. That is an important process. I said to IFA representatives last night that I would flag it here. Everyone will have received a copy of its submission. Hopefully, many of us will meet each other in the Mansion House this afternoon where we will be discussing the IFA’s critical suggestions and proposals – that is all they are – for agriculture in the context of budget 2027.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my Commencement matter this morning. It called for the Government to respond to the final report from the local democracy task force. I submitted that Commencement matter as our party’s spokesperson for local government. It is an issue that I have raised a number of times in the course of the past year. I commended the Government on establishing the local democracy task force and making its work plan time-bound. I commended the councillors, the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA, under the chairmanship of Jim Breslin, on the fine work they did. Indeed, this work builds on the work of the Cathaoirleach and the consultations on local government in the previous Seanad.

Everyone in this House values local government. We all understand the value of our local democracy and the incredible role our elected representatives undertake to represent and champion their communities and ensure they are properly served.The Minister came into the House and gave a response which, unfortunately, there was not a hard copy of to share with Senators. We are assured we will get a copy but I do not understand what the issue was in the Minister's Department that no hard copy was readily available. What was more disappointing was that the response was essentially a description of what has gone on over the last year or so. Any of us worth our salt know what has been going on. We know the amount of engagement and we know the level of commitment and interest in that local democracy task force.

It was hugely disappointing. The response did not answer the question. It did not tell us how the Government is going to respond and it did not give any clarity on if and when there will be a review of the local electoral boundaries. These are not just important to the officials who will administer those local elections and to the councils, councillors and candidates who will contest them, but are actually more important to the communities they will serve.

My request to the Acting Leader is very simple. In the first week we return, I would like the Leader to arrange at least a two-hour debate for this House with the relevant Minister on the Government's response to the local democracy task force. Our communities, councillors and local authorities all want to know how the Government is going to work with them to support them to strengthen our local government.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will talk about home care for the elderly. I want to raise a heartbreaking case that highlights the deepening crisis in our healthcare for the elderly. I raised this last week and before on numerous occasions but nothing has improved. We are failing our older people. Young people are working, taking care of their elderly parents and looking after their own families and they have very little support.

I was contacted by the daughter of an elderly couple in Donegal who have been completely failed by the system. Her mother is 81 years old, has dementia and urgently needs care. While waiting on treatment, her condition deteriorated dramatically. She suffered repeated falls, loss of mobility and now requires assistance in every aspect of daily living. Despite being approved for home care, the family was told there are simply not enough carers available to provide this woman the care she needs. Instead of receiving care at home her condition worsened to the point she had to be hospitalised in Letterkenny. Her 85-year-old husband, who has a serious heart problem and is waiting for a pacemaker and surgery, has effectively been her stand-alone carer. The HSE delivered a hospital bed, a hoist and equipment to the family home, but what use is equipment without trained carers to operate it?

This is not an isolated case. It happens to families right across Donegal and Ireland. Patients are being assessed, approved for home care hours and discharged from hospitals only to discover there are no staff available to deliver these hours. Families are left carrying an impossible burden. Many patients end up back in the hospital because the care they were promised never materialises. We need urgent investment in our home care services, recruitment and retention of carers and a guarantee that when carers are approved it actually is approved.

Older people deserve dignity and families deserve support. We cannot continue to approve carers on paper while leaving vulnerable people without the service they deeply need. I am asking for the Minister to come in here and let us have a debate on this. To be honest, there is more than one case. This is just one email I got from a lady this morning in Donegal. It is happening weekly that people are being approved home care hours, they are sent home and when they get home there is nobody there to look after them.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the guests of Deputy Brendan Smith from the Hen's Shed in Cavan. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Also from Cavan, I call now on Senator Tully.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A lot of us here are familiar with the cross-Border scheme or the Northern Ireland planned healthcare. It is an option for people who are on public waiting lists for health procedures to use a different jurisdiction to have that procedure carried out in a more timely fashion. I was recently contacted by the mother of a two-year-old boy who was in a lot of pain and required an operation. The waiting list here was years long so they opted to have the operation carried out in Belfast. She followed the HSE guidelines, got a referral from the GP, sought a consultant in Belfast and the operation was carried out. It was very successful but when she sought reimbursement from the HSE she was refused because the HSE said the first appointment with the consultant from Belfast was held in Monaghan. The consultant arranged that consultation in Monaghan; it was nothing to do with the family. He is based in Belfast and that is where he carried out the surgery. He has frequently carried out initial consultations with patients in Monaghan and there has never been an issue before.

She is really upset. She said she is delighted the operation has been carried out because her son was in so much pain and it was really successful, but she feels this needs to be highlighted because others could fall into this trap as well. She has appealed the decision and the HSE has refused to reimburse her. She may take it further to the ombudsman but it is for others as well. If the consultation was arranged by the consultant based in Belfast but he arranged it in Monaghan, probably to save them having to travel the whole way to Belfast, then it should not be taken out on the family that required the operation. I want this to be highlighted to the Minister for Health and the HSE because I do not think it is appropriate.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I too would like to raise the urgent case of the approximately 200 people in this country who are living with Friedreich's ataxia. It is a rare and progressive condition that gradually takes away a person's mobility and independence. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition but there is hope. The drug Skyclarys has already been approved in the United States back in 2023 and in Europe through the European Medicines Agency in 2024. It is not a miracle cure but it does slow the progression of this devastating disease and that means more time, a better quality of life and hope for the patients and their families.

Yesterday, a number of families affected travelled to Leinster House in the hope they would finally get some good news. The news they have been waiting for patiently is that this drug would finally be sanctioned. Unfortunately, they had to turn around and head home without getting that news. Ten other EU countries have already made this treatment available but Ireland continues to wait while this progressive condition for those who have it continues.

I call on the Minister and the HSE to bring this process finally to a conclusion without further delays. These patients deserve certainty and compassion but, most of all, they deserve access to a treatment that would make such a difference to their lives and the lives of their families. They have been waiting too long. It is time the decision was made. If it has been approved in the US and approved by the European Medicines Agency, I see no reason the HSE in this country would not approve it also.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Acting Leader to his new role and wish him well with that. I will refer to a report that appeared in our local paper this morning. Local councillor, Micheál Frain, from Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon, is calling for a 24-7 staffed Garda station in Ballaghaderreen due to an increased amount of antisocial behaviour, including reports of people with e-scooters on paths and loud music at night. There is no presence in the community on a regular basis when these situations present themselves.

It highlighted for me something we have been calling for in here. I and my three colleagues around me, who are all from rural areas, have repeatedly brought up the lack of a presence of our Garda force in large parts of rural Ireland. The model is not working. I have called for a new rural model to be introduced. I have called for debates in this House on this topic. There are protections there. There is legislation An Garda Síochána can use to deal with a lot of these situations but it is about the presence and the actual enforcement.It is hard to enforce something if you do not have the presence and the manpower on the ground to do the job.

It is not acceptable that we have to keep coming in here every two or three months to call for this debate. I hope we will have a debate on policing in rural Ireland as early in September as possible. In rural Ireland we are dealing with an older population, larger geographical areas and longer response times. These people are more vulnerable. I hope we can look forward to a debate in this House with the Minister for justice as early as possible in the new term.

Joe Conway (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the congratulatory remarks for Senator Byrne. I want to put on the record of the House the decorous and sincere apology given on behalf of the State by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, and attested to by the other party leaders, to the victims of the Kenneally abuse in Waterford. A chronicle of missed opportunities and neglect by the powers that be allowed the case to go unanswered for so long. It is particularly poignant for me because one of the abused men, Colin Power, was a fourth-class pupil of mine back in the day. It is heart-rending to remember a little child in all their innocence and to think they went through that awful abuse at the hands of the convicted paedophile. Well done to the State and the political leaders.

Yesterday, I had a meeting in Leinster House with a visually impaired artist and a namesake of mine, Emilie Conway from Mayo. She was the recipient of an Arts Council open competition bursary, which she was delighted to get. She thought it would make a big change to her life. It did, but it also had a downside. She found to her horror that receiving the bursary impacted negatively on her blind pension. It is counter-intuitive that that could be allowed to stand. I intend to write to the Minister for an explanation. If and when I get it, I will share it with the House. It is a situation that should not pertain.

Shane Curley (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Acting Leader in his role as Whip. I wish Galway the very best of luck in the All-Ireland hurling final. I know everyone in the room agrees it would be great to see Liam MacCarthy go west. Best of luck to Micheál Donoghue and the lads on Sunday. We will all be there shouting them on, if we can get a ticket.

I do not understand, in this day and age, how the Department of education sees it as inessential to have mandatory special educational needs training for all teachers as part of their practice. I cannot get my head around it. It came up in committee recently. I wrote to the Department and got a standardised response stating that every teacher who goes into mainstream and teaches children with special needs must have completed the professional master of education, PME. I understand that. There are modules in special educational needs in the PME, but there is no mandatory follow-up after that. As we all know, special educational needs involve ongoing upskilling and awareness and we are constantly figuring out more about them. We will never have enough knowledge and will be researching it for eternity. The Department's view, in my opinion, is, "Tick box - done; PME completed - you're qualified, you're perfect, off you go and teach". Teachers do not, on a mandatory basis, have to upskill after that. Consider the damage a teacher could do and the trigger that could be to a child. I want to be really clear that it is through no fault of the teacher's. It is purely because the Department does not provide training at times that are family friendly. In some cases, teachers have to travel many kilometres to the nearest training day. It does not make any sense.

I would welcome a debate in the House with the Minister on instructing Oide or some other body to carry out regular mandatory training in special educational needs for all teachers. We would do the children of Ireland a service if we did that.

Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I rise to address a concern that Councillor Michael Boyle raised yesterday in respect of Donegal. I compliment him on raising what will be a huge concern all over Ireland. It is that Irish Water has sent out notification that it intends to switch off water. I know it is putting in a hose-pipe ban and that is fair enough because people do not need to wash cars or water lawns at this time of year. However, it is talking about switching off water when we have livestock and farmers and we have temperatures in excess of what we are used to. Some of these are elderly farmers. Some farmers might not even have received the notice. To switch off water on a farm during weather like this is cruel. It is inhumane. Cattle will go crazy if they do not have water. They can live without grass for a certain amount of time but we cannot switch water off for animals in this sort of weather.

In this day and age, I cannot understand how Irish Water cannot provide a service. There are water-harvesting systems all over the world. Do we not have a back-up system for when we get 14 or 20 days of good weather? Every year this happens. We see a hose-pipe ban and water shortages. It is crazy, given the amount of rainfall we get over the year, to say that we have a water shortage in Ireland again and to send out letters to elderly people. I hope somebody from Irish Water will address this in the media in the short term, rather than frightening farmers once again with talk about switching off water for their livestock.

Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Today, 15 Senators contributed on the Order of Business and I thank each one of them for that. Senator O'Loughlin spoke about artists, creativity, the protections they need from AI and the damage AI can do when there is not copyright protection for artists' important work. She congratulated Des Egan, a Newbridge poet, on a milestone birthday. She also spoke of Áine Lawlor's retirement from RTÉ and wished her well. She called for a debate on antisocial behaviour on blueways and spoke of the impact an alleged assault has had on people in Ballyteague, County Kildare. I am happy to raise that with our Leader.

Senator Kenneally spoke of the impact on Killarney National Park of a wildfire in recent days and expressed his gratitude to the firefighters, the helicopter crews, the NPWS and all the first responders to the fire. I join him in thanking the first responders and recognising that, while we have had quite a lot of publicity about the heatwave and sunny weather, it is also having an impact on the ground and is making conditions more susceptible to wildfires. In Mount Leinster in my county of Wexford, I see the impact they have on the native landscape, flora, fauna and biodiversity, as Senator Kenneally said. He also spoke about the great success of the Horizon Festival in Ballybunion and the huge crowds in attendance. There is no doubt that they are very good at putting on festivals and entertainment in Kerry.

Senator McCarthy welcomed two guests to the Gallery, Emma and Adam, who he is hosting in Leinster House. He also welcomed the Belgian ambassador. He spoke about the real-life consequences of difficulties experienced by people up and down the country in accessing housing. At my clinics in Wexford, I hear the harrowing stories and see the enormous difficulties in the private rental market. The Government is bringing forward initiatives in relation to planning and speeding up delivery of infrastructure and supports around housing.That will certainly help. There will be more positive stories like Adam's story.

The Senator also spoke about Mr Price, having met key workers and staff there. Mr Price now has 75 stores. It uses a different type of hiring model, employing workers directly from community involvement schemes. I am very familiar with the community involvement scheme process, having been the chairperson of a scheme for many years in my home area. I recognise the important contribution that the scheme can make in taking people from long-term unemployment, giving them opportunities and allowing them to get the training, support and wraparound services they need to get back into the workforce.

Senator Andrews wished Argentina the very best of luck in tonight's World Cup match. I am sure there will be more than a few people cheering for Argentina tonight. He also spoke about South Bank in Ringsend, and the impact the enormous crowds of people attending concerts in the Aviva Stadium are having on local residents. He called on Dublin City Council to live up to the agreements that were previously in place to provide portaloos and support the local area. There is a real impact on people living beside the stadium due to the enormous crowds coming in. I feel there is also a responsibility on Dublin City Council to allow for that and to support local residents in the area. In fairness to Senator Andrews, he has spoken about this before in the House. I am happy to take it up with the Leader.

Senator Andrews also spoke about his meeting with Jodie, who has Friedreich's ataxia, and the challenges she has faced. He referred to the difficulties that are currently being experienced by patients who have this awful, cruel condition, in particular, the difficulty they are having in accessing the Skyclarys medicine. Having met some of the patients yesterday when they were in Leinster House, I recognise the enormous challenges in getting access to that medicine. I accept that a final decision was not made yesterday by the HSE as to whether it is going to make it available for public procurement. My understanding is that there are four more weeks until a final decision, so hopefully, that will come through. I am happy to raise it with the Leader.

Senator Costello also raised the issue of Friedreich's ataxia and the medicine Skyclarys. She highlighted that after two years of waiting, patients need to know the timeline in order to have certainty. She called for a debate on orphan drugs and the early access schemes. It is certainly something that I am happy to raise with the Leader.

Senator Ní Chuilinn spoke about the important work that is being done on providing designated funding for women in sport. She spoke about the important distinction that exists between celebrating women in sport and being outraged by what is wrong, as well as the importance of being solutions-focused and proactive. I know that we will shortly have an announcement by the Minister on the sports capital grants scheme. I recognise that in the last round of funding, there was a requirement for equal access for both men and women in any sports group that would receive funding. I believe that was an important step in the right direction.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the exempted development legislation that is currently before the Lower House. He called on the Minister to make available and release the 900 public consultation submissions that have been made on exempted development. I am happy to raise that with the Leader.

Senator Boyhan also raised the meeting that is taking place this afternoon with the Minister for education and the planning and building unit. I know, from my own engagements with schools, the very high level of demand currently in the system to secure extra classrooms and more space for schools. This is a welcome opportunity to make direct representations to the staff who work in the planning and building unit.

The Senator also spoke about the IFA's pre-budget submission, which I understand is taking place this afternoon. As somebody who comes from a rural county, I know first-hand the important work that the IFA does in representing not just farmers, but all of those who live in rural Ireland, and the important representational role it has as part of the budget process.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the local democracy task force. She called on the Government to respond to its recommendations, building on the Cathaoirleach's work in the previous Seanad. I was a local councillor for two terms, totalling five and a half years. I know how difficult and challenging the important first-responder role of a councillor on the ground is. I know how important it is that they have certainty facing into the 2029 local elections as to what changes are going to be made, not only to their role, but to boundaries and to the balance of power between the executive at the local authority level and the elected members. I am certainly happy to raise her request for a two-hour debate on local government with the Leader. This is very important. It should take place at the earliest opportunity when the House comes back.

Senator Boyle spoke about home care for the elderly. He gave an example of an 81-year-old mother who has currently lost mobility and is suffering repeated falls. She has been approved for home care but has not been able to secure somebody to do that important work. In the last budget, we saw a record level of investment in home care, but the reality is that the challenges that Senator Boyle spoke about are going to continue because we have an ageing population. The Government will have to invest significantly and ramp up the provision of home care hours by ensuring there is a steady supply of trained professionals who are available throughout the country. The Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, is doing important work in this area. I am confident there will be progress in this area coming up to the budget.

Senator Tully raised the cross-border healthcare directive. She spoke about a constituent who had an operation in Belfast under the provisions of the directive. However, because the consultation with the consultant took place initially in Monaghan, the HSE refused that application. I encourage Senator Tully to perhaps raise this as a Commencement matter. There is an appeal mechanism through the HSE and the ombudsman. Perhaps that is an avenue for her constituent to pursue. In general, there should be greater clarity on the provisions of the healthcare directive. I have seen first-hand some of the difficulties that individuals have had in accessing the cross-border healthcare directive, particularly when many of the conditions do not seem readily apparent when people first apply.

Senator Gallagher also raised the issue of Friedreich's ataxia and the Skyclarys medicine. He highlighted that this medicine was approved in the US in 2023 and by the European Medicines Agency in 2024. However, an individual decision for patients in Ireland has not yet been made. I am happy to raise that with the Leader. I hope the request for further information by the medicines board here will bring certainty and clarity to that situation in the next month.

Senator Scahill referred to Councillor Micheál Frain’s contribution in raising the need for a 24-7 staffed Garda station in Ballaghaderreen. He spoke in particular about the different challenges that exist for gardaí based in rural Ireland, and the increased distance that has to be travelled to respond to situations by members of An Garda Síochána in rural areas when compared to urban areas. As a result, there is a need for a new model of rural policing. We are having a debate tonight on a Private Members' motion on the challenges in rural Ireland, so that might be an opportunity to raise it directly with the Minister. I know how passionate Senator Scahill is about this issue. I will bring it up directly with the Leader as well.

Senator Joe Conway raised the awful abuse that was inflicted by the convicted paedophile, Bill Kenneally, in Waterford. The Senator spoke about the State apology that took place yesterday to the victims of that awful evil.Senator Conway spoke in particular about how it was not only put forward by the Government but also supported on a cross-party basis.

The Senator also raised the situation of the artist Emily Conway from County Mayo, who received an Arts Council bursary in recognition of her important contribution as an artist but which has created a scenario whereby her application for a blind pension has run into difficulty. I encourage him to put that down as a Commencement matter.

Senator Shane Curley spoke about the need for special education modules to be made mandatory for teachers, perhaps in a similar way that CPD exists for other professionals. He highlighted in particular the impact their comments and contributions can have on a pupil, particularly pupils who have special needs, although it might not be the fault of the teacher as they may be unaware. He called for a debate to take place with the Minister for education, and I am certainly happy to raise this with the Leader.

Senator Paraic Brady spoke about Councillor Michael Boyle in County Donegal, who spoke about the impact the hosepipe ban is having on rural farms and dwellers. The Senator particularly highlighted the fact that if we have 20 days of fine weather, there always seems to be, as sure as night follows day, a request by Irish Water to reduce the consumption of water. I am happy to raise that with the Leader.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, to the Gallery, along with the Belturbet hen’s shed from Cavan. We are delighted to have our County Cavan crew here today and that the Minister of State is able to meet and greet them during her busy schedule while they are in the Seanad. I thank them for being here today.