Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

I want to make a number of points. I spoke on the recent statements on the budget in the broader context of budget 2026. I want to make a number of points about the Finance Bill, which is substantial legislation, running to 152 pages. I want to raise a number of issues. On the agricultural front, I recognise the extension of some of the young trained farmer reliefs. It is important that we promote the next generation of farmers. Without farmers, there is no food and it is important that we put in a taxation system …

I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for taking this matter. Each week, I am contacted by the parent of a child awaiting a dental procedure or appointment. We know that, nationwide, waiting lists are starting to extend. Approximately 2,000 children have been waiting over four years for orthodontic treatment. I recognise that we now have an additional third level training facility in the new RCSI facility in Sandyford, which, when fully up and running, will produce an extra 75 graduate dentists in addition …

I thank the Minister of State for her response. It is important to recognise this is about ensuring people across the country have access to the best possible dental care. As I highlighted earlier, I have concerns we are not training sufficient numbers of dentists and we are not taking on, through the HSE, sufficient numbers of dentists. We have to look at all possible options for children in particular, 2,000 of whom are waiting over four years for dental care. We need to take an all-encompassing approach that pri…

I am proud to be from County Wexford. We have 260 km of golden coasts but, unfortunately, in an era of climate change that is bringing difficulties for residents living along the coast. Some 211 km of that 260 km are at risk of coastal erosion. Last Friday with local councillor Frank Staples, I visited Ballyhealy, an area now suffering from at least 1 m per year disappearing into the sea. In recent storms that has been exacerbated and up to 5 m of Wexford coastline has disappeared into the sea. Within 200 m of our …

I have listened carefully to the debate. It is important and right that these issues are debated in this Chamber. I regret that so few of our colleagues have made their way to the Chamber to discuss this. Immigration is one of the biggest issues affecting the country at present after housing.

It is so important that voices from all sides are heard. Regrettably, here we are today with scarce attendance. On this issue, Ireland has to have a tough immigration system that recognises that there are vulnerable people who are coming from the most difficult circumstances who are justifiably recognised as having a successful asylum claim. It also must recognise the fact that there are people coming to the country under false pretences, perhaps with no documents, whose stories do not match what they are saying an…

I support the motion put forward by my colleagues this evening. I recognise the contribution of the proposer of the motion, Senator Manus Boyle, who is the Fine Gael spokesperson on fisheries, in this area and the work that has been done my colleague, Senator Noel O'Donovan. Wexford is a very proud fishing county with a strong tradition of fishing, particularly in south Wexford, where we have the iconic Kilmore Quay, an area I recently had the opportunity to visit when I attended a mass commemorating those from Cou…

I want to raise the issue of derelict properties that are owned by the HSE and have been allowed to sit vacant and idle for years. There are two examples in my county, Wexford. First, we have St. John's Community Hospital in Enniscorthy. The original hospital building was built in the 1840s to be a union workhouse that accommodated approximately 600 people. The hospital has been built up around the original hospital and the original building has fallen into disrepair, disuse and dereliction. We urgently need clarif…

The Minister is most welcome to the Chamber this evening. I am substituting for my colleague Senator Garrett Kelleher who is the Fine Gael justice spokesperson. I was preparing for this earlier this evening, reflecting on the evolution that we have seen over the past number of years and in the more than a century of Irish independence. In doing so, I came across a piece on the courts website that I felt was apt. It is a quote from then President of the Executive Council, W.T. Cosgrave, on establishing the 1923 Judi…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in to address this absolutely crucial piece of strategic infrastructure for County Wexford, one of the single biggest projects that the county needs in order to capitalise on its potential. I am aware that the Minister of State will be visiting south Wexford tomorrow. I look forward to welcoming him to Lady's Island. He will travel the same road on which I am looking to get an update on today. I refer to the need for the Oylegate to Rosslare motorway to be delivered and deve…

I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to this important infrastructure for County Wexford. Given the Government will shortly announce a series of measures on how the delivery of strategic infrastructure projects might be accelerated, can consideration be given to including the Oylegate to Rosslare Harbour motorway when those proposals are published? It is important infrastructure for County Wexford and I cannot stress enough the impact the success of Rosslare Europort is having on local communities there. A …

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I will be supporting this measure. I am acutely aware of the many trainers and breeders we have for horses and greyhounds in County Wexford. In my home town of Enniscorthy we have the Enniscorthy greyhound track, a privately operated track funded locally. It is run by a voluntary board of directors made up of local individuals. We have Wexford Racecourse, the home of many enjoyable afternoons of racing. There is also a dynamic that has not been raised in the Chamber yet, which…

The Minister of State is most welcome to the Chamber this evening. I am more than happy to second this motion on behalf of my Fine Gael colleagues. It is very important that we have this conversation in this Chamber. Too often when the issues of migration, immigration and deportations are discussed, it is shot down by both sides. Extremists on both sides seem to quash any reasonable, logical and fact-based debate. It is important that in this Chamber, representative of the people, we have these types of debates. I …

I want to highlight the need for urban regeneration funding for Enniscorthy town. Wexford town, which is located in the constituency in which I live, was delighted to receive €18.4 million in March 2021. With the programme for Government containing a commitment to a similar fund under a town and city regeneration process that is to be put in place during the Government's first year in office, I call for regeneration funding to be allocated in respect of my town of Enniscorthy as a matter of urgency. Wexford County …

I thank the Minister for being here with us this evening. I also briefly want to speak on this section 34A and I have several questions which I would be interested in hearing the Minister's contribution on. Similar to some of the earlier points raised on section 34A, at the very beginning it says this protection is against strategic lawsuits against public participation, which we all understand and which is important is incorporated into our laws here in Ireland and that there is clarity brought to the situation wh…

In anticipation of the orange weather warning that is affecting some of the counties on the east coast and particularly in the south east in my own area of Wexford, I again highlight the urgent need for the Enniscorthy flood defence project to be progressed. As a local councillor back on Christmas Day 2021 I will never forget meeting residents in the town who had to stop the cooking of the turkey in the over because the water had burst through their front door and into their kitchens. It was a scene that should nev…

The Minister is most welcome to the Chamber. As the Fine Gael spokesperson on infrastructure in this Chamber, I welcome this Bill. I acknowledge the investment of €1.5 billion into the ESB. I thank, most sincerely, the men and women across the ESB for the fantastic work that they do in ensuring power supply to each one of us across the country. I recognise the increase in the borrowing limit up to €17 billion. There are two points I want to highlight relating to my own area in Wexford. The first one is the average …

There are a number of points that I want to highlight to the Minister of State. This is a worthwhile and important debate to have in this House. While mental health is not only an issue that affects rural people and farmers, owing to the nature of their work they spend more time on their own than most other people would. It is important that point is recognised. In my home county of Wexford, there is a fantastic green ribbon committee, which was set up and is organised every year by a man by the name of Patrick Hip…

I will speak on the need for a dedicated 24-7 mental health facility for the people of Wexford in County Wexford. At the moment, people experiencing a mental health crisis have to make the journey to the facilities in Waterford. There has long been a campaign for a facility dedicated exclusively to Wexford. We have one of the fastest growing populations of any county, with close to 175,000 people living in County Wexford. I support the campaign for a small, dedicated 24-7 mental health bed facility in Wexford. Ther…