I join other Senators in offering my sincere condolences on the sad passing of Leinster House usher, Seamus Carroll. I offer condolences to his wider group of family, friends and all of the ushers in the House. I know they are a family among themselves, and it is a huge loss to lose one of their own while still working here. I raise the call for specific funding for swimming pools. All across our country, particularly in my home county of Mayo, swimming pools have closed for various reasons. They offer a huge publi…

It is great to see Paraic in the chair as Acting Leader today. I wish him well. I would like to advocate on behalf of An Post postal workers who have given a lifetime of service to the organisation, who have been at the coalface of community and rural life down through the years and who have been a touchpoint for people in areas of rural isolation and being that link for people who needed it most in good times and in bad. As many would know, the merger took place in 1984 between the Department of Posts and Telegrap…

I thank the Minister of State for being here and for his work to date on road safety. It is such an important topic and is something that we have worked together on at different stages, including in my role on the Oireachtas Jooint Committee on Transport and in his ministerial brief. In recent years, we have seen new challenges that have threatened road safety, including pedestrian safety and cyclist safety. That comes in the form of scramblers and e-scooters, which have proliferated through towns, villages, cities…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following scheme in draft: Defective Concrete Blocks Social Homes Scheme 2026, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 7th August, 2026.

I thank the Minister of State for being here this afternoon. I welcome his uncle Martin and his father, Christy, who are here as well. I also acknowledge Deputy Charles Ward, who has done a lot of work, as has been mentioned, in this space. Being from County Mayo, I know first-hand the scourge that has been the defective concrete blocks issue. We call it pyrite in our area and it is mica in Donegal, and other areas are affected by it. Senator Boyhan very well encapsulated the messaging on it. It is someone's home. …

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Calleary. He will speak first and he has eight minutes. The debate will conclude no later than 5.30 p.m.

Before I begin, I also welcome Adam Coyle to the House. As a Mayo Senator, it is always great to welcome visitors with connections to the county. Those connections have grown over the past few months since the all-Ireland win. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the return and readmission of persons who do not, or no longer, fulf…

I will begin with the Garvaghy Road, as it is something that has been raised by many, including Senators Conway, Murphy, Cosgrove, Blaney and Sarah O'Reilly. As the Cathaoirleach rightly mentioned, it is something that we did not see coming down the tracks. It took us all by surprise, first, in terms of the decision that was made by the Parades Commission. No one in this House wants to go back to the scenes of the past. As we know, peace is something that needs to be protected and worked upon every day. We have mad…

I move: That Seanad Éireann: agrees that: - energy and fuel are essential to everyday life, with households, families, workers, farmers and businesses depending on affordable and reliable access to electricity, heating and transport; - the cost of energy continues to have a significant impact on household budgets, the cost of living, business competitiveness and the cost of providing goods and services across the State; - high fuel and energy costs can have a disproportionate impact on older people, people with dis…

I am sharing time with Senator Cathal Byrne. I thank the Minister of State for being here this afternoon for this very important Private Members' motion that we are bringing forward on behalf of Fine Gael Senators. From the outset, we must all appreciate and acknowledge that this is an external crisis in terms of the incredible pressures that increases in fuel and energy costs have caused to every household right across the country and across the Continent, because of factors outside of our control. People are feel…

I thank the Minister of State for being here for this important Private Members' motion. I thank everyone in the House, including Fine Gael colleagues and members of all parties and none, who made substantial contributions to the debate. As the Minister of State and many Senators outlined, people are facing huge pressures and it is important that those most affected by the energy crisis are supported. Everyone who has been exposed to it, whether that is those in business, those living alone, those in fuel poverty o…

I welcome the Minister of State to Seanad Éireann. I thank him for being here for this important Commencement matter. I seek an update on the delivery of phase 1 of the western rail corridor from Claremorris to Athenry. As we both know, this has the potential to reignite connectivity across the western seaboard in a low-carbon fashion, connecting students with universities and colleges in both counties and connecting people with work, tourism, medical appointments and otherwise. It is a track that has lain idle for…

I thank the Minister of State for the update. Is he able to provide additional clarification on some of the technical design or is it too premature to talk about that? I have raised things previously about the three different rail crossings at Ballindine, for example. A point that I have made previously, and I want to reiterate here, is that investment in public transport in one mode should not negatively impact road users. Underpasses or overpasses or realignment in certain areas to make sure that we are not negat…

The year 1 projection was 132,000 and now there are 750,000 passengers on it. The figures are phenomenal. We need to measure success on this next stage and use those numbers to compare and justify any future investment in rail reopening. I have had many people contact me in Charlestown, Kiltimagh and Swinford. They are enthusiastic for the reigniting of the railways in their towns in east Mayo. I would love to see that too. The first phase can help to inspire that if it can be done on time, expedited within budget …

Tomorrow in Ballina will be a very momentous occasion. The official opening of the sensory park in Ballina by the Minister, Dara Calleary, will be the culmination of many years of hard work. This project has been community led and grassroots led from day one. It began during Covid times, when many parents locally and activists within the community felt passionate about responding to the need for sensory spaces and making our town more inclusive and friendlier for young and old who have sensory needs. Following a nu…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for being here for this important topic. I thank Senators Ní Chuilinn and Harmon for leading this Private Members' motion. The more inclusive we make sport, the better it is for society, for community, for mental health, and for each and every one of us. From my point of view and my experience as a public representative, I have seen the power of sport and how it can bring people together and unite communities, families and people from different backgrounds,…

I would like to advocate for the introduction of further supports for third-level students, in particular for those who are commuting long distances to their local college or university. I am a former students' union president myself. I have seen first hand trying to help students in very difficult financial situations. It puts a huge pressure on all the family when someone goes to college. It is obviously a great moment of pride and experience in their life but it puts a lot of challenges and pressures on the whol…

I offer my sincere condolences to the Bonner family on the sad passing of former Senator Enda Bonner and, of course, to our good friend and colleague, Senator Craughwell, on the sad passing of his dear wife over the summer. My thoughts and sympathies will be with Senator Craughwell in the difficult weeks and months ahead. I thank him for sharing his difficult story with us today. Tomorrow will mark 75 years since the beginning of one of the longest droughts in sporting history. That was when Mayo beat Meath in the …

We discussed it before the recess and there was an air of arrogance that has since been put to bed.

Mayo played and lost 11 finals. There was a lot of heartbreak and many near misses. There were a lot of great memories along the way. A lot of loved ones have since passed. For Mayo to be finally crowned all-Ireland champions has given the whole county and country, and our diaspora around the world, a brilliant lift, even among Kerry folk. I acknowledge and thank the Mayo players, team and staff, and the volunteers across the clubs of the county, who have given so much joy and happiness to young and old alike. They…