I acknowledge the visitors to the House, and also the previous visitors, the ambassadors of Ukraine and Estonia. It is a day of celebration for the people of Estonia, their national day, but it is not the same for Ukraine for obvious reasons. The people of Ukraine have had to endure so much hardship since the illegal invasion by Russia four years ago today. On behalf of the Fine Gael side of the House, I send solidarity to all Ukrainian people who have lost their lives, lost loved ones and lost a future in their ho…

I wish to raise the issue of CCTV in towns and communities right across the country. I have been working with community groups and different organisations that are leading on improved safety in their neighbourhoods, on their streets and in their towns and villages. There has been a scheme for CCTV in towns but complexities to do with GDPR and the funding mechanism for CCTV means it is impossible to get the funding. I am asking that we have a dedicated CCTV scheme for towns and villages that can be funded through co…

I raise an issue relating to housing. We see across the country the housing crisis that faces the State for so many different reasons. There are many potential ways to help to unlock housing supply. Many people, in particular young couples, are priced out of the market and fall between the cracks, in that they are not able to afford to build or buy their own home and are also not eligible, because of income limits, for social housing supports. In my case, in County Mayo, the towns of Westport, Castlebar and Ballina…

This afternoon, I would like to raise the topic of road safety especially for the most vulnerable road users and the most vulnerable people in our society, namely, children. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport recently highlighted the Love 30 campaign, which proposes reducing speed limits to 30 km/h in certain neighbourhoods. The safe routes to school is a very positive model that has seen very beneficial interventions outside and close to schools to connect children, students and teachers from their reside…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to Seanad Éireann. I thank him, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Department for bringing forward this important Bill. I am a member of the joint committee on the environment, where these matters have been discussed at length. Many of the points that have been raised by the Minister of State and in contributions by fellow Senators will be addressed by the Bill if it passes. It is a practical step to modernise and streamline licensing processes without weakening en…

Next Tuesday.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: notes that: - there had been a downward trend in fatalities on Irish roads since the introduction of the first Road Safety Strategy in 1997; - 2021 saw the lowest numbers killed on our roads since records began in 1959; - three of the last four years have seen an annual increase in road-related fatalities and serious injuries; - according to Road Safety Authority statistics, there were 185 fatalities in 2025 of which 76 were drivers (41 per cent), 41 were pedestrians (22 per cent), 30 w…

The Minister of State is welcome to the House this evening. On a day when there has been significant investment in road infrastructure right across the country, it is very welcome that a large element of it is low-cost safety measures that can make all of our towns, villages and communities safer. The motivation behind this Private Members' motion on behalf of Fine Gael Senators is the crisis we see on Irish roads at the moment. As the Minister of State will be aware, there were 185 fatalities in 2025, 76 being dri…

I thank the Ministers of State, Deputy Buttimer and Deputy Canney, for being here for such an important topic. I thank my Fine Gael colleagues and colleagues across all parties for supporting this motion. As has been outlined, we have a crisis in road safety. We have heard some brilliant and heartfelt contributions of ideas to help make our roadways, footpaths and cycle lanes safer for all road users. Today's announcement of funding and investment will go some way towards low-cost safety measures in communities whi…

I welcome the Lithuanian ambassador to the Chamber on his country's national day of celebration. It is good to see him. I wish to highlight the local community safety partnerships, LCSPs, that are being established. I am a former member of the joint policing committee of Mayo County Council, which was always an excellent forum for airing views in a constructive way on behalf of one's community. It gave a voice to communities on antisocial behaviour and various issues that fall under the remit of An Garda Síochána. …

I raise an issue that has been highlighted to me by many people in my home county of Mayo. It relates to funeral expenses and recent developments regarding columbarium walls in cemeteries and church grounds. During a recent discussion on "The Tommy Marren Show" on Midwest Radio, Eddie Clarke of the Ballindine cemetery committee spoke about how it was a more effective and affordable option for community groups and organisations. There is an increased demand for it. I wished to highlight the issue here in the House. …

I lend my support to a fellow Mayo native, Ms Margaret Loftus, who has shared her horrific story as a domestic abuse survivor. I highlight that Oireachtas Members will have an opportunity tomorrow in the audiovisual room to hear her story first hand, to hear about the harrowing experience she had and to see the bravery she now has in sharing her story so that other women do not experience what she has had to go through over the past number of years. I acknowledge Senator Tully and Deputy Conway-Walsh, who are hosti…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, to Seanad Éireann this morning. The issue I wish to raise is in relation to the Decision Support Service, DSS, and the registration system for enduring power of attorney, EPA. It is quite a technical matter. It stems from a meeting I had with a constituent during a clinic late last year in my office in Ballina. The Minister of State will know that an EPA is a legal arrangement that can be set up by a person to allow someone they know and trust to look after their pr…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. The main point of me raising this issue is that it becomes as stress-free and easy to use as possible. I welcome the proposed measures in relation to additional supports later this year with the launch of the website and the one-stop-shop support. I would like to see as much public consultation and engagement as possible. The gentleman who put it on my radar has a lot to offer with his contribution and experience. He wants to share that experience so that n…

I thank the Minister of State for being here for this Private Members' motion. In particular, I thank Senator Conway for leading on it. I welcome all the guests in the Gallery who are here to listen to the debate. I raised this issue on the floor of the Seanad last year. Unbeknown to me, a day previous, Senator Conway had a Commencement matter on it. I raised it having been contacted by the Bonniconlon Irish Countrywomen's Association, ICA, group in my home county of Mayo whose members are very passionate about see…

I thank the Minister of State for being here for this worthwhile debate. He has inherited a lot of challenges during a difficult time for the inland, onshore and offshore sectors. He faces no shortage of challenges. As previous speakers stated, we all acknowledge his engagement to date with all fishery and advocacy groups for the sector as a whole because so many challenges need to be dealt with. On a continental level we need more support from friends and colleagues across Europe because the whole idea of the Euro…

Today I want to highlight the desperate need for improved ambulance services and resources in County Mayo and, in particular, the Erris region. It is something I highlighted about this time last year. At the time there were some notable improvements after it was highlighted but sadly over recent months there have been numerous instances that have been well highlighted nationally in relation to tragedies that have occurred in Belmullet and the Erris region. Sadly, lives were lost, and no ambulance was able to meet a…

I call for immediate interventions. I welcome the fact that another ambulance is going to be allocated for Castlebar. We need that to be expedited and delivered for the people of Erris immediately. I acknowledge all those who have advocated for it. We need to do more to ensure a region like Erris, which is sparsely populated and rural, does not feel detached and undersupported in terms of these critical health services. I ask that those services be expedited and delivered for the people of the region.

I first offer my vote of sympathy to the family of Grace Lynch on her tragic passing and to all my Fianna Fáil colleagues on the passing of former Senator and MEP Brian Crowley. I offer my condolences. Last week, after a positive week of housing developments in my home town, Ballina, from a both affordable and social housing point of view, I was travelling down the road from Leinster House and my phone began to receive many calls from residents in the Parkside area. It was about an incident I will highlight here th…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. What I am stating here is all on the public record. I am conscious of this and I will not be naming names. I want to highlight the thinking behind this, for Mayo's sake and for the sake of every county and community. The individual had caused eight separate incidents in prison and was deemed to be a risk to the public. He had thrown boiling water over a prison warden's face. For whatever reason, it was decided he would be relocated to Ballina although he had no connection to the area. Thi…