I rise today to address the growing concerns of home-based childcare providers, in light of new childminding regulations. Over recent months, many childminders have contacted me to express anxiety about the future of their work, work that is essential to families across the country. Let us be clear. Childminders are not opposed to regulations. They support safeguarding standards and accountability, but they are worried that the new system feels too close to a centre-based childcare model being applied to a family h…

I welcome the Minister of State. I speak in support of this motion which rightly acknowledges both the historical and contemporary realities of migration in Ireland. Migration is not a new phenomenon for us. For generations, Irish men and women have left these shores in search of opportunity, safety and dignity. They helped to build cities form Birmingham to New York to Brisbane and beyond and their legacy and culture lives on in the communities they shaped. It is this very history that must guide us on our approac…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Indeed, I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad this afternoon. Today I am speaking, once again, to highlight the urgent and worsening situation at Foildarrig Bridge in Duagh, which is situated in north Kerry. It is a critical piece of infrastructure that has been forced to close again this week following heavy rainfalls which caused movement in the remedial works that were granted by the Department of Transport, thankfully, over a year and a half ago. The engineers have assessed th…

I thank the Minister of State. While I acknowledge the Department's past engagement and the emergency funding that facilitated temporary repairs in 2024, I must reiterate that we are now beyond that point of patchwork solutions. As I said, the people of the Duagh and north Kerry deserve more than reactive measures. The bridge's repeated closures are not just an inconvenience, as I stated. They are a threat to the social and economic fabric of the region. Every time this route is severed, it isolates families, disru…

In the past few days, people in this country have had highs and lows. I speak with a heavy heart of the tragic loss in Dundalk, where five young lives were taken in a single, devastating incident. The families, friends and communities of Chloe, Alan, Dylan, Shay and Chloe are overwhelmed with grief and we mourn with them. These were young people full of promise and full of dreams. Their absence is deeply felt by every person in this country. I call on the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, and the Road Safety …

I welcome the Minister of State to the floor of the Seanad. Today, I wish to speak about and call for legislation on an issue that goes right to the heart of child protection in our schools, the recognition of our special needs assistants, SNAs, as mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015. Every day across Ireland, SNAs stand on the front line of care for our most vulnerable children, those with additional and complex needs. They are not occasional visitors in a classroom. They are a constant, trusted pre…

I thank the Minister of State and welcome the statement in response from the Minister that he read out. He said the protection of our children is ultimately the priority for everyone in the school network. We are not giving the authority to the SNAs. There is a process in the child protection procedures for schools. People go to the DLPs, the teachers and the SNAs, but it is a matter of responsibility that when the SNAs report issues like this they are recognised as mandated persons. They are not yet at this stage.…

It is with deep sorrow that I rise to pay tribute to the late Kerry Fine Gael councillor, Jim Finucane. He was a dedicated public servant whose passing is a profound loss to County Kerry and, indeed, to all of us who had the privilege of knowing him closely. Jim devoted over 30 years to political life as an elected representative, serving with distinction and unwavering commitment. A native of Tarbert in north Kerry, he carried the values of his community with him throughout his life. Later, he made his home in Tra…

I call for a debate on a matter that goes to the very heart of child protection in our schools: the recognition of special needs assistants, SNAs, as mandated persons under the Children First Act. There is mandatory reporting for certain professions, including doctors, nurses, social workers and teachers. Every day, SNAs across Ireland work on the front line of care. They are the constant support for our most vulnerable children, those with additional and complex needs. They see what teachers or principals may not …

I welcome the Minister to the Seanad. It is my first time speaking to him on a Commencement matter. I raise the issue of funding for local improvement schemes, LIS. The LIS, as it is commonly known in all local authorities, is essential for maintaining private roads that serve multiple homes, farms and rural businesses. These roads are often the only access routes for families and communities. Their upkeep is vital for everyone's safety, connectivity and rural development. Across the country, county councils are wo…

I thank the Minister. That is fantastic. His last few words were that it is under review and that local authorities should spend it efficiently. When we see 580 roads on the local improvement list in Kerry, it is very unfortunate and disappointing that some authorities are not even taking up their allocation. I propose that if moneys are not taken up this year as well, that funding should be extended to other counties like Kerry to catch up on the backlog. I would like the Minister to do his best to keep it under r…

I welcome the Minister to the floor of the Seanad. I welcome his statements. Indeed, the Fine Gael Party group in the Seanad welcomes the measures announced in budget 2026 that will, obviously, directly support learners across Ireland. I warmly welcome the permanent reduction in student fees and the expansion of SUSI grant limits. There are a lot of pluses in the Minister’s statement and I welcome every one of them, particularly the permanent reduction and SUSI limits. These are important steps that will reduce fin…

I welcome the Minister of State. I am raising a matter of utmost urgency and national importance, namely, the development of our clean energy infrastructure. As the Minister of State knows, our climate action plan commits us to deep cuts in carbon emissions and a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewables. On wind energy, the wind energy development guidelines first issued in 2006 and most recently reviewed in draft form in 2019 provide a clear framework for evaluating wind farm applications. They set out cri…

I welcome the Minister of State's use of the word "expedited". He will expedite the process of developing the guidelines and implementing them. What we do not want here is communities up in arms. When the turbine industry was really getting going and being built, communities were torn apart. There was no communication. There were barriers. There were no guidelines or policy. Now we are going much the same route for solar planning and we need matters expedited. Let us keep communities together and work with them. I …

I rise today to express serious concern regarding the effectiveness of the 2025 Department of justice public awareness campaign on the dangers of illegal fireworks, which was launched in September by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. While the campaign rightly highlights the severe penalties, with fines of up to €10,000 and prison terms of up to five years, it is clear that the message is not reaching all communities with the urgency and clarity required. In particular, I must draw attention to ongoing incidents in…

I welcome the Minister to the Seanad. I welcome budget 2026. I want to begin by welcoming the decision of the Government in 2026 to reduce the VAT rate for the hospitality services to 9%. It is it is a positive move and one that will offer some breathing room to many businesses across the tourism sector. It was not an easy decision, and I appreciate the efforts of the Minister and his Department to support this vital industry. As a proud Kerryman, Kerry is home to football but also tourism. Tourism is more than jus…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this. The Commencement matter is on the future of the Kostal plant, as Senator Collins has alluded to. I stand with a very real sense of concern but also of hope that, through meaningful engagement and strategic investment, we can safeguard a future and jobs in the communities of west Limerick and north Kerry. The situation at Kostal Ireland's Abbeyfeale plant is deeply troubling. For over four decades, this facility has provided stable employment and economic support to the…

As the Minister of State said, I can confirm the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has not received a collective redundancy notification. This is warming to hear this morning. Through the Departments, can we as a Government intervene before we get this dreaded letter from Kostal informing us that this is happening? With contract law and all that, is it possible to intervene beforehand? I do not know. However, rather than waiting for it, let us knock on the door of Kostal to see what the Government ca…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. This is an issue I raised last week. This is a worrying and serious matter that has come into the public domain following a court case in Killarney, County Kerry. Voter impersonation at a Kenmare polling station at the local and European elections in June 2024 was caught on CCTV. A Cahersiveen man pleaded guilty but avoided a conviction for electoral fraud after he used a polling card not in his name that went missing from a vehicle. It was even more extraordin…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I accept it in general terms of policy and decision-making. Electoral fraud is not a victimless crime and it is totally wrong. This guy was not even asked for identification. To say we are running proper registration on voting day is wrong. We do not know how many of these cases exist. I ask the Minister of State and the Minister for local government to review what we have in store. Otherwise, we are preventing the next crop of young people who want to represent their…