I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him the best of luck in the years ahead. I look forward to working with him on a number of issues, whether crime, justice or policing. Templemore Garda College was established in 1964 in my constituency by a Fianna Fáil Government. It has a proud history as an institution of this State in training our bravest and brightest to fight on the front lines. It is not only a source of national pride but also one of local pride in north Tipperary. The Garda College is…

Three years ago, Ukrainians awoke to a living nightmare. Russian forces had launched a full-scale invasion with the intention of destroying Ukraine's democracy and snuffing out its existence as a sovereign independent state. Russian tanks rolled across the border, Russian troops rushed to seize key objectives and Russian missiles pounded Ukrainian cities. This was not simply a land grab or an attempt to influence an election; this was Russia attempting to fully subjugate and occupy its neighbour. The goal was simpl…

I congratulate the Minister and Minister of State on their appointments. It is my first time speaking in the Chamber with them and I wish them every success. I would like to start by strongly supporting Deputy Cathal Crowe and his statements regarding accident and emergency care in the mid-west region. It is simply not working. We are completely and utterly underserviced by emergency care in the mid-west region. I welcome the review that has been commissioned by HIQA. It is needed. The answer is obvious. I asked th…

My question also relates to the nitrates derogation and it being essential that we maintain the level of 220 kg N/ha. When agriculture does well in rural Ireland, the rural economy does well. Our young farmers in particular need certainty about the future of the industry, particularly in respect of investment, generational renewal and them being able to see a real income from agriculture going forward. Maintaining the 220 kg N/ha derogation is essential to that. Therefore, my question is simple. Will the Taoiseach …

The mid west is serviced by one accident and emergency department in University Hospital Limerick, UHL. It is my view that a second accident and emergency department is needed in the mid-west region. HIQA is currently undertaking a review into the assessment of needs for a second accident and emergency department in the mid west. North Tipperary has the capacity and the population to be served by an accident and emergency department in Nenagh. When do we expect the interim report from HIQA on the assessment of need…

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I congratulate Deputy Butler on her reappointment as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and her new position as Government Chief Whip. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important subject in this Chamber. It is personally very important to me. I also acknowledge the Government's work in placing this on the schedule so early in this new Dáil term and giving us the chance to speak on mental health. In this country we need an open and honest discussion on mental health, and it is a ve…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on road safety matters. Every one of us has a responsibility for safety on the roads, including our road users and pedestrians, and us, as policymakers. There is an onus on us to enact the right policies. In 2024, there were 175 road deaths in the country. The European Transport Safety Council published findings in June 2024 that found that 20 of 32 countries reduced the numbers of deaths on their roads in 2023 but in Ireland, our rate of road deaths rose by 32%. I was on local ra…

I raise the need in our society for greater supports for both men's and women's sheds. They are incredibly important organisations in all of our communities. They provide a social outlet for people from all walks of life, particularly people living alone or at risk of social isolation or mental health difficulties. Nenagh men's shed in my hometown has announced it might have to cease operations due to overheads including rent, insurance and electricity. It has approached Irish Rail, the HSE and the Department of De…

Housing is the single greatest issue facing my generation. I acknowledge that the delivery of housing units, particularly at scale, is the number one priority for this Government and rightly so. However, one of the biggest barriers to housing and the building of houses in north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny is a lack of capacity in the water and wastewater infrastructure. In Cloughjordan, my own village, we cannot build a single house because there has been no capacity in the system for years. In Ballycommon, o…

It is an honour of a lifetime to stand in this historic Chamber to make my maiden speech to a quiet Dáil. I thank the people of north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny for placing their trust in me and for giving me the privilege of being our collective voice in Dáil Éireann. As one of the youngest Members of this House, I made a promise to be a new, fresh and energetic voice for the people of north Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny. I intend to work every day to deliver for my area and the Irish people on key issu…