This week, I attended the Irish Cancer Society pre-budget launch. As always, I had the privilege of speaking to cancer survivors and listening to their lived experiences. One issue that was raised with me, not for the first time, was the lack of adequate supports for women who have had breast cancer and are now facing menopause. For many of these women, menopause is not just a natural transition; it is a really difficult side effect of a life-saving treatment. Hormone replacement therapy, HRT, is often not an optio…

Today marks 15 days since families with children affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy and I held a demonstration and information briefing in the audiovisual meeting room. We were supported by all parties and none. Fifteen days may not seem like much time to you and me, but to people whose children have DMD, that time flies by, and every day their children’s strength and abilities are failing. To refresh memories, it is a progressive neuromuscular disease that causes the weakening of muscles over time. It almost …

A recent "RTÉ Investigates" documentary exposed substandard care in nursing homes operated by Ireland's largest private provider. What we saw was a litany of repeated failings, chronic staff shortages and residents left unsupervised, denied basic care and, in some cases, subjected to outright neglect. The most disturbing part was the complete lack of dignity shown to vulnerable people in their final years. Deciding to move a loved one into a nursing home is never easy. For most families, it is a last resort and som…

From the outset, I wish to be clear that I fully support and commend all Government schemes and funding streams aimed at anti-littering efforts and environmental awareness. These initiatives have a huge impact in local communities. I have seen this first hand in Tallaght where there has been an impressive growth in Tidy Towns groups and community clean-up initiatives, supported by South Dublin County Council. Currently, applications are open for the 2025 anti-litter anti-graffiti awareness grant, which is a good su…

I thank the Minister of State. If it is receiving funding, its methodology needs to be reviewed and scrutinised. This is the comprehensive litter management plan South Dublin County Council has implemented. I really have no concerns about the standard of work from South Dublin County Council with regard to litter management. I am very proud of the volunteering that is done by our community. What I am concerned about is the misrepresentation of my community. When I asked a colleague on my way down whether he thought…

I will speak about the Bohernabreena Classic Car Show, which took place in Bohernabreena on Sunday. In only its second year, this event was co-ordinated as though it had the assistance and expertise of an event management company, but that was not the case. It was down to the time and dedication of the committee of local volunteers, including Paul Barnes, Jeff Bibby, Myles Murphy, Brian Tyrell, John Anderson, Declan Webb, Fergus Walsh, Ryan Barnes, Joe McManus and Mick Brett, and the wider community of Bohernabreen…

I am happy to support this extremely important motion calling on the Government to take strong, proactive steps to reform and modernise dental services in Ireland. I lend my support to the call for the Dentists Act 1985 to be updated. The legislation is now four decades old and no longer reflects the realities of a modern dental profession. We need a framework that supports high standards of care, ensures accountability and gives regulators the tools they need to protect patients and support practitioners. Updating…

Will the Acting Leader move the suspension of proceedings until after the vote in the Dáil?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I am raising this issue today for the first time in this House but it is not my first time to raise it as a public representative. During my time on South Dublin County Council, I highlighted my concerns in regard to this issue. I was prompted to raise the issue as I was contacted many times by people who were deeply torn when they received an offer of housing as it was under the condition that they could not bring their pet. One of my last motions as a councillor proposed that South Dublin County Council engage wi…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I understand the Minister's position on this. I am coming at it from the point of view whereby I have had people bringing the cutest little dogs into my clinic while crying at the thought of having to decide whether they should give up this little dog that has provided them with love and kindness for seven or eight years or take a roof over their head. What really sickened me in the response I got was that it was a management company calling the shots. If it was comin…

I wish to talk about alternative pathways to achieving your dream career and to highlight a remarkable young man whose story proves that success is not defined by a single exam or one rigid path. Liam Nugent, a young man from Tallaght, has recently appeared on RTÉ and Virgin Media to share his journey. He is an inspiring example of what determination and belief in oneself can achieve. While Liam was in school, he experienced significant challenges, leading to a low attendance rate. Though he studied and learned at …

I welcome the Minister to the Seanad once again today. I appreciate her time and focus on this matter. I also welcome the four brave ladies who have already been introduced. I acknowledge their journey. They have had a huge input into what I will say here today. I could spend hours talking about breast cancer, as I have lived through it myself. I run one of Ireland's largest online support communities for people affected by breast cancer. Every day, I hear the challenges and fears people face, from the moment they …

A clear commitment is made in the programme for Government, on page 90, to be specific, to ensure patients in Ireland have access to innovative medicines and treatments as swiftly and effectively as possible. Several steps were promised. We pledged to increased clinical trials and to better support clinicians, researchers and healthcare staff in these efforts. We committed to reviewing the drugs reimbursement process and implementing the Mazars review recommendations so that the entire approval pipeline would be pr…

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I welcome the recruitment of 34 new staff because time is of the essence when it comes to getting the necessary medication to people. As I said, time is something patients with certain rare illnesses do not have. I fully welcome the 34 new staff and I will be keeping a close eye on the progression and real life impact the additional staff will have in terms of a reduction in timelines.

I had a really positive experience at the weekend attending two Street Feasts in Tallaght. On Saturday, the community of Bancroft came together for what I think was its fourth annual Street Feast. I have watched this event grow year after year from a small gathering four years ago into something we jokingly compared to Electric Picnic. The weather may have been wild but no one was deterred and spirits were high. On Sunday, after our weekly litter pick, Tallaght Village Tidy Towns and Tallaght Community Council host…

I wish to speak about Citywise Education, an organisation in Tallaght that has become a cornerstone of positive change in our community. Citywise is more than just a youth centre; it is a place where ambition is nurtured, potential realised and futures are shaped. Since its founding, Citywise has provided a safe, inspiring and supportive environment for young people in Tallaght, operating from the Durkan Centre for the past 20 years. Its impact is seen not only in educational support through after-school programmes…

I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad today. I acknowledge mental health awareness week. I must admit that I only heard last night that this initiative has been running for 20 years. It is a testament to the growing awareness of and commitment to mental health across Ireland. Each year, this week is marked by a theme. In 2021 it was nature; in 2022 it was loneliness; in 2023 it focused on anxiety; in 2024 it was movement; and this year, 2025, appropriately, the theme is community. What a vital role communit…

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I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “Seanad Éireann resolves that the Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025 be deemed to be read a second time this day 18 months, to allow sufficient time for examination of evidence of public health concerns relating to such substances, and scrutiny between now and then by officials in the Department of Health in conjunction with the proposing Senators.” Fianna Fáil welcomes the discussion on…