An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-18
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Mary Fitzpatrick (FF), Industrial and Commercial Panel

On our final sitting of the Seanad this year, I thank Martin, the staff in the Seanad Office and everybody working in the Leinster House complex for the support they have provided to us, the elected Members. We could not do our job without all of their talent, energy and commitment. We are hugely privileged to serve in Leinster House and we greatly appreciate their support. All of their efforts make ours so much more effective, so I thank them. At times, it can be stressful, demanding and challenging, but they always make it look easy. I thank them for doing that, for keeping calm and for keeping the place running in such a smooth fashion. We really appreciate it. They are doing an enormous service, not just for us but for the country. I wanted to acknowledge that at the outset on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group. We are tremendously appreciative.
I will raise two issues. There is a warning out, and it is really important that every Member of the House and every public representative raises awareness of this, about the very potent levels of illegal substances that are being distributed and will be available over the festive season. We all want to enjoy the holidays, but we want to enjoy them safely. It is really important for everybody to remind themselves that illegal substances are just that. They are illegal and highly dangerous. Water testing indicates that our public water system in Dublin has among the highest levels in Europe of ketamine being detected. Between ketamine, MDMA and other synthetic substances, there is a huge public health issue out there. It is obviously a huge threat to human life and human well-being. We should all as public representatives raise awareness on that issue.
I will return to the subject of The Complex. It is not just an arts venue. It is vital public infrastructure in the capital city. Cities that thrive and are successful invest in spaces that support creativity, community engagement and cultural production. The Complex delivers on all three of those vital public infrastructures. For more than a decade, it has offered affordable spaces for artists and cultural employment. It has revitalised an underutilised and underpopulated area of the city. It has delivered programmes that are building social cohesion, social capital and youth engagement. It contributes to the cultural vibrancy of our capital city in terms of tourism, investment and talent. I appeal to the Deputy Leader to appeal to Government to step in before the end of the year to save The Complex from closure. It is essential vital public infrastructure in our capital city. It is infrastructure that is essential to Dublin's competitiveness, liveability, our economic success and, most importantly, our identity, our cultural identity and our soul. Will the Deputy Leader appeal to Government to save The Complex?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:29+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-18