An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-14
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Joanne Collins (SF), Agricultural Panel

I know we have a debate coming up but I want to raise the fuel protests. I left my house at 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning and I returned at 3 p.m. on Sunday evening. I spent my entire week in Foynes Port supporting those I consider my neighbours, friends and colleagues. I slept a couple of hours every so often in the cab of my husband's lorry because I needed a bit of rest. Those men who stood there and cried on me that they could not afford to keep going did not want to be there. They gave up a week's work to be there. I am delighted some Fine Gael Senators agree that mistakes were made and measures were not taken. I really wish to God that the Fine Gael Minister in County Limerick had the same compassion that they have today when he went on the radio and said that he could not wait for the Army to get into Foynes the quicker the better to pull each of them out. What kind of a Minister speaks like that about his own constituents? It was absolutely disgraceful. I had to video call my children because they were so afraid I was going to get taken away by the Army. He put fear into hard-working people in County Limerick, and it was an absolute disgrace to be threatened with the Army and water cannons. Those men and women did not want to be there but their voices were not being heard. They had absolutely no choice. They were pushed to the brink. Fine Gael Senators know because they come from that kind of background of farming and fisheries. Enough is enough. They cannot take any more. It is not just about farming and fisheries contractors; it is also about building contractors who were there. It is about every person and they said that. They were there for everyone. When the deal came out for the hauliers, they said: "No, we are not walking away." When contractors were added to the deal, they said: "No, we are not walking away because this is for everyone." They stood there in solidarity, and I stood with them. By God, if it was at an edge of a cliff I would stand there again and I would stay there until it got sorted. I really hope that lessons are learned. I hear it every single time but at least we see, from what I can read, that Deputy Michael Healy-Rae has learned a lesson and has decided to vote no confidence. I really hope others follow suit.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-14