An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-23
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Martin Conway (IND), Administrative Panel

I warmly congratulate Senator Ahearn on assuming the position of Leader. He was doing it anyway, so now he is doing it officially. There is no better man, and Tipperary will be very well represented here, with his position as Leader. I think of the 1990s, when I was in college in Dublin. He and I have often spoke about this. When I travelled down on the train from college to Ennis, the Leader's late mother would be going back from the Dáil. I got much advice from her during those periods in those conversations. It is great to see former Councillor Liam Ahearn, the Leader's dad, and his two brothers. I missed Laura, but I am sure I will meet her and the two boys later on. It is great to have Liam here. I sat in his kitchen in 2011 and he did not let me down back then.
It is just an amazing day. It is fantastic. I am sure Theresa is looking down from those great blue skies with a smile and a bit of guidance for the Leader. He always remembers where he came from and he is always very proud of his political history, which is with absolute justification, having had two parents as public representatives. Now, he is continuing the tradition. I have no doubt his two brothers are very proud of him as well.
There is just one issue I would like a debate on, namely, healthcare in the mid-west. The Leader is fully aware from his own advocacy work in Tipperary that there are serious challenges. We very much welcome the Minister's announcement of a new hospital in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, but the Ennis Hospital action committee has a very detailed budget submission on a consultant-led air ambulance facility to be based in west Clare. There is merit in that because west Clare is unique in terms of its distance from the accident and emergency facilities in UHL. Even with a new hospital, one cannot change the geographical challenges that arise. Perhaps in due course, ahead of the budget, we could have a debate on improving access to accident and emergency services in the mid-west.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-23