An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-01
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Rónán Mullen (IND), National University of Ireland

Many organisations are meeting politicians in Leinster House in connection with their pre-budget submissions. I would like to draw the attention of the House to two very important ones. I dtosach báire, cuirim ar aird an Tí seo a luachmhaire is atá obair TG4 don tír. Tá sé ag lorg maoinithe breise, ar luach €11 milliún é, don bhliain seo chugainn chun cur ar a chumas na haidhmeanna straitéiseacha atá aige a chur chun cinn agus níos mó a chur ar fáil dá lucht féachana. Ní mór cur san áireamh go n-infheistíonn TG4 74% den mhaoiniú poiblí a fhaigheann sé isteach san earnáil léiriúcháin neamhspleách. Is é TG4 an t-infheisteoir is mó sa léiriúchán neamhspleách réigiúnach. The value of TG4 to the country will be seen in the coming weeks when its fantastic Tour de France coverage will continue. It will continue for the next few years and I want to wish it well. It is always an excellent production and most enjoyable. TG4 invests three quarters of its public funding in the independent production sector and it is the biggest investor in regional producers. I just want to cur agus tacú le hiarracht TG4 inniu.
I would also like to mention the Irish Men’s Sheds Association. By the middle of next year there will be over 500 active men’s sheds in the country. I think we all agree that men’s sheds are bringing something irreplaceable into Irish life, combating isolation and giving men, in particular, a much-needed forum to meet and work together. It is a tremendously positive thing which helps to combat social problems which we know are there, particularly around men and men’s isolation.
They deserve every support. They are seeking a total fund of €3,000 per shed in next year's budget. That would be an investment of €1.5 million and they have various other sensible proposals targeting the needs of particular men's sheds where special resources are needed.
One of two not quite cost-neutral but very important asks would be that commercial rates would not apply to men's sheds. Could the Government work with local authorities to ensure those commercial rates are waived? Could it also work with local authorities to ensure that men's sheds can have long-term leases so they can be sure of their continued existence? Very often, that is quite precarious. Go raibh míle maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Gabh mo leithscéal as dul thar fóir ansin.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-01