An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-15
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Joe Conway (IND), Cultural and Educational Panel

I want to be associated with the congratulatory remarks for Senator Byrne. I want to put on the record of the House the decorous and sincere apology given on behalf of the State by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, and attested to by the other party leaders, to the victims of the Kenneally abuse in Waterford. A chronicle of missed opportunities and neglect by the powers that be allowed the case to go unanswered for so long. It is particularly poignant for me because one of the abused men, Colin Power, was a fourth-class pupil of mine back in the day. It is heart-rending to remember a little child in all their innocence and to think they went through that awful abuse at the hands of the convicted paedophile. Well done to the State and the political leaders.
Yesterday, I had a meeting in Leinster House with a visually impaired artist and a namesake of mine, Emilie Conway from Mayo. She was the recipient of an Arts Council open competition bursary, which she was delighted to get. She thought it would make a big change to her life. It did, but it also had a downside. She found to her horror that receiving the bursary impacted negatively on her blind pension. It is counter-intuitive that that could be allowed to stand. I intend to write to the Minister for an explanation. If and when I get it, I will share it with the House. It is a situation that should not pertain.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:16+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-15