I thank the Minister of State and his officials for the work done on this Bill. The Credit Review Office service is a very important safety net for small businesses and farmers right across the country. I look forward to swift implementation of this legislation.

The Fine Gael group supports this motion. It is important to recognise that this is a loan. It is also important to once again condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At this moment, we think of all the families in Ukraine who are currently experiencing loss, having lost loved ones in the invasion thus far. While we regret that a conclusion to the conflict seems far away, we hope that one will come soon and that it will ultimately be agreeable to all of the people across Ukraine who have sacrificed so much since the …

I thank our colleagues for tabling the motion and I welcome the Minister of State. I have a unique perspective on this. I am a solicitor and I run my own practice in Enniscorthy in Wexford where we specialise in property, conveyancing and probate. In a past life I lectured with the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers on conveyancing and property law, bringing along the next generation of auctioneers. I have seen this from many different perspectives, and one of the most frustrating things I have seen …

I welcome all my colleagues and the staff and wish everybody a very happy new year. Today, I want to bring up the issue of road safety and road traffic and how the two are mixed. I am particularly struck by so many tragedies that we have seen across 2025 and, indeed, at the start of 2026. In my own area of Wexford, I specifically want to highlight three key areas. Clohamon cross on the N80, not too far from Bunclody and Enniscorthy, is well known to local motorists as an area which, too regularly, sees serious car …

I join in thanking the Leas-Chathaoirleach, the Cathaoirleach and all the staff here in the Seanad. This is my first Christmas as a Senator and I have very much enjoyed the experience so far. I appreciate the work that has been put in in facilitating that. I join with colleagues in wishing everybody a very happy Christmas. The Fine Gael Party will be supporting this legislation and I do not propose to reiterate the statements on public expenditure that we had in this House only a short few weeks ago. We will be sup…

Now.

In the absence of our finance spokesperson, Senator Joe O'Reilly, I will speak on behalf of the Fine Gael side of the House. We will support the Finance Bill, which is based on supporting young people to buy their first house, ensuring we have a reduction in cost and more viability in the apartment sector by reducing VAT, ensuring we keep jobs across Ireland through a VAT cut for hospitality and hairdressing and ensuring the coffee shops that employ so many people throughout the country will continue to be viable i…

Today, I want to support the good news about Ireland's nitrates derogation and to speak for a few moments about it. It is very important to recognise that 7,000 farmers throughout the country are availing of the nitrates derogation. What does this actually mean? Because of our unique grassland environment and the mechanisms that we have in this country that are not available to other European countries to support the dairy industry, it allows for farmers to operate at 2.5 cows per hectare versus 1.6 cows per hectar…

I listened carefully to what the speaker from Sinn Féin had to say, but it is important to recognise the contribution that IDA Ireland-backed companies have made to the economy. The tens of thousands of people across the country who are employed by them recognise the fact that corporation tax funds the vital public services that everyone relies on across the country from teachers, nurses, doctors, hospitals and our gardaí. It is so important we recognise the contribution of these IDA investments. I support ensuring…

It is important to recognise that if, as a country, we are to get to grips with the housing crisis, we must ensure we have privately built houses that are available to first-time buyers, people who are downsizing and people who are moving into their forever homes. The reality at the moment is that the companies which are building those houses are saying to us that it is not viable to do that. The reality is that the State cannot provide every housing unit that is needed. There is a very important role for the State…

Fine Gael will support this section. I reiterate some of the points made earlier in the debate around the fact that the State cannot provide all houses, housing developments or apartments that are needed by hard-working first-time buyers, people who are seeking to buy their first starter home, or those who are seeking to move on from their starter home to their forever home. I challenge Sinn Féin to explain how it would go about bridging the viability gap here because the reality is that the private sector has an i…

While I very much appreciate the need for a comprehensive set of reporting on all aspects of housing in this country, the reality is that we have no end of housing reports. We have the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Finance and the CSO publishing documentation. The Housing Agency publishes reports examining the housing market. These are only the State agencies. We then have all the private entities that deliver reports such as Goodbody Stockbrokers and Davy Stockbrokers. A plethora of org…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue. I thank the Sinn Féin Senators for putting it forward. I am from Enniscorthy, a town deeply rooted in the story of Irish republicanism. I grew up listening to stories about the Battle of Vinegar Hill, the United Irishmen of 1798, the rebellion of 1916 and of Robert Emmet and Wolfe Tone. They were big influences on my view of politics. I support the idea of a united Ireland. It is a deeply held belief and passion of mine. It is one I welcome the opportunity to speak a…

Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

I want to make a number of points. I spoke on the recent statements on the budget in the broader context of budget 2026. I want to make a number of points about the Finance Bill, which is substantial legislation, running to 152 pages. I want to raise a number of issues. On the agricultural front, I recognise the extension of some of the young trained farmer reliefs. It is important that we promote the next generation of farmers. Without farmers, there is no food and it is important that we put in a taxation system …

I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for taking this matter. Each week, I am contacted by the parent of a child awaiting a dental procedure or appointment. We know that, nationwide, waiting lists are starting to extend. Approximately 2,000 children have been waiting over four years for orthodontic treatment. I recognise that we now have an additional third level training facility in the new RCSI facility in Sandyford, which, when fully up and running, will produce an extra 75 graduate dentists in addition …

I thank the Minister of State for her response. It is important to recognise this is about ensuring people across the country have access to the best possible dental care. As I highlighted earlier, I have concerns we are not training sufficient numbers of dentists and we are not taking on, through the HSE, sufficient numbers of dentists. We have to look at all possible options for children in particular, 2,000 of whom are waiting over four years for dental care. We need to take an all-encompassing approach that pri…

I am proud to be from County Wexford. We have 260 km of golden coasts but, unfortunately, in an era of climate change that is bringing difficulties for residents living along the coast. Some 211 km of that 260 km are at risk of coastal erosion. Last Friday with local councillor Frank Staples, I visited Ballyhealy, an area now suffering from at least 1 m per year disappearing into the sea. In recent storms that has been exacerbated and up to 5 m of Wexford coastline has disappeared into the sea. Within 200 m of our …

I have listened carefully to the debate. It is important and right that these issues are debated in this Chamber. I regret that so few of our colleagues have made their way to the Chamber to discuss this. Immigration is one of the biggest issues affecting the country at present after housing.

It is so important that voices from all sides are heard. Regrettably, here we are today with scarce attendance. On this issue, Ireland has to have a tough immigration system that recognises that there are vulnerable people who are coming from the most difficult circumstances who are justifiably recognised as having a successful asylum claim. It also must recognise the fact that there are people coming to the country under false pretences, perhaps with no documents, whose stories do not match what they are saying an…