I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning. I raise this Commencement matter in relation to compulsory purchase orders, CPO, in relation to greenways. This is something that is becoming more of an issue across the country. I am from County Cork and I raise it having met farmers who will be affected by potential CPOs on the Cork-Kinsale greenway. First, I want to say greenways are a fantastic facility and amenity. As they can bring a lot to an area in terms of attracting tourists and bringing income t…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I note what he said. It is disappointing, in that the points that have been laid out are largely based on consultation. If that was always actively adhered to, it may have more of an effect. In terms of the consultation the Minister of State outlined, where is it being monitored or checked in terms of local authorities and TII to ensure that it is actually happening? I appreciate he provided the example of Clifden where, despite arbitration, a resolution could not be rea…

I would like to be associated with the congratulations to my constituency colleague Senator Nicole Ryan on the recent birth of her baby. I wish her, her partner and her new child all the very best. An incredibly important decision by the EU Commission was announced yesterday. From 3 September 2026, Brazilian agricultural imports, including beef, honey, eggs and poultry, will not be allowed into the European Union. This is the result of a decision showing that Brazil is not compliant with EU standards for the use of…

I will speak about the use of compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, to purchase private land for greenways. This is on foot of a briefing to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food yesterday from the IFA, the National Greenway Action Association and the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association. I am very much in favour of greenways. There are some in my locality and I appreciate completely the benefits they bring to any rural area in particular. However, what we are seeing more and more frequently is the use …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, agus cuirim fáilte roimhe. As we mark Europe Day it is important that we focus on the values that continue to bind us together as Europeans, which are democracy, co-operation and our continued respect for one another. As has been outlined, Europe is facing many challenges such as the continued rise of populism and the far right, attacks on our democracy and the constant threat of war. As we know, Ireland has benefited massively from its membership of the Eur…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as bheith anseo linn inniu. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill and to support its passage through the House. As the Minister of State has outlined, it is largely technical but its impact is still significant. We need to strengthen a mechanism that has proven effective in supporting small businesses. Essentially, the Bill provides for the transfer of MFI into full State ownership under the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Emplo…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Rabbitte for sharing time. I acknowledge the real hurt and anxiety that so many people across the country are feeling right now when it comes to fuel costs. It is not just affecting those in the haulage and agricultural sectors but people all over the country and, particularly, anyone who has a car. People are worried about how they will heat their homes, how they will get to work or how they will keep their businesses going, particularly smaller businesses, as t…

I thank the Minister of State for being with us. I welcome this legislation. It is timely and necessary amid a backdrop of increasing global uncertainty. As the Minister of State outlined, the Bill seeks to remove the NORA levy, which is charged at a rate of 2 cent per litre applied to petroleum products sold across the country, on a temporary basis for two months. I acknowledge that the Bill also gives the Minister the power to extend the measure, if necessary, by ministerial order. As we are all aware, we are liv…

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I rise to call out the deeply irresponsible actions of An Taisce. Yesterday, it sought to challenge Ireland's nitrates derogation, which we were successful in securing last year. This is a move that risks doing enormous damage to rural Ireland, farm families, the agrifood sector and the 7,000 farmers who are in derogation. Derogation is not a loophole or a shortcut, it is scientifically grounded and tightly regulated. It reflects the reality of Ireland's grass-based farming model. As I mentioned, it supports 7,000 …

I rise today to highlight a serious and growing gap in our rental system. That is the lack of accountability within the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, particularly in cases involving landlords who are left without recourse through no fault of their own. We often speak about the need to protect tenants. That is right and the RTB plays a serious role in that. However, fairness when it comes to our housing system must go both ways. It has to serve the tenant and the landlord. I am raising this matter because I have…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo linn inniu chun na ráitis seo maidir leis an Eoraip a phlé. It is important that we are having this discussion. We have an opportunity in terms of hosting the Presidency. As previous speakers indicated, this is a time of real geopolitical uncertainty. Cyprus currently holds the Presidency. It continues to do so despite what is going on there. This goes to show how fragile the international situation is at the moment. We have a real opportunity when hosting the P…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo inniu chun ráitis faoi Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan a phlé. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go bhfuil comhrá faoi. I would like to highlight the importance of International Women's Day, which is still incredibly necessary and relevant. Statistics on gender-based violence, the employment gap and political representation all show how much we really have to do to strive for equality. The list just goes on and on. While progress is being made, we need to be very mindful of areas w…

I am seeking an update in relation to any current or planned tourism strategy for the Gearagh, which is just outside Macroom, County Cork. In particular, were considerations being given to its development as a recognised national tourism asset, including the potential for a sensitive greenway development? The Gearagh is one of Ireland's most unique and precious landscapes. It is the largest remaining glacial-alluvial woodland in Europe and provides a rare ecosystem of international ecological importance. It was sha…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this. I appreciate this is not under his Department and I thank him for the reply. I will definitely be raising this with the Departments of housing and Transport. I note the reviews, some of which, under Fáilte Ireland, will be undertaken this year. I will, of course, touch base with that agency. I want to stress the importance of this. It is a fantastic natural amenity and one of the only such woodlands left in Europe. As I said, it has a fantastic history. Up until the fi…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo linn inniu. I seek an update of the status of the timeline of the delivery of a day care centre for the elderly in Macroom in the constituency of Cork North-West. I am sure the Minister of State will agree with and acknowledge the importance of day care centres. We see them all over the country. Macroom has a growing town centre with a big population and a massive hinterland from all over the constituency, from Aghabullogue to Coolea. We are incredibly lacking a…

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I cannot but say I am disappointed. I have been raising this matter through the council since 2022. I got the same reply in 2023 as I got in 2022 and the reply today, in February 2026, seems to be the same as well. I do not know if the Minister of State can offer any guarantee on capital funding. Are we looking at the 2027 budget or the 2028 budget? This is an issue that comes up every now and again. I do not want to leave this Chamber and issue a press release saying th…

It is very important that the MEPs are here with us today. We often see or feel that there is a disconnect between our representatives in Europe and our representatives and people here. How do the MEPs feel we can bridge the gap not so much with our politicians but with our people because our connection and our place in Europe have never been more important than now? We are seeing a massive fragmentation of the Union and of parties within the Union but also of politics at a global level. When we have a fragmented a…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, for being here with us this morning. I am seeking an urgent update from the Minister for education on the ongoing National Council for Special Education, NCSE, review of the special needs assistant, SNA, scheme. I refer in particular to the very real and immediate consequences the review is having on schools, children and teachers across the country. In recent weeks, schools across my constituency of Cork North-West have been informed of significant reductions in S…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter. I appreciate this is not within his portfolio. I note the content of the response. I do not feel that it particularly provides many answers. The 45% increase in SNA allocation since the 2020-21 school year is well and good, but what will that figure be when we are back for the 2026-27 school year, when all of these reductions are taken into account? The importance of the role of the SNA cannot be overstated. As I said earlier, they are providing a s…