I welcome the provisions in the Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill 2024. I would like to raise a point with the Minister of State. I refer to access to cash. I have had a number of conversations with constituents as this has come to light over the past number of weeks. We have discussed this in great detail. It is important to recognise the lack of access at different stages to digital and contactless payments when power outages or a lack of access to Internet connectivity occurs, and when di…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As the Fine Gael spokesperson on transport in the Seanad and a member of the newly formed Oireachtas committee on transport, I bring to the Minister of State’s attention a key and important piece of infrastructure for the north west, namely, the western rail corridor. The line between Athenry and Claremorris, which is currently closed, is in public ownership. I compliment the work of advocacy groups like West on Track, as well as political and civic leaders across the n…

I thank the Minister of State for the update. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, for his work on this issue. The all-island strategic rail review identified the reopening of the western rail corridor from Claremorris to Athenry as a short-term measure. Having invested so much in planning, consultation and reviews, we now need to move to delivery. We need to do whatever it takes to ensure the project is included in the upcoming review of the national development plan and move swiftly to reopen the li…

I raise the important issue of ambulance response times in County Mayo, particularly the Erris region of Belmullet. I have three call logs of incidents from the past number of months. In some instances, the ambulance response times to patients has been two hours. Two hours, two hours and 96 minutes are just three examples from the past number of months. I compliment the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, for her work improving the effectiveness of her office and improving the health outcomes and condit…

In recent days there have been reports about the appointment of a housing tsar to help support the housing crisis we face. I have serious concerns about this concept considering the fact that we have more than 900 tsars in county councils across every local authority. They are our county councillors. Devolved functions to zone housing on the ground is what we need to unlock housing supply, and working with potential developers, the utilities and service providers. That is where the war will be won in terms of unloc…

I raise an issue very important to my constituency. With the closure of deadlines for the school bus scheme for this year, a particular area and blackspot in my constituency is just outside of Crossmolina - the area of Coolturk, Eskeragh and Dooleague. There are 20 students without access to the school they attend, Crossmolina National School. The students have family links and connections to this school. Unfortunately, over the past number of years, they have not been eligible for the bus to school scheme. I have …

I wish to be associated with the remarks on the retirement of Martin Groves. He was a great help to me in my early days, although I am still in my early days in the Seanad, and I put on record my thanks to Martin for his assistance. I would also like to associated with the remarks on the Holy Father, the late Pope Francis, and his contribution to community, society and faith right across the world and the indelible mark he made on inclusion and broadening the church's work for those in the most disadvantaged areas.…

A matter of concern to many of my constituents in County Mayo is the state of disrepair of the piers and waterways on the Mayo coastline. On Kilcummin pier, there are proposed clearance works. Small fishing boats are unable to dock at the pier because of the storm debris and rocks that need to be cleared. The slipway is in a treacherous state and it is the same for other slipways in the north Mayo area, including those in Ballycastle, Killala, Ballina and Lacken pier. It is really important for fishing industries i…

The Minister is very welcome to the House. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with him the housing crisis that is plaguing every constituency in the country. I will give an anecdotal example from my home town of Ballina, County Mayo. I have spent the past six years as a local councillor in Mayo County Council, working with colleagues across the county to improve housing supply. At every opportunity, we have tried to zone land, empower developers and build homes in our towns, villages and constituencies. At county…

I welcome our friends from the British Embassy who are visiting this afternoon. I look forward to hosting the delegation of visitors from the UK transport committee on Thursday. I wish to raise the issue of defective concrete blocks, particularly the pyrite in my constituency of Mayo, as well as the mica scheme. The issue has devastated so many homeowners along the western seaboard. Within the new programme for Government there is a commitment to a review and expansion of the scheme to allow improved eligibility bu…

Next Tuesday.

I raise an opportunity in County Mayo. I have spoken regularly on the regeneration of our market towns, bringing life, energy and families back into towns and villages across Ireland, including in my county, Mayo. At the weekend, I attended the launch of the community futures plan for the Killasser-Callow community. There was brilliant energy and vibrancy about community-led proposals for improving the community. It is very much a grassroots-led approach. There is a swimming pool in Swinford, in the periphery of Ki…

I report progress.

I wish to share three minutes of my time with Senator Joe O'Reilly. I will keep my contribution brief.

I welcome the Minister of State back to the Seanad. It is great that he is here to discuss such an important topic for us all and for communities across the island. Sadly, in 2024, 174 lives were lost on our roads and that is 174 too many. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to Vision Zero. All of us across the Chamber need to work collectively to achieve and improve safety measures on our roads, and in our neighbourhoods and communities across the country. The Minister of State will be aware that 89% of t…

I thank Senator Brady for sharing time. I thank the Minister for joining us in the Seanad and congratulate him on his position, work and effort to date. The most important thing that politicians do is listen and he has done a great job of that so far. He has kept his finger on the pulse in terms of the different matters that arise in what is a very challenging portfolio. I would like to highlight the LEADER programme. It has the potential to be a brilliant asset to communities across the country. However, the chall…

I raise the total scandal of Eir and the lack of customer support being afforded to customers throughout the country, but in particular in my constituency of County Mayo. We have examples of customers of Eir who are out of connection since Storm Darragh on 12 December last. We also have numerous elderly customers of Eir who still have not been reconnected since the damage of the storm. It is a total scandal that this is allowed to continue in this day and age and that customers are left without any Internet connect…

The Minister is very welcome, and I thank her for joining us for the discussion on such an important topic for so many vulnerable people. I raise a specific example of an issue regarding scoliosis, which relates to a 16-year-old child in my constituency of Mayo who was born with neurological issues and in 2020 was diagnosed with scoliosis. In 2023, he was examined and identified for surgery. Unfortunately, since then he has not had treatment. He has a 103-degree spine curvature and has all of the identified reasoni…

I raise a matter that has been, politically, incredibly pressing over the past number of years in counties Mayo, Donegal and Sligo. That is the issue of defective concrete blocks. In my home county of Mayo hundreds of homeowners are affected. It has been the scourge of their lives and has brought financial and mental health challenges to every homeowner who has been negatively impacted by it. There is a commitment in the programme for Government for a review of the scheme. I ask that we bring the Minister for the h…

I want to raise a matter that is close to the heart of the community in my home constituency of Ballina. It is now more than a year since a tragedy occurred at a pedestrian crossing on the Crossmolina road. There was a fatality but a life was also saved thanks to the heroism of James Moyles, who protected his niece from tragedy. This has been raised continuously by councillors at a local council level. We have been pleading with TII for an assessment to be carried out and for the junction to be made safe. This also…