A negative focus was brought to bear on the horseracing industry earlier this year. Revelations from the abattoir in County Kildare shocked and sickened people in every corner of the country. They portrayed an image of horrendous practices that tainted the sport of horseracing. People were justifiably sickened and disgusted. Ireland is recognised globally as a nation of animal lovers. To see issues of barbaric animal cruelty come to light brought forth a cry of national outrage. This is not a reflection of who Iris…

I have been contacted by numerous members of the north Tipperary branch of the Irish Farmers Association conveying serious reservations about the dangers involved in the use of low-emissions slurry spreading equipment. From 1 January 2025, the majority of farmers will be banned from using splash plates on their farms under good agricultural practice guidelines. This blanket ban on splash plates will lead to greater health and safety risks for farmers spreading slurry - this is the important point - on the slopes of…

By early 2025, we will have a new Government and a new European Commission and Parliament. Over the coming months, big policy decisions will be made that will shape our future until 2030 and beyond. As a country we are running to catch up on infrastructure required for a growing population. When it comes to airports, which are critical to our success as an island nation, the passenger cap at Dublin Airport has highlighted the abject failure of aviation policy, leading to an embarrassing public row. This daft situat…

The Taoiseach said Shannon has improved, which it has, in terms of passenger numbers and additional capacity, but it needs support, help, political and ministerial direction and the support of airlines to take up its level of capacity. This issue is also about supporting business which needs direct connectivity from its base in the mid-west to Europe and further afield and stopping the waste of time and carbon on long road journeys. People who start a journey by air are doing three or four hours on our roadways. It…

Will the Minister give me his view regarding the feasibility of the proposal to extend the opening hours of the medical assessment unit at Nenagh Hospital? The idea and principle of expanding the opening hours of the medical assessment units at Nenagh and Ennis are understandable and logical. This could work if implemented properly. It would create more activity in Nenagh Hospital and mean that patients from north Tipperary could be referred by GPs to Nenagh rather than to Limerick. Patients could be assessed and t…

The problem is that the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital is currently staffed and available but every day, several available slots are not used. Patients are not presenting to avail of the service. Consultants, nurses and support services are assigned to the hospital but there are not enough patients to treat. That is the reality. Considering that the current hours of service are not being used, what is the point in extending the hours of opening? We are not taking up what is available at the moment. It i…

The fact is that the front-line staff, the people in the hospital, are asking me what is the point in extending hours when the existing slots are not taken up. Consultants, nurses and everyone else are waiting around with no patients. That is the reality. There is a problem with the referrals from the GPs. The GPs obviously have good reason for not sending patients to Nenagh Hospital and we need to know what that reason is. Management must engage with the staff in the hospital. Those in management must listen to th…

I am not saying that. I am saying we should use the service to its maximum.

The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Ring, is very sensible, as always. I agree with him on the timing. Taking on the role of a family carer is a profound commitment that can arise at any point in life. It is often motivated by a deep sense of duty and compassion. The enduring responsibility and challenges of caregiving can be daunting, however. Until people experience the role of family carer, they cannot fully grasp the challenges that are involved. Across the country, 500,000 people are caring for family members,…

University Hospital Limerick is an ongoing serious problem. There is massive difficulty relating to overcrowding and poor delivery of service. There is obviously a problem with bed capacity, staff numbers and patient care. The hospital serves the constituency I represent in north Tipperary. Daily, and almost hourly, I receive calls from people complaining and giving out about the experience they had in UHL. Recently, the Minister announced HIQA would start a review to see if a model 3 hospital was required. It is e…

We have citizens information centres in 50 locations across the country. There are five centres across County Tipperary: Thurles, Nenagh, Roscrea, Tipperary town and Clonmel. In 2023, these centres dealt with 40,000 queries and 17,000 callers, with queries ranging from social protection to employment, pensions and applications for citizenship. This service has provided to some of the most vulnerable people in society, who have trust, faith and confidence in the citizens information service, CIS, to support them. It…

In 2016, the Irish Cancer Society published a report entitled Park the Charges in a bid to have hospital parking charges waived for cancer patients. The Government pledged to act on this but nothing happened. In 2020, the Government committed to putting a cap on these charges but nothing happened. In 2022, the Irish Cancer Society published a report which highlighted the hidden costs of parking for families that use hospital car parks on a frequent basis. Today, 40% of hospitals continue to charge full parking fees…

Over the past eight years, the number of people who died before an ambulance reached their location increased by an alarming 70%. Last year alone, 1,108 people died before an ambulance arrived on the scene. In one high-priority case, it took three hours and 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive to a critically ill patient. I have raised the issues surrounding our ambulance service on numerous occasions during the lifetime of this Government. I have consistently highlighted the fact that the ambulance service is in …

I seek a commitment that the complete findings of the report that is with the HSE be made public. I request assurance from the Government that failings identified in the report will be addressed as a matter of urgency. I agree that the shift towards first responders and paramedics has been a good one and works well. They are very capable and professional people. The problem is there are not enough of them, they do not get the support they require and, as a result, many are leaving the system. Recruitment and retent…

I welcome the Government's acceptance of the Regional Group's motion. Equally, we insist that the concerns raised by us are taken into account during implementation. Obviously, there is widespread awareness of the need for ecological restoration. By degrees, we have damaged our ecosystem and are knowingly driving it to the verge of ruin. We each have a moral responsibility to do all that we can to counteract nature’s decline. It is our duty to secure our world for the generations to come. In simple terms, helping t…

I raise the issue of community cancer support centres. A diagnosis of cancer can bring with it a myriad of changes. Life can suddenly become a roller-coaster of medical appointments and hospital stays, being unable to work, financial worries, a loss of independence, unintended isolation and a tsunami of fear and uncertainty. These all-consuming changes come at a time when a person is already feeling vulnerable, worried and sometimes even angry. Their world and that of their families and loved ones become plagued wi…

The most important element of this is that the €3 million was very welcome and it sustains those organisations throughout this year. Their difficulty is that they cannot plan ahead and they need an annual budget. I ask the Government to ensure that an additional €3 million or whatever the figure is included in the budget at the end of this year for next year, that is, the year 2025. An estimated 42,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland every year and the good news is that more people in Ireland are surviv…

However, this has declined somewhat due to what has been a reduced investment and funding priority in the 2017 to 2026 strategy the Taoiseach just referred to, so I ask the Taoiseach to address that and ensure adequate and proper funding is put in place to keep the organisations doing the tremendous work they do.

The fall in the number of taxis is having a detrimental impact on towns and villages across rural Ireland. In County Tipperary, according to the most recent figures, there has been a drop to just 220 taxis, despite a population growth of more than 4,000. This has an obvious negative impact on hospitality and retail services. Pubs and restaurants are struggling as people are forced to stay at home. Securing transport is also a major issue for people who need to get to medical and personal appointments or, in some ca…

I also wish to raise with the Minister the issue of special needs. Raising a child with special needs is challenging and rewarding. It is demanding, yet fulfilling. For parents, it becomes a labour of love in almost every sense. They want what is best for their son or daughter. They want their child to have the best possible start in life. They plan for the years ahead when their child may no longer have their care and support. They aim to set the best foundation to support their child throughout his or her life. I…