On prevailing side: this member voted with the winning side in 509 of 516 decisive votes (0 abstentions excluded). Read it as a government-or-opposition indicator rather than a measure of influence — the figure is near 100% for members supporting the government of the day and near 0% for those opposing it.
This is the point of the site: contributions keep the party held on the day, not the one held now.
| Party | Recorded as | Contributions | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| FF | Fianna Fáil | 19,180 | 2020-02-20 – 2026-09-30 |
Membership spells on record: FF 1989-06-15–1992-11-05 · FF 1992-11-25–1997-05-15 · FF 1997-06-06–2002-04-25 · FF 2002-05-17–2007-04-30 · FF 2007-05-24–2011-02-01 · FF 2011-02-25–2016-03-09 · FF 2016-03-10–2020-01-14 · FF 2020-02-08–2024-11-08 · FF 2024-11-29–present
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has stated very clearly that he has put in place the building blocks for the development of----
-----a comprehensive affordable housing programme-----
-----including 36,000 affordable purchase homes under Housing for All. The first home scheme for first-time buyers will enable people to buy a home through government help to bridge the gap-----
-----between the finance they have and the cost of a home. The local authority affordable purchase scheme will make available homes at an average cost of €250,000 across the country. The reformed local authority home loan scheme, with reduced interest rates for all new applicants, will see more single people eligible for State-backed mortgages. The Minister has put in place the legislation. The Deputy knew he was doing that last year, so she should not come in here feigning surprise with statistics from a parliamen…
-----who need housing. All she is about, and has consistently been about, is exploiting the housing crisis for her electoral gain.
First of all, I thank the Deputy for the question, because it is a very important issue that is facing the people of the country today. As the Deputy outlined, it is the responsibility of the CRU and EirGrid to ensure the right balance of electricity supply and demand. When they briefed me and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications on Monday night, they assured us that everything necessary is being done to guarantee supply. The generation capacity statement published by EirGrid today highlight…
The basic pragmatic response to any short-term problems that arise will be demand management. We will work with large energy users that have their own back-up power supply. That is how that issue will be dealt with. Secondly, there is a generation gap between 2022 and 2025 because planned capacity increases will not come on stream, while demand has increased more than expected. We have been assured by the CRU and EirGrid that they have plans in place to bridge that gap, including extending the operation of existing…
I gave the answer.
As Taoiseach, I am saying to the Deputy that the Government will ensure every effort will be made and that everything that needs to be done will be done. In respect of any short-term problems between now and when the two plants are back in operation in October, any issues that arise will be dealt with through demand management. That means working with large energy users that have back-up generators. That is how it will be dealt with. It will be dealt with calmly and pragmatically that way. A key point I am making i…
However, there has to be the long-term approach that the Deputy has identified, which we are committed to taking.
It is not that crude a juxtaposition.
It is not that simple. That is an overly simplistic presentation. The CRU and EirGrid have statutory responsibility to ensure a balance between demand and supply. That is what this Oireachtas established. It provided the infrastructure. That said, the Government has met representatives of both organisations and it will be taking decisions in respect of immediate issues. Again, both bodies have advised there is a short- to medium-term risk to the security of electricity supply, and they have identified the main chal…
First, we are intent and determined to meet our climate change targets by 2030. I brought in legislation which has been groundbreaking in that respect.
This Government has done that, has passed its Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill and will be developing a climate action plan. We are very determined to meet those particular targets. We do not believe in cutting anyone’s heat off. The Deputy is deliberately creating this sort of divide and divisive approach to these issues.
I have not met Cloud Infrastructure Ireland, or whatever it is called-----
-----or Michael McCarthy in respect of this. I have not met him at all in respect of this.
The Deputy asked a specific question.
I want to make another point. The Deputy spoke about foreign direct investment and how we have a great record with it. She made a sort of throwaway remark as if it does not matter. I am not interested in any multinational company for the sake of the company itself but I am interested in the thousands of people that such companies employ in this country.
Those are the people I am interested in. The problem with Deputy Smith at times is that she just dismisses that as if it is something that should never have happened in this country.
I know that you have an ideological view as to how economies and societies should be modelled.