I welcome the opportunity to speak during National Biodiversity Week and to recognise the incredible work being done by communities, volunteers, schools, farmers and local organisations across County Laois and throughout Ireland to protect our natural environment. Biodiversity is not an abstract idea. It is the hedgerow beside the road, the bees in your garden, the rivers and boglands that shape our countryside, and the birds and wildlife that are part of everyday life in rural Ireland. Protecting biodiversity is n…

I wish to take this opportunity to thank everybody who is doing it.

I welcome the significant investment that this Government has made through TAMS in supporting farm modernisation, improving environmental sustainability and assisting farmers to meet regulations. However, I want to raise a practical case that is happening on the ground and causing real frustration for young farmers and new farm partnerships. A qualified young farmer operating a newly established family farm partnership recently looked for a TAMS grant to upgrade slurry storage and bring the holding into compliance.…

This means a farmer is being asked to meet a standard before being allowed to access the support needed to reach it. Those willing to invest to comply are unable to access supports required to do so.

The Minister knows that the farming community accepts the importance of improving storage capacity, and the farmers understand the need to protect water quality, reduce emissions and ensure holdings are compliant. I accept that significant progress in this area has been made through TAMS, especially with enhanced supports for young, trained farmers and new entrants. However, situations like the one I have outlined to the Minister highlight a gap in the practical application of the scheme. This is especially the cas…

These measures are needed, and match environmental ambition and political delivery.

The objective should be to bring farmers into compliance through investment and engagement. It should not be to exclude those who are trying to do the right thing but are limited by financing conditions. I welcome the update from the Department that it is considering additional flexibility on targeted measures, but the Minister knows quite well that there are thousands of people out there from an older generation of farmer who would buy hundreds of cattle but would not buy a load of concrete. The next person in lin…

That is no good to the farmer who cannot get it.

I presume the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is not going to let me back in.

Deputy Kenny, who does not even have a herd number spoke five times, and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will not let me in.

Will the Deputy come home and milk my cows this evening?

Today we mark Europe Day 2026. It is a chance to reflect on how far Europe has come and what Europe stands for, namely, peace, working together, democracy and opportunity. For Ireland, being part of the European Union has made a real difference. It has helped grow our economy. It has supported our communities and has backed our farmers. We have seen that clearly in County Laois and across the midlands. I know people at home will often say that Europe can be heavy on rules and that there is too much red tape at time…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on supports for hauliers and the wider supply chain sector. Global instability from the Middle East conflict continues to affect international markets. We have seen sharp increases in oil and fuel prices and households and businesses are under sustained pressure, and this has all been well debated in this House. I welcome the Government fuel support scheme announced yesterday. I acknowledge in the House today the work of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Ministers, Depu…

I want to raise the issue of GP shortages in County Laois. The population of Laois has risen sharply over the past decade but primary care services have not kept pace. I acknowledge the tremendous work of local GPs. They are the backbone of community healthcare. However, the reality is the HSE can assign a GP to a medical card and GP visit card holder, but there are no GPs in the Portlaoise area with capacity and private patients are being left without access to a full-time GP. This is not sustainable for a growing…

I wish to raise the issue of payment terms applied by State and semi-State bodies to contractors. I welcome that payments are guaranteed but I have been told that payment terms can stretch to four months, which is simply not acceptable. These are small and medium-sized operators, the backbone of small enterprise across Ireland, who must cover fuel, machinery, wages and other overheads all upfront. They cannot wait months to pay staff or creditors. Payment delays are placing real financial strain on otherwise viable…

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is causing profound distress and uncertainty. Middle East strikes are continuing on the sixth day of war. I begin by expressing my deep sympathy for all innocent victims of these attacks. The images and reports emerging from the region are heartbreaking. Civilians are bearing the brunt of violence they did not choose and cannot control. Their suffering must remain at forefront of our thoughts and actions. Ireland has long had connections with the Middle East. Many countrie…

Usually when I stand up here to say a few words I am upbeat and hoping to get a positive response. I stand here today representing County Laois. Since 2002 when the new currency came into this country 22 or 23 post offices have closed in County Laois. The Government needs to give some form of backing to the remaining post offices in our county or we will be here again in 12 months' time when more are closed. Every year more and more have closed. We need to look at the whole structure of the post office. For example…

You cannot even get a pint of milk because you cannot get it from your local farmer because it is not pasteurised. That is where we have gone to now.

I want to raise the serious issue of Irish citizens currently stranded in the Middle East. Since the weekend's events, I have been contacted by constituents who are on holiday or working in the region and find themselves trapped. Airports are closed and flight paths are suspended. People are in a frightening and volatile situation through no fault of their own. I commend the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and her team on working around the clock to provide consular assistance to those people. However, the reality is ext…

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I want to raise an issue that I have already raised with the housing Minister and his Minister of State. I want to use my time highlight an issue that does not always show up in the headlines relating to the homeless figures but which is very real and urgent, namely the growing number of people with disabilities who are effectively locked out of independent living. I was contacted earlier this year by a young woman in her late 20s who was born with a disability. …