Mark Daly — 2025-06-11

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

CC Mark Daly · Administrative Panel

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Summary of this debate

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While the FAI has sought significant State funding to support its academic development plans, it is important to note the sizable financial support directed to the FAI and to football more generally over the past number of years. More than €75 million in State funding was allocated to the Football Association of Ireland between 2019 and 2024, including €30.2 million specifically to support development and aimed at promoting participation in football by young people, with the balance in funding comprising Covid-specific and energy supports to the FAI and the wider football association.

Under the current terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary school.

Built by scoring every sentence in the debate on how distinctive its language is, then quoting the highest-scoring ones back word for word and in the order spoken. Nothing is paraphrased or invented — if a sentence appears here, it was said in the chamber. Drawn from 5,964 words across 17 contributions by 6 speakers.

Most used terms in this debate

How often each word appears across the whole debate, ranked by how distinctive it is to this debate rather than common to all parliamentary language.

fai 18

school 36

israeli 17

football 14

helicopters 9

widow’s 6

israel 12

half-rate 6

capability 10

military 11

senator 18

transport 17

The full debate

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CC Mark Daly this contribution

Before I call the first Commencement matter, I welcome the ambassador from Palestine. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. I know you have a series of meetings and I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me this morning. We, as always, call for an immediate ceasefire and immediate access for aid into the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages and a pathway forward for peace in Palestine and Israel. Thank you, ambassador, for being here today.

We also have St. Pat's national school from Bray in County Wicklow in the Gallery. You are most welcome here to Seanad Éireann today. I saw you earlier on your tour and I am delighted you are able to be in Seanad Éireann today. I am also delighted to announce that, as is the protocol in Seanad Éireann, there is no homework for the rest of the week for any visiting school and no homework for the teachers either.