Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I move: That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands entitled “Report on Energy Poverty 2024”, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 24th June, 2024. I am taking this as Leas-Chathaoirleach of the…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I thank Deputy Durkan for taking the Chair to facilitate me in speaking on this matter. We are into open season on hedgerows again with hedgerow trimming or cutting, however we want to term it. It is also about hedgerow removal, which obviously has far more long-term consequences and a greater…
Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD Waterford is unique among the five cities in Ireland for not having a stand-alone university. Other cities have a university and a technological university. The reality is SETU, or WIT as it was, has had to play that role within the region. We made a promise to the people of Waterford,…
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Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I will slightly recast the Topical Issue that I submitted, which was not to deal with school bus transport in west Waterford. It was specifically on a school transport issue arising between Ardmore and Dungarvan. If the Minister of State does not know that part of the world well, I remind…
Press Release, 11th September 2024 Waterford Green Party T.D. Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed a new funding scheme through the Dept. of Agriculture aimed at supporting small food producers and developing local market opportunities. The call for proposals to optimise short food supply chains, issued by Minister Pippa Hackett this week, is designed to promote…
Press Release, 9th September 2024 Waterford T.D. Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomed the investment into sports and physical activity in Waterford under the Active Cities programme to the tune of €105,000, with a view to creating an environment where physical activity can happen, leading to healthier lifestyles. The funding aims to enhance physical activity levels across…
Press Release, Sept 6th 2024 Waterford T.D. Marc Ó Cathasaigh has expressed his alarm that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) were unaware that a school transport bus pick-up was located at the side of a busy national road. Parents of pupils travelling from Ardmore to secondary school in Dungarvan were required to drive to the pick-up…
Press Release, August 23rd 2024 Waterford T.D. Marc Ó Cathasaigh warmly welcomed the announcement today of funding for Waterford town regeneration projects under the Town Centres First funding. Two Waterford towns received funding, Ardmore and Portlaw. Ardmore’s project received €49,500.00 and it will examine the regeneration of the Perks Site, located at the end of…
Press Release 20th August 2024 Waterford T.D. Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed the commencement of new evening train services on the Waterford to Dublin Route, which will see the first services commence on Monday 26th August. The extra Dublin to Waterford service in each direction will leave Dublin at 20:20 hours and serve stations to…
Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed the extension of the Free Travel Pass to persons medically unable to drive as a ‘small kind measure that will make a big difference to those who need it.’ From this week, the Free Travel Scheme is being extended to people who have never been…
Press Release, June 28th 2024 Waterford T.D. Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed the announcement this week that two more banks – A.I.B. and Bank of Ireland – will be offering low-cost loans for people who are participating in the Government-backed, €500 million, Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme. Speaking on the announcement, Ó Cathasaigh said “With…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the RSA for taking the time to attend. I am glad Mr.Waide provided clarity as regards the RSA’s openness to attend the committee. The initial response may have struck the wrong tone and was probably ill judged. I am very glad to see theRSA appear before the Committee of…
Press Release, Monday 24th June Waterford T.D., Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomed the announcement today that the public library services in Waterford will receive funding in order to make Waterford library services more accessible for people with disabilities. The project which will cost €14,823 will receive an allocation of €13,340 from the government to fund a…
Press Release, June 14th, 2024 Waterford T.D., Marc Ó Cathasaigh has said that next week’s Public Accounts Committee hearing with Horse Racing Ireland is vitally important, following the Primetime Investigates programme on the Irish and European horse industries. Speaking today Ó Cathasaigh said “The programme by the RTE Primetime Investigates team was exceptional investigative journalism…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses for their opening presentations and for the materials provided. I will start with the issue of rapid-build modular housing for Ukrainians, people arriving under the temporary protection directive. I do not know if people remember the kind of mini press furore when Passport Express was renamed Post…
Aims to reduce plastic bottle use and provide public access to drinking water Press Release, June 6th 2024 Waterford T.D. Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomed the launch of the nationwide public drinking water fountain scheme which aims to reduce plastic bottle use, litter and provide widespread and easy access to drinking water. The scheme was launched…
Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” In doing so, I am moving that the Bill, entitled an Act to provide for the establishment of a body to be known in the Irish language as an Coimisiún um Ghlúnta sa Todhchaí or in the English language as…
Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh: This question builds on my question in the previous grouping. It relates to two new streams of funding that are being made available for sports clubs. The first is the new fund for outdoor sports equipment, called the participation nation outdoor fund, which is very welcome. Given my political background, I…
Dep. Ó Cathasaigh: A very welcome signal went out to clubs this week about their applications. I welcome the Minister of State’s very strong focus on equality of participation. There is an outdated attitude evident which, thankfully, I think is disappearing. “Keep those girls off the good grass” is one of the things we hear…
Press release, May 23rd Waterford T.D., Marc Ó Cathasaigh has said that the new Small Scale Renewable Energy Support Scheme launched this week will enable communities, farmers and SMEs to join the solar revolution. Ó Cathasaigh said “We know that schools, homes and business have already embraced the idea of generating electricity for their own…
Press Release, May 23rd 2024 Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Green Party T.D. for Waterford met with the CEO of Irish Rail, Jim Meade and Minister Eamon Ryan this week to discuss rail capital investment in the South East. The reopening of the Barrow Bridge was a particular focus of discussion with Dep. Ó Cathasaigh requesting that…
Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh: National parks are a bit like buses; you wait 25 years for one and two of them come along at once. The addition of Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí and Páirc Náisiúnta Bhrú na Bóinne to our store of national parks will be one of the enduring legacies of this Government.…
I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make provision for the protection of hedgerows, to confer power on the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make regulations for the protection of significant hedgerows and for the establishment of a register of significant hedgerows, to prohibit the…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I am an enthusiastic supporter of the well-being framework and the move to go beyond GDP in how we assess the health of our economy in order to remind ourselves that the economy should work for society and not the other way around. I want to raise three issues that should…
Dep. Ó Cathasaigh:I echo Deputy Buckley’s point that the committee worked very hard and in a collegiate fashion. Much of that is down to the Cathaoirleach, Senator Carrigy, who deserves great praise. We were very much supported by AsIAm in that work. We had an initial private session with Adam Harris at which we said…
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Chaitheamar roinnt uaireanta sa Dáil an tseachtain seo ag déanamh díospóireachta ar úsáid na Gaeilge agus ar an gcineál infheistíochta a theastaíonn san oideachas, sa tithíocht agus i gcúrsaí mar sin chun an teanga, atá i ngéarchéim thromchúiseach, a chosaint agus a athbheochan. Tá ár gceantair Ghaeltachta, tobar ár dteanga dhúchais agus…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh Deputy Naughten is Chair of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands. Excellent work is being done by that committee in the area of energy poverty. I have spoken strongly about the fact that we have responded in the short term and cash was the…
There are times when I disagree with Deputy Ó Cuív and more times when I agree with him, but I always listen to him because it is always worth listening to what he has to say. He has always thought it over very deeply. Ar dtús báire, is mian liom a lua, sa tseachtain ina…
Full Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. On 14 February I wrote to the Tánaiste and other Ministers and Ministers of State. The letter was cosigned by a number of my Green Party colleagues. In the letter we called on Ministers to take the opportunity afforded by St. Patrick’s Day…
Full Transcript:Dep. Ó Cathasaigh: For a long time, we have traded on the fact that we are physically very remote, and that insulates us from the kind of cross-border aggression we have seen in eastern Europe. However, cyberwarfare does not know boundaries in the same way. I would like to see that we are adequately…
Full Transcript: Dep. Ó Cathasaigh:The Minister spoke to this in the general but I will ask him a specific question. The chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Marie Donnelly, confirms we are in danger of missing our 2025 targets with all of the attendant consequences, including a lost to the Exchequer of some €8…
Full Transcript:Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh: As others have done, I have no doubt, I acknowledge the presence of the Ukrainian ambassador and the distinguished guests gathered for what is a very sad occasion as we mark the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Two years ago, just on the…
Full Transcript:Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I understand this is the Cabinet committee that discusses our approach to matters at the UN. In September this year, we will have the UN Summit of the Future. At the committee meeting of 4 December, the zero draft text for that UN summit had not yet been finalised. There…
Full Transcript: This is a welcome opportunity to debate these issues in the context of what was a very happy day for all of us looking north, with the return of the Assembly, the restoration of the Executive and the decision of the DUP to re-enter power-sharing. It is fitting to congratulate Michelle O’Neill and…
I very much welcome the provisions of the Bill. My children at home, three lads, are at a point where we are trying to give them a little more independence and let them go to the shop by themselves to pick up sweets or whatever it is. We are trying to drum into them road…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if she has considered designating any further universities, including technological universities, as centres of excellence for the purposes of teacher training education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6340/24] Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I have put this question to the Minister, Deputy Harris, on…
Full Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses. I have a number of issues but I wantto pick up on something other Deputies raised, relating to the CDNTs and CAMHS. As a member of the autism committee, I know there is a huge issue whereby, when someone arrives withan autism diagnosis, they are…
Full Transcript An Ceann Comhairle I call on Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I move: That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the…
Transcript of Dáil debate contribution from Dep. Ó Cathasaigh: I will pick up on a couple of the points made by Deputies Cullinane and Sherlock. This is welcome legislation. The Minister, in a relatively new Department, has made a habit of producing substantial and consequential pieces of legislation. I think back to the Higher Education…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh Over the course of the weekend a number of allegations surfaced relating to a small number of workers with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA. The allegations are serious in nature and I am in no way well placed to make an adjudication on whether they are well founded…
“Quarter 2, 2026” is when we can expect to see trains start to use the new Waterford’s new train station on the North Quays, according to Irish Rail CEO Jim Meade in response to questions raised by Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh. Mr Meade was speaking at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on…
“Irish Rail’s Plans to repair and automate the Barrow Bridge brings the reopening of the Waterford-Rosslare line another step closer to realisation” according to Waterford TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh was speaking after a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport session in which the Waterford Green Party TD questioned Jim Meade, the CEO of…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh The Minister of State has so far been on a tour of the country. He has been in the Shannon Callows and he has been in Celbridge. I will bring him to west Waterford and Deputy Buckley will shortly take him across the Cork-Waterford border to east Cork. I will bring…
Green Party T.D. for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, has welcomed figures released by the NTA showing record-breaking numbers of passengers using public transport in 2023, saying it proves the old line ‘build it and they will come’. Figures released by the NTA today shows a 133% recovery in passenger numbers since 2019, equating to 304…
I draw the Minister’s attention to an issue we are encountering around recruitment of qualified bus and haulage drivers. It is a real constriction point within the economy. We have access to an excellent pool of qualified bus and haulage drivers from abroad but some of the quirks in the system mean that the people…
Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed the announcement of €157,350 for West Waterford projects under the CLÁR Programme which he says will “help revitalise our communities and make them even better places to live and work”. The funding, under the 2023 CLÁR Programme, is part of a broader package of over…
Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh took the opportunity to engage with European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius while attending a high-level Greens/EFA Group Leaders meeting in Brussels recently. During their interaction, they discussed the Commissioner’s recent visit to Ireland to discuss the nitrates derogation and the need to…
Green Party T.D. for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, welcomes the opening of the new Bunmahon Coast Guard facility. The new facility which includes kit rooms, will improve training capabilities and provide the unit with much needed storage space for equipment and vehicles. Fibre broadband provision should allow the unit to potentially send out drones to…
€1.4 million awarded to SETU Waterford to expand apprenticeships across higher education SETU Waterford is to benefit from a €1.4m capital funding to respond to the growing demand for apprenticeships in the higher education sector under plans announced today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD.The funding will…
Waterford food producers are set to ‘benefit from 60% grants for investments in their businesses if they switch to the production of organic food’ according to Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh. He was speaking after the announcement of the €1.5m Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme (OPIG) by his Green Party colleague Minister…
Green Party T.D. for Waterford today welcomed funding for three Waterford Animal Welfare organisations to a total of €107,150. The announcement is made on the 3rd National Animal Welfare Awareness Day. Animal Trust Fund, Waterford has been awarded €15,200, Waterford Animal Welfare has been awarded €37,550 and Waterford SPCA has been awarded €54.400. The funding…
Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes €191,000 capital funding for small community groups and organisations in Waterford. Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes €191,000 capital funding for small community groups and organisations in Waterford. The funding which was announced today by Minister Joe O’Brien and Minister Heather Humphreys is…
I take the opportunity to pay tribute to a long-time member of NESC, Mr. Micheal Ewing, who passed away last week. Michael served for a decade on NESC, representing the environmental pilar. He was instrumental in establishing the environmental pilar which became the fifth pilar of social partnership. He was a kind, considerate and very…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh has announced that €3,302,602 million will be provided to Waterford GAA for the continued redevelopment of Walsh Park. Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh has announced that €3,302,602 million will be provided to Waterford GAA for the continued redevelopment of Walsh Park. The funding will…
Transcript to be posted once available.
We have had quite a while now without a major election in this country, the last one being in February 2020, but 2024 will be a year of elections, between local, European and directly elected mayoral, as well as a referendum and Lord knows what else. Four years might seem a short timeframe, but there…
Full Transcript: Question: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the revised and increased carbon pricing will be published; if there is a particular barrier to its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52341/23] Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh A number of parameters are…
Minister Ossian Smyth and Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh Waterford Primary Schools will be some of the “first schools in the country to receive free Solar Panels” according to Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh was welcoming the launch of the first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic Programme which was announced…
Full TranscriptMarc Ó Cathasaigh: I am glad I came to the Chamber early as the Minister of State might have been lonely on his own in here. I want to bring the Minister of State to Ardmore in west Waterford. It is the place where Waterford derives the moniker of being the Déise. It is…
Green Party T.D. for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed €100,000 for preparatory work to bring two large scale outdoor recreation projects in Waterford to a shovel-ready stage The investment is part of a €2.3 million funding announcement under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) which will be key to enhancing outdoor amenities such as…
Full Transcript: I am glad Deputy O’Rourke referenced the report from Christian Aid and Trócaire. I hosted them in the audiovisual room on Tuesday where they presented their report. I thank the Minister for attending that briefing. I acknowledge the central role the Minister played at COP27 in landing this loss and damage facility, flawed…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am going to dwell on the idea of the public sector spending codes a bit, for me to be clear in my own mind. There is a 2013 document, a substantialrevision in 2019, and then this updated circular in 2023. I have all the parts. I will quote fromthe national…
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this Bill. I am not a member of the Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, so I would not be as close as some other Members to the gestation process the Bill went through. I think it has been shown that the pre-legislative scrutiny process…
“Not unexpected but really welcome news breaking this morning that the government has completed the acquisition of the Waterford Crystal site for the expansion of the SETU campus in Waterford. A lot of long and tricky political work was needed to get to this point, and I’m delighted to see it over the line. The…
Full Transcript: The issue in the Middle East rightly dominated the European Council meeting, just as it is rightly dominating this debate today. Although there is much else happening in the world, it is only right and proper that our attention is focused on the unfolding humanitarian disaster playing out in Gaza. I am looking…
Local radio stations in Waterford have been given reason to celebrate as the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, Catherine Martin TD, unveiled a €2.4 million financial boost for 32 radio stations nationwide through the Broadcasting Fund Sound and Vision Scheme. The award distribution, which varies from €35,000 to a maximum of…
Full Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am going to stick with housing in the broad sense butchange focus. I want to ask about local authority retrofit of social housing. My understandingof it is that the target the Department set is to retrofit all social homes by 2050. By implication,that means by 2049 there will…
Full Transcript: This is a welcome opportunity to discuss another in a series of excellent reports from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, detailing our water quality. The latest is titled, Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022. Broadly-speaking, the EPA has been doing an excellent job in assessing the quality of water in our rivers, lakes,…
Full Transcript:The last time I was knocked down, I was dressed as Big Bird. I do not quite mean that literally but I am 6 ft 1 in. and I was dressed from head to toe in bright yellow. I was going through a roundabout when a driver came in, ploughed into the side of…
It is entirely understandable and correct that the issue in Palestine has dominated this debate so far. However, I draw attention to the fact that Opposition speakers have so far concentrated entirely on that issue to the exclusion of all else. We have other issues coming before this European Council that are maybe not as…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh With the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use completing its deliberations recently, it prompts two questions. First, how we can ensure that the very good work our citizens’ assemblies are producing are not just reports that are idly left on a shelf and that the recommendations are actually implemented in a meaningful…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I have lot of questions so I may have to save some for thesecond round. I want to start by picking up where Deputy Jim O’Callaghan left off. He mentioned equality budgeting, performance budgeting and well-being budgeting and I was struckby the fact that there was no specific reference to the…
Question: 87. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress in the assigning of new schools of veterinary medicine and pharmacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45218/23] Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I wish to ask a question about the plans to formulate new schools…
Full Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I want to start with claims. Looking at theopening statement, it is a bit apples and oranges in terms of how it is expressed. According tothe statement, 2,379 claims have been raised and the employer’s representative has determined1,610 claims of €16.75 million. Then the language changes and it states…
We very recently marked the centenary of Ireland’s accession to the League of Nations, our first faltering steps as a newly formed nation on the international stage and our first subscription to the idea of an international rules-based order. This was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace, founded…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: That was the first question I was going to ask. The Cathaoirleach took the words out of my mouth there.I will return to the metaphor to which Deputy Murphy was alluding, in that we are tryingto build a picture here. We have key pieces of the jigsaw that were hidden down…
Question: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his plans to enhance the impact of the work of smarter travel workplaces and campus programmes in relation to workplaces located in business parks on the outskirts of towns and cities where the planning and design of the parks have resulted in over-reliance on the private car; whether…
Question: 7. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on running a national communications campaign to address driving to, and engine idling at, school gates, to help improve education and awareness of the need for safe roads and clean air for children and to support the roll-out of the Green Schools Safe Routes to School…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee andfor their opening statements and briefing documents attached.I will begin on a very generalised issue. It is a gargantuan budget and it always seems to bespiralling. We know we are heading to a €1.2 billion overrun again this year. From the point…
Part 2 of Topical Issue on EPA Report on Air Quality in Ireland 2022 Full TranscriptI was at the national ploughing championships last week and I was challenged by a man. It was a very interesting discussion and proof that real humans are much nicer than Twitter humans, if we needed such proof. He challenged…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses. I want to make a general point first. Interms of the opening statements we received, Mr. Bakhurst’s was relatively straightforward andMs Ní Raghallaigh’s was similarly so. We received those last night in good time to be able toread and review them. Mr. Lynch’s opening statement blew the…
Full Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses for attending and for their openingstatements. I know Mr. Tubridy is fond of a small quirky fact that tells a story. I am sure heknows as well that 79% of us listen to radio daily here in Ireland, despite everything else that isopen to us,…
Full Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses for appearing today and I thank Mr.O’Donnell for the opening statement. It is unfortunate that no board members are here today,but that is where we find ourselves. This organisation is receiving €27 million in Exchequerfunding but does not have a functioning board in place. The…
Full Transcript: I met recently with an ecologist I know who works very closely with developers as part of her role. She gave me a very simple message, and I think it is one the Minister of State will appreciate. We are just gone three years in government. We spend a lot of time up…
Full Transcript: This had and still has all the ingredients of a good scandal. There are public personas, a public fall from grace, and some messy payments being made, which would be a generous description of how these transactions were conducted. It has dragged out over the course of weeks as we get the continual…
Great news for businesses with the unveiling of a new grant scheme for businesses of all sizes. There is good news for business today with the announcement of a new grant scheme which will help businesses install solar panels with grants ranging from €2,700 to €162,600. The Green Party secured cabinet approval today (July 4th)…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh highlights the urgency of Climate Action as Met Éireann announce that Ireland has experienced the hottest June on record. Met Éireann, has announced that June 2023 will be recorded as the hottest June in history. With average temperatures surpassing 16+°C, this milestone breaks an 83-year-old record, signaling…
Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Ireland’s Nature Following European Court of Justice Ruling Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh has called for urgent action to protect Ireland’s nature following a European Court of Justice ruling. His call follows the verdict which was passed on the position…
Transcript of Question Round 1 Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh It is an appalling vista we are facing. We have to acknowledge there has been huge damage done to public trust in a public broadcaster at a time when high-quality public broadcasting has arguably never been more important for countering the misinformation and disinformation that social…
Full Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh I know Mr. O’Loughlin finds himself in a difficult situation on this. I wish to ask about the voluntary leave aspect, because this is, of course, analogous to some of the drip feed we heard concerning the matter we will be dealing with later this afternoon. Did Mr. O’Brien…
Full Transcript; We have had a number of opportunities to speak about skills and further and higher education recently in the context of the European Year of Skills. It is really welcome and shows a renewed focus on this area. It actually vindicates the idea of having a stand-alone Ministry to deal with further and…
Full TranscriptDeputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am representing the Joint Committee on Social Protection,Community and Rural Development and the Islands. The Cathaoirleach, Deputy Naughten, isnot available today and I am delighted to appear on his behalf and on behalf of the committee.I will start first by referencing the long-awaited policy on the islands that was…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport the outputs from the climate delivery transport task force since its establishment, as indicated in the Climate Action Plan 2023 Annex of Actions; the specific areas and initiatives of climate delivery that are currently under its focus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30185/23] Deputy…
Just as all roads lead to Dublin, all rail tracks lead to Dublin as well. We have come to have a rail system that is hub-and-spoke and what we need is the outside of the wheel. In that context, the mothballed connection between Rosslare and Waterford city and then from Waterford city on to Limerick…
Question: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport the status of the review of the framework for setting of speed limits, with specific consideration of the introduction of a 30 km/h default speed limit in urban areas to improve road safety and take-up of active travel, as outlined in the RSA Action Plan 2021–2024; and if…
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: The announcement from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, earlier today regarding Higher Education Authority plans to expand college courses in a range of areas was very welcome. It is very good news for the South East Technological University, which has been deemed to have…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the Minister. The piece of business he had to do inthe Department of Justice was very short.Deputy Simon Harris: That is so.Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Other Ministers may have used the opportunity to escapethereafter. I am glad he has taken the time to do an “ask me anything” session…
Green Party TD for Waterford welcomes €305,836 for 181 local projects in Waterford under the Community Support Fund 2022. Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh has today welcomed €305,836 funding for 181 Waterford projects in Waterford under the Community Support Fund 2022. The funding, which was announced by Green Party Minister Joe O’Brien…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank Dr. May for her presentation this morning. A lot ofdiscussion has centred around governance, and Dr. May has outlined that there is tension between that development role and the governance role. I think it only makes sense for the personwho is paying over the money to have a responsibility…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the review of public participation networks to ensure they are fit for purpose for climate action, as laid out in appendix 1 of policy measures in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [Ref: 28135/23] Full Transcript:…
** Applications Open for NPWS Farm Plan Scheme for Biodiversity Conservation** *Waterford, 9th June 2023* – Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, has welcomed news that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has opened applications to the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, urging interested farmers and landowners in Co. Waterford to consider applying.…
Green Party TD Encourages Homeowners to Verify Proper Registration for Solar PV Payments Amidst ‘Rooftop Revolution’ Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Green Party TD for Waterford, is urging homeowners who have embraced solar PV technology to ensure they are properly registered to receive payments for electricity exports. With recent ground-breaking measures introduced by the government, the installation…
Framework highlights problems as well as success, Green Party’s Ó Cathasaigh warns Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has cautiously welcomed today’s publication of Ireland’s Wellbeing Framework for 2023 but warned the framework raises questions around the dangers of short-term economic gain at the expense of our environment and our health. The Government began work…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed the announcement by his colleague Min. Pippa Hackett of the establishment of an independent review of her Department’s ash dieback support scheme. The group will review the existing and previous supports available to landowners with ash plantations funded under the National Forestry Programme which are…
To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is forward planning to help fulfil the provisions set out in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021, and in particular the objective that 20% of recruitment into the public service by 2030 will be proficient in the Irish language;…
Transcript: Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I turn to something which was detailed in their opening statement. I want to change tack slightly and look at that heritage element of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service in particular. The figure outlined of the 70% drop in funding…
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Before I turn to the topic at hand, I could not speak on matters relating to the natural world today without marking the sad loss of Michael Viney, who was one of the finest nature writers we have had the fortune to have in this country. The “Another Life” column was founded…
Green Party representatives Marc Ó Cathasaigh and Róisín Garvey have labelled Census 2022 figures around the use of the Irish language as ‘an opportunity to be grasped in the European Year of Skills.’ According to Census 2022, 10% of the 1,874,000 people who can speak Irish reported being able to do so ‘very well’, with…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department’s review of the EIA agriculture regulations will commence; if he will require screening of all hedgerow removal, land drainage and conversion of land to agricultural use, regardless of the scale of such operations, while such a review is ongoing; and if he…
The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss reported at the beginning of last month, having been convened in May 2022 in line with a programme for Government commitment. Over the course of seven months and under the direction of their chair, Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, the 99 citizens heard, weighed and considered the advice of experts,…
I spoke on Drivetime in relation to the EU Nature Restoration Law. Part 1 can be listened to above and Part 2 of the discussion below. Press Release, 24th May 2023 Disheartening to see FG MEPs vote against Nature Restoration Law – Ó Cathasaigh The European People’s Party and Fine Gael must justify to the…
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: The Minister will be aware of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the research and innovation Bill, which is before the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science at the moment. This Bill has been broadly welcomed across the sector. We in this country know the importance of research…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: It has been an extraordinary meeting, and we started by talking about culture change and transparency. I am not sure I have seen that reflected in the someof the language which we have been using. I have some very quick questions regarding theOpera site. Was that proposed site acquisition discussed at…
Green Party TD announces €1,351,000 funding for key Waterford projects under the €50m Community Recognition Scheme which aims to support and recognise the communities hosting Ukrainians and and applicants for International Protection. The scheme will see funding for community facilities and infrastructure such as playgrounds, pocket parks and outdoor exercise equipment throughout the country with…
We recently had a public call for submissions on Ireland’s fourth open government national action plan under four thematic areas: transparency and accountability in public office; citizen decision-making; public access to Government data; and strengthening public trust in Government. I want to ask about the follow-up steps we are taking, how we will implement those…
President Joe Biden, who visited us last month, is famous for saying, “Don’t tell me what you … [care about]. Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you … [care about]”. That very much applies to the ongoing work on the Wellbeing Framework in the Department. It is an important piece work in…
Full Transcript: The Minister, Deputy Harris, informed me on my way into the Chamber that I might be at least partially to blame for this debate because I asked for it during oral questions in the Chamber earlier this year. If I am partially to blame, I am happy to bear that blame because this…
Hundreds of expectant parents will receive a new ‘baby bundle’ in the coming days as part of a pilot announced by Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman. The scheme – a first of its kind in Ireland – will see a ‘Little Baby Bundle’ filled with a range of useful items, including play items to encourage…
Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes EnergyCloud to Waterford City as they install smart EnergyCloud devices in 99 Clúid Housing homes throughout the city this week. Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes EnergyCloud to Waterford City as they install smart EnergyCloud devices in 99 Clúid Housing homes throughout the city this week. The…
TD believes VAT reduction will bring the Rooftop Revolution to Waterford, with householders across the Southeast set to benefit from ‘our solar potential’. Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh believes a VAT reduction will bring the Rooftop Revolution to Waterford, with householders across the Southeast set to benefit from ‘our solar potential’. He…
Full Transcript:Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I want to get through a range of issues but I will start with the horse and greyhound racing fund. The 80:20 split is set in law as I understand it. Is there any flexibility in it?Let us say one of them is performing in a way the State is…
Full Transcript: For many of us, where we come from has been stitched into us, even from the perspective of placenames. I am from Butlerstown. It is no great surprise that Butlerstown Castle is one of the heritage sites that would sit in my mind’s eye. Knockeen Dolmen is less than a mile from my…
Full Transcript Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I welcome the witnesses and thank Ms Buckley and Mr. McCarthy for their opening statements. I do not presume to speak for everybody here but we allshare the same wish, which is to have a planning system that works and makes fair and robustdecisions in a timely manner. We…
It is very welcome that we have a body within the Taoiseach’s Department looking at the idea of strategic foresight. I believe, however, that there should be stronger role for the Oireachtas in this regard. Looking to international examples, Finland is one that jumps out immediately. The government there must make a statement on the…
Green Party T.D. for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh warmly welcomes the funding announced to preserve and promote local monuments and historical sites under the Community Monuments Fund. Blackfriars Abbey and Molana Abbey will each receive €100,000 in funding with Stradbally Church receiving €50,359 and Dromana Tower House receiving €20,086 Dep. Ó Cathasaigh said “This funding…
Proposed changes in the VAT rates levied on solar panels will help ‘accelerate our Rooftop Revolution’, according to Green Party TD, Marc Ó Cathasaigh. Measures being brought to cabinet next week ahead of the Finance Bill could save households up to €1000 on installation costs, with proposals to cut VAT rates on solar panels to…
Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has warmly welcomed Min. Heather Humphreys’ plans to expand the School Meals Programme to all schools by 2030 at the latest. The announcement came as the Minister published an independent evaluation of the School Meals Programme which sets out the positive impact the Programme is having in terms of…
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for this opportunity. This is an issue that has been consistently raised at the committees on education and autism. The staffing issues are a big problem. Does the Minister have the pertinent statistics for CHO5 where I am? As Deputy McAuliffe said, it is not just per CHO. There are…
Full Transcript: I will begin by asking a straightforward and fundamental question: who is this sector currently working for? Who is it working for socially, economically or environmentally? It is difficult to answer that question. In considering the social aspect, people have pointed out the importance of sheep farming and upland farming within our communities.…
Transcript: Picking up on what the Minister said in his last contribution, it has been extremely valuable that a stand-alone Department was created for further and higher education due in particular to the emphasis it has allowed us to put on further education, apprenticeships and skills. We find ourselves in the European Year of Skills.…
An 80% increase in numbers of properties across Waterford availing of energy upgrades is a sign of a retrofitting programme ramping up to meet need, according to Green Party Marc Ó Cathasaigh. According to figures released by the SEAI, the numbers of homes retrofitted in Waterford increased from 436 in 2021 to 785 last year,…
Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has urged eligible communities across Waterford to apply to the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, announced yesterday by Min. Malcolm Noonan. The scheme aims to support community-led projects to restore and protect nature within their communities, with everything from ecological surveys, boardwalks, trails and bird boxes to education and awareness-raising…
Response of Green Party TD, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, to the news that Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has today confirmed approval has been given to the South East Technological University to expand its presence in Waterford. ‘This is a day that a number of us within government…
Ní féidir liom an deis a ligean le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge gan gach rath a ghuí ar “An Cailín Ciúin” san Oscars níos déanaí an tseachtain seo. Is píosa scannánaíocht den chéad scoth é. Taispeánann an scannán álainn seo, a bhfuil gach moladh tuillte aige, conas is féidir le infheistíocht bheag inár n-earnáil scannán…
I want to join with other Deputies in acknowledging and condemning the attack on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell of the PSNI last week. It throws into very sharp focus what we are discussing and the reality of what we ask our police forces to do on a daily basis. There are not many other…
Full Transcript: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I find myself in agreement with much of what Deputy Shortall has said. We have long been proponents in the Green Party of a public banking model. We have to realise that retail banking does a particular job and is structured in a particular…
An Ceann Comhairle The final Topical Issue matter comes from Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, who wishes to discuss upland burning and land management practice, which are very topical issues. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for being here to deal with the matter. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh As the Ceann Comhairle said, these are…
D’fhiafraigh Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán conas a thacófar le hathrú aeráide agus le hoiriúnú aeráide sna réigiúin Ghaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8501/23] I have to mention that there is a Waterford film at the Oscars as well and not only one from Achill. Beidh a fhios…
Full Transcript: The Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children appeared before the Joint Committee on Autism this morning, as did representatives of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC. Among the many issues that were raised around the provision of services for autistic people, a recurring theme was the need to revisit the Disability…
Full Transcript: The Minister will not be surprised to see me coming in on this. He rightly referenced that Waterford has built on-campus student accommodation. There has been welcome Government interventions on student accommodation, particularly in the case of technological universities, which will be allowed to borrow in order to fund student accommodation for the…
Full Transcript: I wish to discuss the Youth Arts Now report commissioned by the local authority arts services of Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford and Waterford, together with Creative Ireland Waterford, and facilitated by Waterford Youth Arts. It was launched this day last week in Smock Alley Theatre. It was fantastic to see so many young artists…
Introduction of my Private Members Bill – the Commission for Future Generations 2023 – in the Dáil. Full transcript below: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment of a body, to be known in the Irish language as an Coimisiún um Ghlúnta sa Todhchaí…
Full transcript: I am delighted to have an opportunity to contribute to the debate. I thank the chair of the committee, Senator Carrigy, and I thank Deputy Buckley for moving the motion. The committee took the decision to issue an interim report because it was important that enough lead-in time be given for the recommendations…
The Climate Action Plan 2023 is launched today having been approved by Cabinet. ClimateActionPlan 2023 plan builds on the ambition of the 2022 plan outlining a series of measures that must be followed in each sector of the economy in order for Ireland to meet it’s binding target of cutting emissions by 51% by 2030…
Full Transcript; I echo Deputy Howlin’s comments regarding how interesting it is to reflect on the agenda of the EU Council meeting and how we could not have foreseen many of the items on it when we look back to the start of the Taoiseach’s tenure. It is interesting in the context of not just…
Changes made to the qualifying criteria for the fuel allowance will make the payment available to hundreds of families across Waterford for the first time from January, a development welcomed by Green Party TD, Marc Ó Cathasaigh. Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist pensioners and other low-income households with their winter heating costs,…
I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for giving me the opportunity to get out of the Chair slightly early so that I could take a speaking slot. Although it might seem frivolous, when reflecting on the achievements and otherwise of COP 27, I think of the Sergio Leone film, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.…
Full Transcript: Marc Ó Cathasaigh This issue has already been teased out in the discussion this morning. There is a well-acknowledged issue around recruitment and, in particular, retention in our Defence Forces. I ask about the progress made on fulfilling the Government commitment to increase recruitment in the Defence Forces by 2028. Deputy Simon Coveney…
Full Transcript: Before I address my substantive points, I note that one of the benefits of sharing the duties of chairing the House with the Ceann Comhairle is that one gets to listen to debates in depth. Much of the debate on the Bill has been good. I do not know whether anybody has eulogised…
There has never been a man like my father for answering a question with a question. Maybe it was his way of dealing with four inquisitive children when he was bringing us up, but I doubt it. I feel he probably came hard-wired that way. In any case, it was, and still is at times,…
Transport Minister Ryan launches transformative Pathfinder Projects to bring more public transport, walking and cycling options to villages, towns, and cities by 2025 Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D. today launched the Pathfinder Programme of 35 exemplar transport projects to be delivered by local authorities and agencies around the country within the next three years,…
Gabhaim buíochas as an deis labhairt ar an mBille. De réir mar a thuigim, níl sé ar intinn ag an Aire Stáit cur ina choinne agus tacaím leis an seasamh sin. Níl an Bille gan locht agus aithním go bhfuil ceisteanna tromchúiseacha ardaithe ag an Aire Stáit ach cabhróidh an díospóireacht seo agus, má théann…
Full Transcript: I smiled wryly at Deputy Ó Ríordáin’s characterisation of the quips and one-liners because at the start we saw secondary school students in the Gallery and by God they came into a technical and dry discussion. They could have done with a few more quips and one-liners and fair play to them for…
Full Transcript: There seems to be a broad consensus that something needs to be done. I am hearing from Sinn Féin that they will be supporting the passage of the Bill through the House. I understand that there is a difference in the approach that Sinn Féin would take over the Government parties. I happen…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed confirmation from the National Transport Authority that there is a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to serve local transport demand from Portlaw, Dunmore East and Passage East into Waterford City. This follows on from the news of Suirway’s withdrawal from providing bus services from the 31st…
Full Transcript:I am relieved that Deputy Ó Murchú has left the Chamber because I was intimidated by the stellar heights of grade 5. I could manage the right hand and the left hand but playing two hands together at any given time always eluded me. Preparing for this debate I read through the Boaden report.…
I spoke in the Dáil on the closure of Suirway Bus service and the impact it would have on the people of Dunmore, Portlaw and Passage East. Full Transcript: This Monday, commuters, public transport users and schoolkids in Dunmore East, Passage East and Portlaw heard the news that the operator they have relied upon for…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh has welcomed the announcement that 33 grants for artists and creative arts workers have been awarded in Waterford through the once-in-a-generation Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme. The pilot scheme will see 2,000 artists nationwide receive a basic income of €325 per week over 3 years…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, has welcomed the announcement that AIB is to reverse its decision to move to cashless branches at 70 locations across the country. The decision, which was set to have impacted services in Ardkeen, Lismore and Tramore, will not now go ahead after significant public and political pressure…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, has welcomed moves by the Department of Agriculture to develop and promote Irish wool, an important potential revenue stream for sheep farmers. Responding to the launch of the Wool Feasibility Report earlier this month, Dep. Ó Cathasaigh outlined the steps being taken to develop and value an…
The plan to increase and improve rural transport, a key Green Party led commitment in the Programme for Government, took another important step forward this week with the publication of the 2022 Implementation Schedule for the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, which includes proposals for new bus routes across Co. Waterford. It signals the first…
Full Transcript:I thank the Taoiseach for his comprehensive update on what was discussed at the European Council. None of us is surprised that the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the resulting outcomes dominated much of the meeting. It is striking to hear the language used and reiterated by the Taoiseach in describing some of the…
Full Transcript: I thank Deputy Pringle for bringing this Bill to the House. He may be disappointed at the Government’s approach. I accept that. However, I think it is useful for him to have sparked off the conversation and to have prompted a Government response on this. The Deputy will not be surprised to hear…
Full Transcript: I start this contribution by saying that I fully agree with the points raised by Deputy Ó Ríordáin on the need to tackle this issue within our schools and in respect of employment equality. I have known teaching colleagues during my career who have not felt that that they could be open about…
Full Transcript:Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: The second report on Ireland’s well-being framework was published at the beginning of this month. It mirrors very closely the OECD Better Life Index, which is excellent in many respects but largely silent on questions of language and culture. Does the Minister see a role for a specific dimension within…
The response to the war in Ukraine dominates the agenda of this European Council, and rightly so. We would fully expect that. I have just emerged from a Dóchas briefing in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, where it was spelled out in real and very stark terms how the impact of…
A document on well-being measures is progressing through the Cabinet. It is based closely on the OECD Better Life Index. One of the factors measured is education. One of the other things measured in the OECD framework is the idea of different forms of capital and of human capital being one of them. Investing in…
Full Transcript: I thank Deputy Duffy for agreeing to share time with me. I will start with a nod to Waterford because it is mentioned throughout the report. The report is excellent and should be important if its recommendations are implemented. I hope it will become important. Waterford is rightly mentioned in that it has…
Full Transcript: I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It is a conversation we will need to rehearse over and again in the coming years and decades. A just transition has at its core the principle of solidarity so that, as we make changes to our economy and society in…
Full transcript: I am apt to quoting song lyrics in this house. Today, an obvious one leaps out as a good fit, which is Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”. It goes, “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.” We cannot continue to make these lyrics true.…
Full Transcript I recently said there is a phrase that should be written on the wall of every office in this Oireachtas. It reads: “Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future.” This was said by Hans-Otto Pörtner, one of the Intergovernmental Panel…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is working with Enterprise Ireland to establish a construction technology centre this year to bring together research, expertise and industry to look at innovation in the built environment. The urgency of this cannot be overstated. We very much need to move towards sustainable materials…
Full Transcript: The question relates to an issue affecting the constituencies of the Minister and the Ministers of State, Deputy Matthews’s constituency in Wicklow, as well as Wexford, my own constituency of Waterford and around the coast into Cork. I am referring to the large-scale development of offshore wind. What steps will the Minister take…
Full Transcript will be available at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2022-04-06/11/ I ran my first marathon in 2009, many years and indeed many kilos ago. That may not seem in any way germane to the issue being discussed. But I learned an important lesson that day about what happens when human excuses meet immutable, external realities. I had bargained…
Waterford Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has today welcomed €339,755 funding for 5 key heritage projects in Waterford. The funding announced today by Minister Malcolm Noonan has been allocated to Waterford City & County Council under the Historic Structures Fund which is administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with regard to the resultant and expected global food shortages and the impact on Ireland’s overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter Transcript Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh The Minister referred to…
My Dáil Contribution regarding the need for a planned response for meeting the education needs of children coming to Ireland from Ukraine. Transcript Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh If the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Minister of State remain lawyers despite their current occupation, then I remain a primary school teacher, and I am very much proud to…
Transcript of my Dáil Contribution on the Report on the Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss the report. It is particularly timely and fitting that it is discussed in the week we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the declaration of Traveller ethnicity. It was extremely important, symbolically…
Agus mé ag ullmhú do mo chuid cainte tráthnóna inniu, d’fhéach mé siar ar an óráid a rinne mé an bhliain seo caite ar an ábhar céanna. Dá mbeinn leisciúil agus mé ag ullmhú, d’fhéadfainn an óráid sin a phriontáil amach chun í a úsáid arís. Go deimhin, creideann na Glasaigh san athchúrsáil agus b’fhéidir…
Ba mhaith liom aird an Taoisigh a tharraingt ar an bhfeachtas atá á reáchtáil ag Aontas Máistrí Poist na hÉireann, nó the Irish Postmasters’ Union. Bhuail mé le hionadaithe an cheardchumainn i bPort Láirge an tseachtain seo agus cé gur luaigh siad na fadhbanna atá acu, luaigh siad freisin na réitithe ar na fadhbanna sin.…
Transcript: I wanted to put a question to the Minister on the promotion and enabling of e-health. Over the course of the Covid pandemic, we have seen a considerable move towards working from home. We have also seen the ill-effects of the cyberattack. I wanted to ask him what steps have been taken by the…
Before I begin to talk about the town centre first policy, I wish to acknowledge the members of the Ukrainian community that are outside the gates today. Trying to relate the personal stories of the people at the gates to the large scale of the war on Europe is unthinkable. It does not touch on…
This is a welcome chance to discuss an important and substantial piece of work that issues every year from Social Justice Ireland, which tracks our attainment in terms of the sustainable progress index or sustainable development goals over of the year. I raised this issue this time last year and submitted a similar Topical Issue.…
Transcript: I acknowledge the contribution of Deputy Gino Kenny. He has a strong record of campaigning in this regard, which deserves to be acknowledged. There are elements in this Government who will push this forward. It matters to us too. I respect his record on this issue in particular. This matters to the Green Party.…
Two seemingly innocuous sections in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which passed Second Stage late last year, are likely to have outsized impact on our roads and on the cars and drivers using them into the future. While they are an instance of the law trying to keep pace or catch up with…
Establishing a Commission on Taxation and Welfare was one of the little heralded but very important commitments set out in the Programme for Government. Ireland has what is, on the whole, quite a progressive and redistributive system, but there are issues that should be examined – for instance, are we over-reliant on Corporate Tax revenues,…
It’s been a long while since I read any Plato, and over 20 years since I read his Dialogues and much water has passed under many bridges since then. But despite the passing of time and the enormous change in context, particularly the technological context, listening to Melvin Bragg’s ever informative In Our Time podcast…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, has welcomed this morning’s announcement that Dungarvan is to receive almost €1.4m under the Government’s Rural Regeneration Fund. The project, to develop a Digital Transformation Hub, providing 90 co-working spaces and an incubation, innovation and commercialisation hub, was one of 27 landmark regeneration projects selected under funding…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, welcomes significant national funding to create and extend Greenways in Ireland. Two-thirds of a billion euro have been allocated to Local Authorities to advance the delivery and connection of Greenways in 2022, along with key National Road Projects. This will see connectivity between counties and will open…
I spoke in the Dáil in December on the subject of the sub-standard wastewater situation in Bonmahon. I raised the issue first with the Tánaiste and subsequently with my Green Party colleague, Malcolm Noonan, T.D. and invited him to visit Bonmahon with me to meet the local campaigners and see the issue on the ground.…
I join other Deputies in extending my best Christmas wishes to people. Across society, we are exhausted. We have learned more about the Greek alphabet than any of us cared to learn and the sooner we forget it the better. People in the healthcare system are exhausted, as are those in the education system. I will stick…
I spoke in the Dáil with regard to the Town Centre First approach. The town centre first approach is writ large across the programme for Government. It has since been put at the heart of the Our Rural Future document and Housing for All. Our towns and villages offer a serious quality of life proposition,…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes a jobs boost for Waterford with the announcement by Infosys BPM of an expansion which will see 250 new jobs brought to the city. The new centre in Waterford will provide voice support, customer service and technical support operations for large global enterprises. The new roles…
Green Party TD for Waterford Marc Ó Cathasaigh TD today welcomes the announcement of €562,141 funding for Waterford projects under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme which was announced today by Minister Heather Humphries in partnership with Fáilte Ireland . The scheme which is operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development will see €15.5…
Green Party TD for Waterford welcomes almost €40,000 funding for Waterford and South Tipperary Community Youth Service ChillOUT-Reach programme which will work on building LGBTI+ inclusion in rural communities. The funding (€39,797 ) which was announced by Roderic O’Gorman TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will be used by the organisation to…
Great news for Waterford this morning with the announcement of 100 new tech jobs over the next two years. The jobs were announced by Tegus, a provider of primary business and market intelligence who are setting up their European Headquarters in Waterford. They will open their initial base in Boxworks. With Waterford being voted ‘Best place…
I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak on this second substantive interim report of the Farrelly commission of investigation. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, as well for her opening statement. These reports make for extremely difficult reading. They are long, detailed and harrowing in the extreme. Amid all this information,…
Green Party TD welcomes significant improvements in water supply in west Waterford. Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes the announcement of a significant upgrade to the Ardmore water mains which will support the economic and social development of the area and provide a clean and reliable water supply to residents, visitors and…
Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh says that “We must take this opportunity to live up to the expectations of our young people”, as the Climate Action Plan is launched today. Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh says that “We must take this opportunity to live up to the expectations of…
Sports Capital Programme November 30, 2020 As we look forward to Waterford’s place in the upcoming Hurling All Ireland Final, sport is on the mind of everyone in the county! 2020 has been a year like no other for sport in Ireland but I’m happy to see that registration for the Sports Capital Programme opens…
Since 2018, €56 million has been spent on Technical University projects throughout Ireland. Of that, the Technical University of the South East (TUSE) has only received €8.1 million, or 14% of the total budget. Much less than funds allocated to either Dublin, Cork or Galway, all of which are regions with existing universities. These figures…
Wellbeing Indicators Dublin, November 17, 2020 My Green Party colleagues and I launched our Wellbeing Indicators Position Paper earlier today. We believe that GDP is not a way to measure the wellbeing and the quality of life of Irish Citizens; it’s time we looked to Wellbeing Indicators to measure the welfare of the Irish nation…
Child Flu Vaccine Nov 12, 2020 I spoke in the Dáil this week about the Flu Vaccine programme 2020. Our GPs and Pharmacists have been extremely busy rolling out an unprecedent number of Adult Flu Vaccines and also the Children’s Flu Vaccine. Unfortunately it seems we won’t receive more Adult #FluVaccine due to global supply…
More monitoring needed to access the scale of the problem A motion calling for the EPA to address the Waterford Metropolitan District ‘as a matter of urgency to discuss air-quality monitoring throughout the metropolitan region’ received unanimous support in the chamber last Monday. The motion, put down by Green Party councillor Marc Ó Cathasaigh, came…
Precarious Funding Situation puts the Centre’s Ongoing Work at Risk Concerns have emerged about the future of the National Biodiversity Data Centre due to lack of clarity around the renewal of staff contracts for 2020. The agency, which is based out of WIT’s Carriganore Campus, is a national centre for the collection and analysis of…
