REGIONAL IRELAND & THE BORDER,MIDLANDS & WEST REGION
Each speech listed here is an edited speech. If you'd like to see the speech or debate in full, please go to the Oireachtas website and click on "Seanad Eireann" and then "Seanad Debates" and click on the relevant date as listed with each speech on this page.
Shell Corrib Gas Field (28/04/09)
Shell Corrib Gas Field (23/04/09)
Development of the West (24/02/09)
West of Ireland (05/02/09)
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 (29/01/09)
Regional Ireland (04/10/07)
National Development Plan (30/05/06)
Corrib Gas Field (06/10/05)
Development of BMW Region (16/02/05)
Back to top of the page
Shell Corrib Gas Field
28/04/09 - I want to make clear in this situation that as somebody who have been a constant critic of Shell for more decades than I care to remember and who has been a street protestor all my life, addressed protest meetings, sat on streets and engaged in civil actions against various matters time and again, I support and admire people who take such actions. However, I do not, will not and cannot condone the kind of intimidation that is going on at present.
I received a telephone call from a young man during the week. He is a young newly-qualified engineer with a job with a company which got some work from Shell and who is working down there. He spoke of people coming outside his door, blowing horns and intimidating families. It is quite appalling. This idea of balaclava-clad people breaking in and attacking workers is something which I will not and cannot support. If we put it up to Shell with stringent regulations, laws and requirements, arraign it in front of boards and make it jump the bar, and it does all that, then we, in a democracy, have a clear responsibility to ensure the law of the land is maintained. What is happening in Mayo, where people are fearful of speaking out and being intimidated, is far from left-wing activity. It smacks more of fascism. All last week’s activities must be investigated. I have heard claim and counter-claim and spoken to people on all sides. However, I have no time for balaclava-clad people in the dead of night imposing and supporting terror. No democratically elected person can have time for such activity. I completely disagree with the Government handing away the mineral rights of this country for a song to Shell and to others. …. That is, however, another issue. The fact is that the law is in place. I voted against it and I was outvoted. The Government should take control of this and support the Garda in Mayo whose members are badly used and misused. …. I also hope the two Eamons, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, would stop their popularity contest in Mayo and take action on this issue.
Back to top of the page
Shell Corrib Gas Field
23/04/09 - I would specifically like a debate on what is going on in north Mayo. I am no apologist for Shell and I have major reservations about the deal we have done concerning offshore exploration. However, we will be 95% dependent on imported foreign energy from next year, as soon as the Kinsale gasfield finishes, which it almost has. Shell does not own the infrastructure and it cannot distribute gas through Ireland without our say so. We own the infrastructure through An Bord Gáis and we need to get that gas ashore. I do not speak for Shell but we have established democratic structures. We have gone through the process and Shell has met all the demands required of it at this stage. That gas should be brought ashore for the Irish people, not for Shell.
… there is a lack of political leadership on this issue. People are afraid to take on protestors. I come from a left perspective on this issue. I do not agree with any kind of fascist action which undermines democracy and I will fight against it. I am also looking at two Government Ministers — the two Eamons — Deputy Eamon Ryan and Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, who are engaged in some kind of popularity contest in the west. They are competing against each other as to who can be the most amenable to everybody around them. There are issues at stake for the Irish people and the future of Irish energy independence, so we need stronger political leadership on the question of getting the gas onshore in Mayo.
Back to top of the page
Development of the West
24/02/09 - Ró-mhinic sa Teach seo, dírímid ar deacrachtaí timpeallachta ar leith a bhaineann le Dáilcheantar ar leith. An rud tábhachtach faoin díospóireacht seo ná go bhfuilimid ag féachaint ar an réigiún ar fad. Tá sé sin thar a bheith tábhachtach. Dá mbeadh guth amháin ag iarthar na tíre, braithim go ndéanfaí i bhfad níos mó ar son an taobh sin den tír. Ba mhaith liom sampla a thabhairt ó thaobh bóithre de. Nuair a bhí cinneadh le déanamh ag an National Roads Authority cúpla bliain ó shin maidir le ciorraithe — bhí ar an údarás feachtais áirithe a chur ar leataobh ar feadh bliain nó dhó — b’iad na bóithre a bhí ag dul i dtreo an iarthair a chuireadh chun deiridh. Tarlaíonn sé sin i gcónaí. Tá an ceart ag an Aire nuair a deireann sé go bhfuil an caighdeán maireachtála nó pé rud a ghlaoitear air san iarthar thar barr agus is deacair é a shárú in aon tslí.
Nuair a fhéachann tú ar iarthar na tíre agus ar imeall fharraige agus ar imeall Atlantach na tíre seo, is dócha gur féidir a rá go bhfuil an t-aer féin, an fharraige féin agus meon na ndaoine agus draíocht ar leith a bhaineann leis an áit sin agus tá siad sin thar a bheith tábhachtach. Ach, ag féachaint ar na rudaí sin, táim ag iarraidh é seo a mholadh agus díriú isteach ar seo mar shampla de rud nach bhfuil ag tarlú agus nílim ag cur seo ar bhráid an Tí mar aon sórt gearán ach deirtear in san rud a chuir an tAire amach chugainn “for some time I have been working with my colleagues to see how we can unlock the potential for marine leisure within existing resource”. I ndáiríre tá seans i ndiaidh seans i gcónaí chun é sin a dhéanamh.
Bhí an plean náisiúnta ag na Rialtas seo deich mbliain ó shin agus bhí mar cheann des na aidhmeanna an uair sin ná go mbeadh, agus is cuimhin an frása a bhí ann, “a necklace of marinas along the west coast of Ireland”. Cad a tharla? Is féidir leat dul i mbáid ó chathair Chorcaigh go Cionn tSáile go hOileán Béara go Cathair Saidhbhín go dtí Daingean Uí Chúis isteach go dtí bá Thrá Lí ansin go dtí Kilrush and that is where it stops. Cén fáth? Ba chóir go mbeadh marina chomh maith in Dúlainn i mBaile Uí Bheacáin. Tá ceann á thógáil i dháilcheantar an tAire áit éigin in aice le cathair na Gaillimhe ach ba chóir go mbeadh ceann chomh maith in oileán Árainn amach anseo sa Chlochán agus ar fud na tíre. …. It does not take huge money. Floating moorings are not that expensive ach an deacracht atá ann tá deis anois ann á chailliúint againn i mbliana when you could have hundreds of boats.
An deacracht i gcónaí a bhaineann le iarthar na tíre seo ná bhfuil an t-infreastruchtúr i gcónaí dírithe i dtreo Baile Átha Cliath. An rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeadh infreastruchtúr ann ag dul ó tuaisceart go deisceart agus visa versa. Sin an tábhachtach ar leith a bhaineann leis an mbóthar nua sin ó Sligeach síos tríd Gaillimh agus tríd Luimneach go dtí Corcaigh, the Atlantic highway nó pé rud a glaoitear air. Sin an fáth chomh maith agus sin rud atá luaite ag an tSeanadóir Pearce Doherty cúpla uair roimhe seo go bhfuil tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis an iarnród. Is dóigh liom i ndáiríre go bhfuil sé ag dul ó Luimneach go dtí Baile Átha an Rí ach an deacracht atá ann ná, go mba chóir go mbeadh sé ag dul, amach anseo, níos faide ná Clár Chlainne Mhuiris go dtí Sligeach agus ó Shligeach go dtí Leitir Ceanainn agus Doire. Dá mba rud é go raibh an toil pholaitiúil ann chun é sin a chur chun cinn, bheadh sé thar a bheith tábhachtach.
Ní féidir liom smaoineamh ar aon rud níos tábhachtaí ná iarthar na tíre a oscailt. An rud eile is tábhachtaí, rud atá curtha chun cinn cúpla uair ag an Seanadóir Mark MacSharry, nach bhfuil ollscoil san taobh sin tíre sa phoblacht ar aon nós agus ba chóir go mbeadh sé sin ann chomh maith. Ba chóir go mbeadh, gan amhras, seans ag daoine a gcuid oideachas ar fad a bheith acu timpeall a n-áit dúchais féin. Tá sé sa tuarascáil nach mbíonn ró-sheans ag céimithe fostaíocht a fháil timpeall a n-áit dúchais féin agus is mór an trua sin. Cén fáth go bhfuil an deacracht sin ann? Ceann des na deacrachtaí is mó a bhaineann leis sin ná ganntanas infreastuchtúr, mar shampla broadband. Níl an banda leathan ar fáil in a lán áiteanna.
… an tábhacht ar leith a bhaineann le feirmeoireacht glas nó tionsclaíocht glas agus tá an-seans chun é sin a dhéanamh in iarthar na tíre. Mar gheall ar gur oileán sin, tá an-seans againn dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. …. tuigeann gach aon duine an tábhacht a bhaineann le, go mbeadh coinníollacha seachas ceadú a thabhairt do dhaoine. If you are producing half a million sandwiches a day, gan amhras is cinnte gur cóir go mbeadh coinníollacha ar leith ag baint leis sin ach an deacracht, agus tá sé chomh simplí leis seo .. má tá an duine i sráid bhaile nach bhfuil ach ag cur le chéile 100 nó abair 20 dosaen de cheapairí in aghaidh an lae, bíonn air nó uirthi na coinníollacha céanna a chomhlíonadh is a bhíonn ag an tionscal mór. That is the difference, agus mar gheall ar sin ní bhíonn an dara seans ag aon sórt cottage industry, aon sórt tionsclaíocht beag nó micro-tionsclaíocht. Ní gá go mbeadh sé mar sin, ní tharlaíonn sé sin sa Fhrainc agus ní ceart agus ní gá an milleán a chur ar an Eoraip mar gheall ar sin mar baineann sé sin linn féin na coinníollacha nó na cinneadh atá tógtha againn féin anseo.
… is dócha gurb é infreastruchtúr ar nós bóithre agus leathanbhanda an rud is tábhachtaí domsa. Tá gá le leathanbhanda chun seans a thabhairt do dhaoine tionsclaíocht agus fostaíocht a chur chun cinn ina áiteanna dhúchais fhéin. Táimid ag brath ar sin, fiú amháin ó thaobh turasóireacht de. Tugann a lán daoine an oifig leo nuair a théann siad ar saoire. Bíonn díoma orthu muna bhfuil 3G ar fáil ar a fón póca, nó muna féidir leo an laptop a úsáid, san áit ina bhfuil siad. Téann sé sin i gcoinne an áit. Is féidir linn a lán rudaí beaga a dhéanamh.
It is hugely important to have a wide-ranging debate on the west of Ireland chun go mbeidh tuiscint ag muintir an iarthar go bhfuilimid ann dóibh agus go bhfuilimid sásta iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar na deacrachtaí ar leith a bhaineann le dul chun cinn agus forbairt réigiúnach.
Back to top of the page
West of Ireland
05/02/09 - Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh díospóireacht againn ar the west, iarthar na tíre seo. Tá tuarascáil curtha i gcló anois ag an Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Chuir an Seanadóir Pearse Doherty an tuarascáil le chéile. This report on the west has been accepted by the committee and ba mhaith liom go mbeadh díospóireacht air sin. Tá a lán rudaí ag baint leis sin ó thaobh tionscail na hiascaireachta, bóithre, iarnróid agus fostaíochta de agus ó thaobh a lán rudaí eile de chomh maith. Is maith agus is cóir go mbeadh díospóireacht againn air sin.
Back to top of the page
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008
29/01/09 - I am very concerned about the shift eastwards of the representatives in Dáil Éireann. There is a problem there. I recognise and accept what is in the Constitution. However, I believe representation should be based not just on population, but also on geography. While I accept that would require a constitutional amendment, I would like to have a debate on it. ….. I believe I have heard the Minister say that county boundaries should be kept and we should stick with those to some extent. I am not sure I would agree because the shift in population might overrule that and counties could be left with their boundaries intact but without representation. We need a combination of both.
It is appalling that in my time in politics places like Mayo, Leitrim, Kerry, Limerick, Monaghan and others have lost representation which is moving to the east coast. That will result in an imbalance. [The Minister] knows the point I am making about the importance of regionalisation and regional representation. There is a rational argument to be made along those lines.
The Constituency Commission bottled it in the sense that it could have
increased the number of Deputies. The reason it did not do so is because it is afraid of the media. … If people believe we have too many Deputies, to get rid of that argument once and for all, the Minister should have a referendum in every county to ascertain how many counties want to lose a Deputy. We can then ask the question as to whether the number of Deputies should be reduced. That will finish that argument.
There were appalling reports yesterday by media people, who should know better, informing the population that only two or three people were sitting in the Dáil Chamber for a debate. There is a very simple answer to that. By the way there was only one person in the Press Gallery. What were the journalists doing? All 36 of them are being paid in here. They were not in there at all. In reality the members of the press, like Members of the Houses, were watching it in their offices. They were doing work, watching it on television monitors and coming in when their speaking time was allocated to them. It would have been a total waste of time to have them sitting in the Dáil Chamber listening to the debate if they could not make a contribution, which they would subsequently make in their own time. That is not a difficult message to get across to people.
The Minister referred to local democracy and stated he would introduce legislation. Two issues concern me with regard to local democracy, one of which relates to my home town of Dingle and which I will not raise now. The other relates to respect and funding for local democracy, even if it means bringing back local charges. We must give power to local democracy, which means spending money. People must see the money they are contributing being spent in their area for their good by those they elect to represent them. People will gravitate towards direct mayoral elections. Local democracy is enhanced all over Europe by the fact that in small towns and villages people of significance are honoured and respected because they will run for mayor.
The Minister should press ahead with Seanad reform. There is a cynical view that many of us who call for such reform are not really looking for it. We want this done. ... As long as we take irrevocable decisions, I am not opposed to allowing colleagues a full electoral period to adjust; therefore, the necessary changes would not have to come into operation until after the next election.
Back to top of the page
Regional Ireland
04/10/07 - We need to discuss the entire west of Ireland, from Malin to Schull. What always happens here is that people are focused on their own constituencies, and we lose the big picture. It is hard to believe but for years it was difficult to get co-ordinated support for the western rail corridor. People conveniently forget this but it is the truth. People did not see the value of the rail corridor because they were not looking at the whole issue. As an Independent who will never stand for the Dáil, with no vested interests, I have a serious concern that the voice of the west will be lost when constituency reviews take TDs from the west and move them to the east, chasing the population. Logically, that is what will happen.
The only way to deal with this is to look at it from a different point of view. I will be shot on sight by the media for saying this but even if it means increasing the number of TDs, we must ensure the voice of the regions of the west is fully articulated and heard. This is happening all along the west coast. From a disinterested point of view — it makes no difference to me personally or to anyone in this House from any party — I think this is wrong and we need to consider and focus on this issue.
Back to top of the page
National Development Plan
30/05/06 -I appreciate and support the improvements the Minister outlined for the Dublin-Westport, Dublin-Ballina, Dublin-Galway and Dublin-Sligo lines. These are much needed crucial developments. I would like a clear commitment in the next national development plan to a rail schedule that will ensure a train every hour from Dublin to Sligo, Mayo and Galway.
At a recent briefing of Members with various rural groups involved in housing and related matters there was talk about the difficulty of developing rural areas. We must ask ourselves what rural Ireland needs, what is important to it and how we can make it live. It is important that people who want to live all their lives in the area are able to do so. If we had a train every hour from Dublin to the areas in the west I mentioned, a person could attend third level education in Dublin, commute and still live in the west if necessary. This sort of commute happens in most other countries. Commuting time would only take two and a half hours or less, depending on the type of train. If people live in the west during their college years, they are more likely to stay there after they have graduated. It is a hugely important issue.
I welcome the commitment by the Minister for Finance to research and development in education, for example in the institutes of technology and colleges. We need to harness what is available to us. We have invested a great deal in the intellectual ability of the people of the west, many of whom would like to further develop their intellectual capacity. They are unable to do so because they are too far from the main colleges to study for master’s degrees, etc.
Incredibly bright people throughout the west are running their homes, rearing their families and doing jobs somewhere. Many of them would like to exercise their mental functions to a greater extent. They could do so if there was more access to on-line and distance education. It is a very simple thing to do. There is a huge possibility of harnessing the intellectual energy and ability of people throughout the BMW region in that way.
I was pleased by the Minister’s commitment in the budget, which he restated today, to develop the areas of research and development, information technology and the universities in the BMW region. It is magic. It is an example of the kind of synergies and energies to which we need to give direction. It was the most important thing in the Minister’s speech today.
I would like to link the issue of broadband with the future of our airports. I do not want to discuss privatisation and State ownership, etc. When services go wrong, those who are furthest from the general centre of services are the first to lose out. The further one is from Dublin, the more one suffers if services go backwards. I worry that we have gone back to the future with Eircom.
I mention that because airports are so important. There are airports in the BMW region in Sligo, Knock and Galway. Galway and Sligo airports need to be developed and Knock Airport needs investment. I do not want them to be privatised or taken out of State hands, not for reasons relating to a philosophy or any kind of “ism” but because if we do so, like we did when we gave Eircom, through four owners, to Babcock & Brown, we will send our airline system back to the days of Alcock and Brown. We should not sell that system or move towards selling it without having a clear understanding of where we are going. I firmly believe that the infrastructure of our air services is of more crucial importance to the west of Ireland than it is to anywhere else.
Back to top of the page
Corrib Gas Field
06/10/05 - My greatest concern is the safety issue and the fact that the people of Mayo are getting nothing out of the gas find. The people of Belmullet, the town closest to the gas find, and also the other towns mentioned, should get access to the gas and get the value of it. Even if the safety audit finds the gas pipeline to be safe, it should be moved further away from houses. The gas could be brought in along by the river bed. It does not need to come to shore at the point chosen. It could come along the bed of the river which flows into the sea there, or could go further down the bay, away from the houses. That is crucial. It is also crucial that the gas be taken into Ireland. We need it for security of supply among other things.
We should not forget too that there are currently 350 people unemployed in north Mayo because of work on the pipeline being stopped. I am not saying this has anything to do with the safety issue, which is separate. Nothing will ever be 100% safe. As soon as we satisfy ourselves that it is as safe as can be, we should then move the pipeline away from the houses. We should also ensure that Shell complies with the law.
I have never trusted Shell, particularly given what Senator Kitt has said and how Shell operated in Nigeria for years. I have spoken many times about Shell over the years. I do not believe Shell most of the time and, in many ways, the company has bullied the local people. At the same time, however, the local people should recognise what they are up against. They should be clear about their objectives and accept that mediation will only work if both sides agree to move their positions slightly. The issue that unites everybody is safety. Let us get the safety issue dealt with, after which the question of moving the pipeline and other matters can be tackled and the gas can be taken safely onshore.
Back to top of the page
Development of the BMW Region
16/02/05 - The issues in the BMW region relate to the people, the environment and the infrastructure. The infrastructure allows people to engage with the environment. There are significant problems in terms of lack of investment in that area. In welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O’Keeffe, to the House, I would ask him to consider this aspect.
Senator Feeney gave a good example of the difficulty for her children travelling from Sligo to college in Galway. I have heard that example given on several occasions. All the infrastructure in the BMW region is heading eastwards, not north-south, which is a fundamental issue in terms of infrastructure.
If we start at the Atlantic, how many significant fishing ports are on the west coast? If one travels from Castletownbere to Dingle, the next port is Killybegs. There is nothing of significance in Mayo or Sligo. It is an indication that the whole tourism aspect of angling has not been developed along that coast.
In terms of access, there is now a programme to invest in a number of marinas in that area, and not before time. Some committees have been asking whether they are good value for money. They are absolutely essential to opening up that whole area. There is also a proposal to build something similar [to a marina] in the Belmullet area, Sligo and north Donegal. This is what needs to be happening.
What is being done about our rail infrastructure? There should be a train every hour from Dublin to Sligo, Dublin to Ballina, Dublin to Westport, Dublin to Galway, Dublin to Ennis and Dublin to Limerick. That is the only way we will open up our rail infrastructure. In terms of the north-south area, that rail link must be established, and not just from the western rail corridor. There is not just a problem with the western rail corridor, there should be a rail link from Sligo to Limerick Junction or wherever and across to Rosslare on the existing line. This should be a viable upgraded line. This would open up a whole area of the country which has been ignored by the tourism industry. This cannot be opposed.
It all boils down to the quality of the water in our rivers, lakes, water supply and sewerage system. I agree with Senator Mansergh that sewerage systems are now developing right along the Shannon. There has been a significant improvement in all the towns in the west because of the establishment of water treatment and sewerage plants of various descriptions. A query was raised here recently as to where the plan is and how far it will go. There should be a national development plan after 2006, which should be directed at areas of the country that need a leg-up, so to speak. According to the latest reports from the NRA, the infrastructural plans in terms of roads should be up and running by 2010.
……there are great difficulties with planning in the whole BMW region. If we take all the opposing or conflicting arguments, what is happening at the moment is not acceptable. Objections to granting planning permission every time someone wants to build a house in the area where they were born and reared must be considered in a measured, informed and focused way. I am opposed to people being allowed to build in an area just because they live there. However, I am equally opposed to the blanket opposition to building that takes place time and time again. An Taisce has been responsible for much of this over a long time. Hamlet development should be encouraged, particularly where there are existing houses. Someone who lives and works in an area should be given more consideration than someone who is building a holiday home.
While I agree that tax breaks should be examined, I would be opposed to the elimination of all of them. However, they should be examined because it was never intended that the super rich should pay no tax.
The Senator referred to Sligo and Leitrim. However, what is being done to Leitrim village is not acceptable. A village that had 30 houses some years ago will now have 400 houses, with no appropriate infrastructure. Many of these will be ghost houses which are not lived in. We need to draw a distinction when planning permission is being granted in these areas so they are not overrun.
To return to the commuter issue, we must examine how we can serve Limerick and Galway. We hear every morning on the radio that the Oranmore roundabout and the Tuam Road are completely blocked. Senator Kitt said in this House some months ago that a commuter service from Tuam to Galway could be up and running in six months, whereas to build a road would take six years. In terms of infrastructural gain, this is what we should be considering.
The week before Christmas 2003, a commuter service was opened between Ennis and Limerick. Its use has now quadrupled, even without building all the intervening stations such as Bunratty, Sixmilebridge and so on, which must also be considered. It indicates that there is a demand for this service, and there would also be a demand in the other direction. If Ennis-Limerick is viable, there is no reason Ennis-Galway would not be viable. If Ennis-Galway is viable, why is Galway-Limerick not viable? There is no doubt that a rail service into Galway would be a winner. Last month Iarnród Éireann began a new morning commuter service from Athlone to Galway. I have not examined the figures, but I intend doing so in the next week or so. I have no doubt that the train will be filled and used frequently. We cannot allow a situation to continue whereby the last train out of places like Sligo, Ballina and Castlebar, and back to Galway, is at 6 p.m. Even from Cork, the last train leaves at approximately 6.30 p.m. or 7 p.m. That is disgraceful. It is a waste of a resource for trains to be parked in stations overnight and not to be used. We should invest in our rail network.
……When building every new road why can space not be provided for a railway to run alongside, as is provided in half of the world? That is the type of development we need here. Given the cost of parking, motorists realise it is not worth the effort to drive into Dublin. These are issues that need to be examined.
In terms of support for investment in infrastructure — I acknowledge I did not deal with the road network — we should recognise all the smart advice from people on the east coast in regard to airports in the west, particularly in Galway and Knock, was that neither of them was viable. There was opposition to the provision of an airport at Knock from the two main political parties……
I used that example not to make a party political point but to make a different point. Every time I discuss infrastructure in the west with the experts, they tend to be based in Dublin and to come to a longitudinal conclusion on the matter. They point out the number of people who use the railways and say that if we were to invest many millions of euro in them and divide that amount by the number of people who use them, the investment would not be viable. They never talk in terms of the demand for the service. I am aware that Senator Mansergh shares many of my views on this. We must create demand for the service. Such development of the rail service would work and we need to move forward on that.
I have spoken on a number of occasions about the negative consequences of selling Eircom. It is not so much that many subscribers lost money on their investment in shares as the opportunity lost to extend the rollout of broadband to every corner of the country. That needs to be done and the necessary resources must be invested.
I was in the Galway Gaeltacht recently and noted that three companies were engaged in interpreting the written word, the spoken word and video work. They were able to do their business from the Lár-Ghaeltacht in Connemara because they had a broadband facility to transmit information down the line. They did not need to be based in a city. Ten years ago that type of industry would have had to be based in the centre of Dublin as that would have been the only place such companies would have had the necessary back-up. Those companies are a classic example of how broadband can open up the west and the extension of such facilities is crucial to achieving that objective.
Every time the issue of the west is raised, people take a broad view but unfortunately debate usually centres on constituency matters. The west needs to be considered by people who think beyond the basis of their constituencies and who will envisage a plan for its development. We have people who are open to change and are adventurous, entrepreneurial and considerate. They can ensure the growth of the economy of the west, not merely a continuity of its protection, that will match that of any in the rest of Ireland.
Back to top of the page
Seanad debates are available in full on the Oireachtas Website
Each speech listed here is an edited speech. If you'd like to see the speech or debate in full, please go to the Oireachtas website and click on "Seanad Eireann" and then "Seanad Debates" and click on the relevant date as listed with each speech on this page.
Shell Corrib Gas Field (28/04/09)
Shell Corrib Gas Field (23/04/09)
Development of the West (24/02/09)
West of Ireland (05/02/09)
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 (29/01/09)
Regional Ireland (04/10/07)
National Development Plan (30/05/06)
Corrib Gas Field (06/10/05)
Development of BMW Region (16/02/05)
Back to top of the page
Shell Corrib Gas Field
28/04/09 - I want to make clear in this situation that as somebody who have been a constant critic of Shell for more decades than I care to remember and who has been a street protestor all my life, addressed protest meetings, sat on streets and engaged in civil actions against various matters time and again, I support and admire people who take such actions. However, I do not, will not and cannot condone the kind of intimidation that is going on at present.
I received a telephone call from a young man during the week. He is a young newly-qualified engineer with a job with a company which got some work from Shell and who is working down there. He spoke of people coming outside his door, blowing horns and intimidating families. It is quite appalling. This idea of balaclava-clad people breaking in and attacking workers is something which I will not and cannot support. If we put it up to Shell with stringent regulations, laws and requirements, arraign it in front of boards and make it jump the bar, and it does all that, then we, in a democracy, have a clear responsibility to ensure the law of the land is maintained. What is happening in Mayo, where people are fearful of speaking out and being intimidated, is far from left-wing activity. It smacks more of fascism. All last week’s activities must be investigated. I have heard claim and counter-claim and spoken to people on all sides. However, I have no time for balaclava-clad people in the dead of night imposing and supporting terror. No democratically elected person can have time for such activity. I completely disagree with the Government handing away the mineral rights of this country for a song to Shell and to others. …. That is, however, another issue. The fact is that the law is in place. I voted against it and I was outvoted. The Government should take control of this and support the Garda in Mayo whose members are badly used and misused. …. I also hope the two Eamons, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, would stop their popularity contest in Mayo and take action on this issue.
Back to top of the page
Shell Corrib Gas Field
23/04/09 - I would specifically like a debate on what is going on in north Mayo. I am no apologist for Shell and I have major reservations about the deal we have done concerning offshore exploration. However, we will be 95% dependent on imported foreign energy from next year, as soon as the Kinsale gasfield finishes, which it almost has. Shell does not own the infrastructure and it cannot distribute gas through Ireland without our say so. We own the infrastructure through An Bord Gáis and we need to get that gas ashore. I do not speak for Shell but we have established democratic structures. We have gone through the process and Shell has met all the demands required of it at this stage. That gas should be brought ashore for the Irish people, not for Shell.
… there is a lack of political leadership on this issue. People are afraid to take on protestors. I come from a left perspective on this issue. I do not agree with any kind of fascist action which undermines democracy and I will fight against it. I am also looking at two Government Ministers — the two Eamons — Deputy Eamon Ryan and Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, who are engaged in some kind of popularity contest in the west. They are competing against each other as to who can be the most amenable to everybody around them. There are issues at stake for the Irish people and the future of Irish energy independence, so we need stronger political leadership on the question of getting the gas onshore in Mayo.
Back to top of the page
Development of the West
24/02/09 - Ró-mhinic sa Teach seo, dírímid ar deacrachtaí timpeallachta ar leith a bhaineann le Dáilcheantar ar leith. An rud tábhachtach faoin díospóireacht seo ná go bhfuilimid ag féachaint ar an réigiún ar fad. Tá sé sin thar a bheith tábhachtach. Dá mbeadh guth amháin ag iarthar na tíre, braithim go ndéanfaí i bhfad níos mó ar son an taobh sin den tír. Ba mhaith liom sampla a thabhairt ó thaobh bóithre de. Nuair a bhí cinneadh le déanamh ag an National Roads Authority cúpla bliain ó shin maidir le ciorraithe — bhí ar an údarás feachtais áirithe a chur ar leataobh ar feadh bliain nó dhó — b’iad na bóithre a bhí ag dul i dtreo an iarthair a chuireadh chun deiridh. Tarlaíonn sé sin i gcónaí. Tá an ceart ag an Aire nuair a deireann sé go bhfuil an caighdeán maireachtála nó pé rud a ghlaoitear air san iarthar thar barr agus is deacair é a shárú in aon tslí.
Nuair a fhéachann tú ar iarthar na tíre agus ar imeall fharraige agus ar imeall Atlantach na tíre seo, is dócha gur féidir a rá go bhfuil an t-aer féin, an fharraige féin agus meon na ndaoine agus draíocht ar leith a bhaineann leis an áit sin agus tá siad sin thar a bheith tábhachtach. Ach, ag féachaint ar na rudaí sin, táim ag iarraidh é seo a mholadh agus díriú isteach ar seo mar shampla de rud nach bhfuil ag tarlú agus nílim ag cur seo ar bhráid an Tí mar aon sórt gearán ach deirtear in san rud a chuir an tAire amach chugainn “for some time I have been working with my colleagues to see how we can unlock the potential for marine leisure within existing resource”. I ndáiríre tá seans i ndiaidh seans i gcónaí chun é sin a dhéanamh.
Bhí an plean náisiúnta ag na Rialtas seo deich mbliain ó shin agus bhí mar cheann des na aidhmeanna an uair sin ná go mbeadh, agus is cuimhin an frása a bhí ann, “a necklace of marinas along the west coast of Ireland”. Cad a tharla? Is féidir leat dul i mbáid ó chathair Chorcaigh go Cionn tSáile go hOileán Béara go Cathair Saidhbhín go dtí Daingean Uí Chúis isteach go dtí bá Thrá Lí ansin go dtí Kilrush and that is where it stops. Cén fáth? Ba chóir go mbeadh marina chomh maith in Dúlainn i mBaile Uí Bheacáin. Tá ceann á thógáil i dháilcheantar an tAire áit éigin in aice le cathair na Gaillimhe ach ba chóir go mbeadh ceann chomh maith in oileán Árainn amach anseo sa Chlochán agus ar fud na tíre. …. It does not take huge money. Floating moorings are not that expensive ach an deacracht atá ann tá deis anois ann á chailliúint againn i mbliana when you could have hundreds of boats.
An deacracht i gcónaí a bhaineann le iarthar na tíre seo ná bhfuil an t-infreastruchtúr i gcónaí dírithe i dtreo Baile Átha Cliath. An rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeadh infreastruchtúr ann ag dul ó tuaisceart go deisceart agus visa versa. Sin an tábhachtach ar leith a bhaineann leis an mbóthar nua sin ó Sligeach síos tríd Gaillimh agus tríd Luimneach go dtí Corcaigh, the Atlantic highway nó pé rud a glaoitear air. Sin an fáth chomh maith agus sin rud atá luaite ag an tSeanadóir Pearce Doherty cúpla uair roimhe seo go bhfuil tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis an iarnród. Is dóigh liom i ndáiríre go bhfuil sé ag dul ó Luimneach go dtí Baile Átha an Rí ach an deacracht atá ann ná, go mba chóir go mbeadh sé ag dul, amach anseo, níos faide ná Clár Chlainne Mhuiris go dtí Sligeach agus ó Shligeach go dtí Leitir Ceanainn agus Doire. Dá mba rud é go raibh an toil pholaitiúil ann chun é sin a chur chun cinn, bheadh sé thar a bheith tábhachtach.
Ní féidir liom smaoineamh ar aon rud níos tábhachtaí ná iarthar na tíre a oscailt. An rud eile is tábhachtaí, rud atá curtha chun cinn cúpla uair ag an Seanadóir Mark MacSharry, nach bhfuil ollscoil san taobh sin tíre sa phoblacht ar aon nós agus ba chóir go mbeadh sé sin ann chomh maith. Ba chóir go mbeadh, gan amhras, seans ag daoine a gcuid oideachas ar fad a bheith acu timpeall a n-áit dúchais féin. Tá sé sa tuarascáil nach mbíonn ró-sheans ag céimithe fostaíocht a fháil timpeall a n-áit dúchais féin agus is mór an trua sin. Cén fáth go bhfuil an deacracht sin ann? Ceann des na deacrachtaí is mó a bhaineann leis sin ná ganntanas infreastuchtúr, mar shampla broadband. Níl an banda leathan ar fáil in a lán áiteanna.
… an tábhacht ar leith a bhaineann le feirmeoireacht glas nó tionsclaíocht glas agus tá an-seans chun é sin a dhéanamh in iarthar na tíre. Mar gheall ar gur oileán sin, tá an-seans againn dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. …. tuigeann gach aon duine an tábhacht a bhaineann le, go mbeadh coinníollacha seachas ceadú a thabhairt do dhaoine. If you are producing half a million sandwiches a day, gan amhras is cinnte gur cóir go mbeadh coinníollacha ar leith ag baint leis sin ach an deacracht, agus tá sé chomh simplí leis seo .. má tá an duine i sráid bhaile nach bhfuil ach ag cur le chéile 100 nó abair 20 dosaen de cheapairí in aghaidh an lae, bíonn air nó uirthi na coinníollacha céanna a chomhlíonadh is a bhíonn ag an tionscal mór. That is the difference, agus mar gheall ar sin ní bhíonn an dara seans ag aon sórt cottage industry, aon sórt tionsclaíocht beag nó micro-tionsclaíocht. Ní gá go mbeadh sé mar sin, ní tharlaíonn sé sin sa Fhrainc agus ní ceart agus ní gá an milleán a chur ar an Eoraip mar gheall ar sin mar baineann sé sin linn féin na coinníollacha nó na cinneadh atá tógtha againn féin anseo.
… is dócha gurb é infreastruchtúr ar nós bóithre agus leathanbhanda an rud is tábhachtaí domsa. Tá gá le leathanbhanda chun seans a thabhairt do dhaoine tionsclaíocht agus fostaíocht a chur chun cinn ina áiteanna dhúchais fhéin. Táimid ag brath ar sin, fiú amháin ó thaobh turasóireacht de. Tugann a lán daoine an oifig leo nuair a théann siad ar saoire. Bíonn díoma orthu muna bhfuil 3G ar fáil ar a fón póca, nó muna féidir leo an laptop a úsáid, san áit ina bhfuil siad. Téann sé sin i gcoinne an áit. Is féidir linn a lán rudaí beaga a dhéanamh.
It is hugely important to have a wide-ranging debate on the west of Ireland chun go mbeidh tuiscint ag muintir an iarthar go bhfuilimid ann dóibh agus go bhfuilimid sásta iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar na deacrachtaí ar leith a bhaineann le dul chun cinn agus forbairt réigiúnach.
Back to top of the page
West of Ireland
05/02/09 - Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh díospóireacht againn ar the west, iarthar na tíre seo. Tá tuarascáil curtha i gcló anois ag an Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Chuir an Seanadóir Pearse Doherty an tuarascáil le chéile. This report on the west has been accepted by the committee and ba mhaith liom go mbeadh díospóireacht air sin. Tá a lán rudaí ag baint leis sin ó thaobh tionscail na hiascaireachta, bóithre, iarnróid agus fostaíochta de agus ó thaobh a lán rudaí eile de chomh maith. Is maith agus is cóir go mbeadh díospóireacht againn air sin.
Back to top of the page
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008
29/01/09 - I am very concerned about the shift eastwards of the representatives in Dáil Éireann. There is a problem there. I recognise and accept what is in the Constitution. However, I believe representation should be based not just on population, but also on geography. While I accept that would require a constitutional amendment, I would like to have a debate on it. ….. I believe I have heard the Minister say that county boundaries should be kept and we should stick with those to some extent. I am not sure I would agree because the shift in population might overrule that and counties could be left with their boundaries intact but without representation. We need a combination of both.
It is appalling that in my time in politics places like Mayo, Leitrim, Kerry, Limerick, Monaghan and others have lost representation which is moving to the east coast. That will result in an imbalance. [The Minister] knows the point I am making about the importance of regionalisation and regional representation. There is a rational argument to be made along those lines.
The Constituency Commission bottled it in the sense that it could have
increased the number of Deputies. The reason it did not do so is because it is afraid of the media. … If people believe we have too many Deputies, to get rid of that argument once and for all, the Minister should have a referendum in every county to ascertain how many counties want to lose a Deputy. We can then ask the question as to whether the number of Deputies should be reduced. That will finish that argument.
There were appalling reports yesterday by media people, who should know better, informing the population that only two or three people were sitting in the Dáil Chamber for a debate. There is a very simple answer to that. By the way there was only one person in the Press Gallery. What were the journalists doing? All 36 of them are being paid in here. They were not in there at all. In reality the members of the press, like Members of the Houses, were watching it in their offices. They were doing work, watching it on television monitors and coming in when their speaking time was allocated to them. It would have been a total waste of time to have them sitting in the Dáil Chamber listening to the debate if they could not make a contribution, which they would subsequently make in their own time. That is not a difficult message to get across to people.
The Minister referred to local democracy and stated he would introduce legislation. Two issues concern me with regard to local democracy, one of which relates to my home town of Dingle and which I will not raise now. The other relates to respect and funding for local democracy, even if it means bringing back local charges. We must give power to local democracy, which means spending money. People must see the money they are contributing being spent in their area for their good by those they elect to represent them. People will gravitate towards direct mayoral elections. Local democracy is enhanced all over Europe by the fact that in small towns and villages people of significance are honoured and respected because they will run for mayor.
The Minister should press ahead with Seanad reform. There is a cynical view that many of us who call for such reform are not really looking for it. We want this done. ... As long as we take irrevocable decisions, I am not opposed to allowing colleagues a full electoral period to adjust; therefore, the necessary changes would not have to come into operation until after the next election.
Back to top of the page
Regional Ireland
04/10/07 - We need to discuss the entire west of Ireland, from Malin to Schull. What always happens here is that people are focused on their own constituencies, and we lose the big picture. It is hard to believe but for years it was difficult to get co-ordinated support for the western rail corridor. People conveniently forget this but it is the truth. People did not see the value of the rail corridor because they were not looking at the whole issue. As an Independent who will never stand for the Dáil, with no vested interests, I have a serious concern that the voice of the west will be lost when constituency reviews take TDs from the west and move them to the east, chasing the population. Logically, that is what will happen.
The only way to deal with this is to look at it from a different point of view. I will be shot on sight by the media for saying this but even if it means increasing the number of TDs, we must ensure the voice of the regions of the west is fully articulated and heard. This is happening all along the west coast. From a disinterested point of view — it makes no difference to me personally or to anyone in this House from any party — I think this is wrong and we need to consider and focus on this issue.
Back to top of the page
National Development Plan
30/05/06 -I appreciate and support the improvements the Minister outlined for the Dublin-Westport, Dublin-Ballina, Dublin-Galway and Dublin-Sligo lines. These are much needed crucial developments. I would like a clear commitment in the next national development plan to a rail schedule that will ensure a train every hour from Dublin to Sligo, Mayo and Galway.
At a recent briefing of Members with various rural groups involved in housing and related matters there was talk about the difficulty of developing rural areas. We must ask ourselves what rural Ireland needs, what is important to it and how we can make it live. It is important that people who want to live all their lives in the area are able to do so. If we had a train every hour from Dublin to the areas in the west I mentioned, a person could attend third level education in Dublin, commute and still live in the west if necessary. This sort of commute happens in most other countries. Commuting time would only take two and a half hours or less, depending on the type of train. If people live in the west during their college years, they are more likely to stay there after they have graduated. It is a hugely important issue.
I welcome the commitment by the Minister for Finance to research and development in education, for example in the institutes of technology and colleges. We need to harness what is available to us. We have invested a great deal in the intellectual ability of the people of the west, many of whom would like to further develop their intellectual capacity. They are unable to do so because they are too far from the main colleges to study for master’s degrees, etc.
Incredibly bright people throughout the west are running their homes, rearing their families and doing jobs somewhere. Many of them would like to exercise their mental functions to a greater extent. They could do so if there was more access to on-line and distance education. It is a very simple thing to do. There is a huge possibility of harnessing the intellectual energy and ability of people throughout the BMW region in that way.
I was pleased by the Minister’s commitment in the budget, which he restated today, to develop the areas of research and development, information technology and the universities in the BMW region. It is magic. It is an example of the kind of synergies and energies to which we need to give direction. It was the most important thing in the Minister’s speech today.
I would like to link the issue of broadband with the future of our airports. I do not want to discuss privatisation and State ownership, etc. When services go wrong, those who are furthest from the general centre of services are the first to lose out. The further one is from Dublin, the more one suffers if services go backwards. I worry that we have gone back to the future with Eircom.
I mention that because airports are so important. There are airports in the BMW region in Sligo, Knock and Galway. Galway and Sligo airports need to be developed and Knock Airport needs investment. I do not want them to be privatised or taken out of State hands, not for reasons relating to a philosophy or any kind of “ism” but because if we do so, like we did when we gave Eircom, through four owners, to Babcock & Brown, we will send our airline system back to the days of Alcock and Brown. We should not sell that system or move towards selling it without having a clear understanding of where we are going. I firmly believe that the infrastructure of our air services is of more crucial importance to the west of Ireland than it is to anywhere else.
Back to top of the page
Corrib Gas Field
06/10/05 - My greatest concern is the safety issue and the fact that the people of Mayo are getting nothing out of the gas find. The people of Belmullet, the town closest to the gas find, and also the other towns mentioned, should get access to the gas and get the value of it. Even if the safety audit finds the gas pipeline to be safe, it should be moved further away from houses. The gas could be brought in along by the river bed. It does not need to come to shore at the point chosen. It could come along the bed of the river which flows into the sea there, or could go further down the bay, away from the houses. That is crucial. It is also crucial that the gas be taken into Ireland. We need it for security of supply among other things.
We should not forget too that there are currently 350 people unemployed in north Mayo because of work on the pipeline being stopped. I am not saying this has anything to do with the safety issue, which is separate. Nothing will ever be 100% safe. As soon as we satisfy ourselves that it is as safe as can be, we should then move the pipeline away from the houses. We should also ensure that Shell complies with the law.
I have never trusted Shell, particularly given what Senator Kitt has said and how Shell operated in Nigeria for years. I have spoken many times about Shell over the years. I do not believe Shell most of the time and, in many ways, the company has bullied the local people. At the same time, however, the local people should recognise what they are up against. They should be clear about their objectives and accept that mediation will only work if both sides agree to move their positions slightly. The issue that unites everybody is safety. Let us get the safety issue dealt with, after which the question of moving the pipeline and other matters can be tackled and the gas can be taken safely onshore.
Back to top of the page
Development of the BMW Region
16/02/05 - The issues in the BMW region relate to the people, the environment and the infrastructure. The infrastructure allows people to engage with the environment. There are significant problems in terms of lack of investment in that area. In welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O’Keeffe, to the House, I would ask him to consider this aspect.
Senator Feeney gave a good example of the difficulty for her children travelling from Sligo to college in Galway. I have heard that example given on several occasions. All the infrastructure in the BMW region is heading eastwards, not north-south, which is a fundamental issue in terms of infrastructure.
If we start at the Atlantic, how many significant fishing ports are on the west coast? If one travels from Castletownbere to Dingle, the next port is Killybegs. There is nothing of significance in Mayo or Sligo. It is an indication that the whole tourism aspect of angling has not been developed along that coast.
In terms of access, there is now a programme to invest in a number of marinas in that area, and not before time. Some committees have been asking whether they are good value for money. They are absolutely essential to opening up that whole area. There is also a proposal to build something similar [to a marina] in the Belmullet area, Sligo and north Donegal. This is what needs to be happening.
What is being done about our rail infrastructure? There should be a train every hour from Dublin to Sligo, Dublin to Ballina, Dublin to Westport, Dublin to Galway, Dublin to Ennis and Dublin to Limerick. That is the only way we will open up our rail infrastructure. In terms of the north-south area, that rail link must be established, and not just from the western rail corridor. There is not just a problem with the western rail corridor, there should be a rail link from Sligo to Limerick Junction or wherever and across to Rosslare on the existing line. This should be a viable upgraded line. This would open up a whole area of the country which has been ignored by the tourism industry. This cannot be opposed.
It all boils down to the quality of the water in our rivers, lakes, water supply and sewerage system. I agree with Senator Mansergh that sewerage systems are now developing right along the Shannon. There has been a significant improvement in all the towns in the west because of the establishment of water treatment and sewerage plants of various descriptions. A query was raised here recently as to where the plan is and how far it will go. There should be a national development plan after 2006, which should be directed at areas of the country that need a leg-up, so to speak. According to the latest reports from the NRA, the infrastructural plans in terms of roads should be up and running by 2010.
……there are great difficulties with planning in the whole BMW region. If we take all the opposing or conflicting arguments, what is happening at the moment is not acceptable. Objections to granting planning permission every time someone wants to build a house in the area where they were born and reared must be considered in a measured, informed and focused way. I am opposed to people being allowed to build in an area just because they live there. However, I am equally opposed to the blanket opposition to building that takes place time and time again. An Taisce has been responsible for much of this over a long time. Hamlet development should be encouraged, particularly where there are existing houses. Someone who lives and works in an area should be given more consideration than someone who is building a holiday home.
While I agree that tax breaks should be examined, I would be opposed to the elimination of all of them. However, they should be examined because it was never intended that the super rich should pay no tax.
The Senator referred to Sligo and Leitrim. However, what is being done to Leitrim village is not acceptable. A village that had 30 houses some years ago will now have 400 houses, with no appropriate infrastructure. Many of these will be ghost houses which are not lived in. We need to draw a distinction when planning permission is being granted in these areas so they are not overrun.
To return to the commuter issue, we must examine how we can serve Limerick and Galway. We hear every morning on the radio that the Oranmore roundabout and the Tuam Road are completely blocked. Senator Kitt said in this House some months ago that a commuter service from Tuam to Galway could be up and running in six months, whereas to build a road would take six years. In terms of infrastructural gain, this is what we should be considering.
The week before Christmas 2003, a commuter service was opened between Ennis and Limerick. Its use has now quadrupled, even without building all the intervening stations such as Bunratty, Sixmilebridge and so on, which must also be considered. It indicates that there is a demand for this service, and there would also be a demand in the other direction. If Ennis-Limerick is viable, there is no reason Ennis-Galway would not be viable. If Ennis-Galway is viable, why is Galway-Limerick not viable? There is no doubt that a rail service into Galway would be a winner. Last month Iarnród Éireann began a new morning commuter service from Athlone to Galway. I have not examined the figures, but I intend doing so in the next week or so. I have no doubt that the train will be filled and used frequently. We cannot allow a situation to continue whereby the last train out of places like Sligo, Ballina and Castlebar, and back to Galway, is at 6 p.m. Even from Cork, the last train leaves at approximately 6.30 p.m. or 7 p.m. That is disgraceful. It is a waste of a resource for trains to be parked in stations overnight and not to be used. We should invest in our rail network.
……When building every new road why can space not be provided for a railway to run alongside, as is provided in half of the world? That is the type of development we need here. Given the cost of parking, motorists realise it is not worth the effort to drive into Dublin. These are issues that need to be examined.
In terms of support for investment in infrastructure — I acknowledge I did not deal with the road network — we should recognise all the smart advice from people on the east coast in regard to airports in the west, particularly in Galway and Knock, was that neither of them was viable. There was opposition to the provision of an airport at Knock from the two main political parties……
I used that example not to make a party political point but to make a different point. Every time I discuss infrastructure in the west with the experts, they tend to be based in Dublin and to come to a longitudinal conclusion on the matter. They point out the number of people who use the railways and say that if we were to invest many millions of euro in them and divide that amount by the number of people who use them, the investment would not be viable. They never talk in terms of the demand for the service. I am aware that Senator Mansergh shares many of my views on this. We must create demand for the service. Such development of the rail service would work and we need to move forward on that.
I have spoken on a number of occasions about the negative consequences of selling Eircom. It is not so much that many subscribers lost money on their investment in shares as the opportunity lost to extend the rollout of broadband to every corner of the country. That needs to be done and the necessary resources must be invested.
I was in the Galway Gaeltacht recently and noted that three companies were engaged in interpreting the written word, the spoken word and video work. They were able to do their business from the Lár-Ghaeltacht in Connemara because they had a broadband facility to transmit information down the line. They did not need to be based in a city. Ten years ago that type of industry would have had to be based in the centre of Dublin as that would have been the only place such companies would have had the necessary back-up. Those companies are a classic example of how broadband can open up the west and the extension of such facilities is crucial to achieving that objective.
Every time the issue of the west is raised, people take a broad view but unfortunately debate usually centres on constituency matters. The west needs to be considered by people who think beyond the basis of their constituencies and who will envisage a plan for its development. We have people who are open to change and are adventurous, entrepreneurial and considerate. They can ensure the growth of the economy of the west, not merely a continuity of its protection, that will match that of any in the rest of Ireland.
Back to top of the page
Seanad debates are available in full on the Oireachtas Website