George Lawlor

The Labour Party has no difficulty with this motion and will not be opposing it. It is noted that, in July 2022, Slovakia notified the Commission of recent changes to its domestic insolvency laws that introduced a new preventative restructuring procedure and a new type of insolvency practitioner. That notification was followed by notifications from Estonia, Spain, Malta and Italy in September 2022…

I raise the issue of housing adaptation grants and the funding being made available across the country. From speaking to former colleagues on Wexford County Council and some of the officials there and colleagues from around the country across the Chamber, there seems to be a serious difficulty in terms of funding for the adaptation grants. While applications are being accepted, unless people are c…

I concur with the Ceann Comhairle's words and congratulate Ballymitty national school on its great success and welcome them to the Public Gallery. When we talk about Irish Water-Uisce Éireann, the words "chaos" and "chaotic" often spring to mind. Despite the billions of euro in resources we have had in this country for quite some time, during the past number of years in particular, time and again…

In January of this year BNY announced it was to close its Wexford facility with 95% of its 310 Wexford-based employees to transfer elsewhere or be made redundant. Significantly, BNY operations in Dublin and Cork are not impacted by these cuts. The first question to be answered is: why Wexford? Clearly the cost of both property and operating is higher in Dublin. What discussions did the IDA have wi…

Abolishing the mandatory retirement age in Ireland presents numerous benefits that can positively impact individuals, organisations and society as a whole. The discussion we have today on this Bill must explore the various aspects of the issue, including the economic, social and psychological implications, as well as the challenges and considerations that come with one of the more significant poli…

In light of the recent statistics released by the Central Statistics Office, which indicate a very concerning 30% decrease in foreign visitors to Ireland year on year, it is clear the Government simply must acknowledge the gravity of this situation and must commit to addressing the underlying causes and implications of this decline. A total of 304,000 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland i…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I mentioned in my opening remarks that I wondered if the geopolitical area was the reason for the difficulties we were seeing with foreign visitors coming to Ireland. With President Trump and President Putin's antics, the war in Ukraine and other disturbances and wars and atrocities around the world, is that playing a role in the American market part…

If we look across the country, it is clear that when it comes to diverting young people from criminal activity, the presence of community gardaí delivers huge results. I have seen it across my home county of Wexford where community gardaí working assiduously on the ground are making a real difference in their communities. Investment in community gardaí is a no-brainer when it comes diverting young…

You threw him out of your party.

You threw him out of your party.

78. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to interact with local development companies to promote the creation of a national social enterprise policy. [6714/25]

This question was originally submitted to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and then transferred to the Department of the Minister, Deputy Calleary. I submitted the question to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the basis of the 4,300 social enterprises that are making a significant contribution to the Irish economy. In 2021, it was €2.34 billion, with 57% of thi…

I welcome the Minister's commitment to social enterprise. He is correct to suggest the LDCN had a number of consultations throughout the county, and continues to do so. However, there is a belief among LEADER companies in particular that a more specific targeted support for social enterprise in more disadvantaged areas may be necessary. They say one of the biggest challenges facing them as social …

I welcome the Minister's comments. I think he hit the nail on the head: often people who have very good ideas do not have the necessary business acumen or are afraid to put themselves forward and present a business plan. Wexford Local Development has three fabulous in-house social enterprises in Kafé Konnect, EPIC and the Little Jobs Service. Kafé Konnect is a terrific example of how people who ha…

The latest CSO figures on crime make for sombre reading. Burglaries increased by 10% last year, while thefts and assaults were at their highest level in five years. The illegal importation of drugs, destined to cripple communities and individuals throughout this country, increased by a remarkable 83% in the past 12 months, just short of double the previous year. In 2024, we saw 27 burglaries every…

I am pleased to support this motion. I thank Deputy Coppinger for bringing it forward. I welcome our guests in the Public Gallery. I want to speak about the importance of women having access to refuge places. As a member of the voluntary board of management and a director of Wexford Women's Refuge, I have seen at first hand the benefit of having in a locality a refuge in which skilled and compass…

Last year, the announcement of a new 97-bed unit at Wexford General Hospital was warmly greeted by the people of County Wexford. As we can imagine, the hospital is a vital component to the county and a 97-bed unit would be a substantial addition. It is badly needed and badly wanted, given the huge increase in population in Wexford over recent years. However, in response to a parliamentary question…

I am sharing time with Deputy Ahern. I am delighted to contribute to this important debate, which is one that my county colleague, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, has been seeking for some time. I am delighted to be a part of the discussion on a topic that is reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace. As we navigate this transformative era, it is crucial that we harness the power of AI not just for profi…

I join Members in wishing the Minister and Minister of State well in their new portfolios. We have a chronic situation with regard to special education in Ireland. The lack of places means missed milestone after missed milestone. This is a fundamental human rights issue that has affected countless children and their families. The affected children are plagued by insufficient resources and investm…

This motion brings together many of the key elements of what we believe can form the basis of a response to the greatest social crisis this country has faced since the foundation of the State. While we have come a long way since this State was founded, the housing crisis shrouds everything we do. It is a stain on all our political characters and on those of the many who have graced this Chamber be…

I am glad to speak in support of the motion. As members of Dáil Éireann, we stand here this evening not just as a voice for our businesses, farmers and communities, but as advocates for the great resilience and spirit that define our nation. It is essential that we learn lessons. In recent years, we have witnessed the devastating impact of severe weather events, such as floods, storms and snowstor…

At the outset, I thank my family, the people of Wexford, my friends and supporters and the Labour Party for affording me this opportunity to stand in this historic Chamber. I congratulate and wish well the Taoiseach and his Cabinet. If I could single out one of the Jameses, James Browne, my fellow-county man, on his elevation to Cabinet; he is the first Fianna Fáil senior Cabinet Minister in 60 y…

-----a replacement company to offer employment to these highly skilled workers.