James O'Connor

I wish to raise the issue of special classes in east Cork area with the Tánaiste and the Government. We need to see further provision for huge backlogs, particularly in the Youghal area. Is this something the Government can commit to looking into, considering the deficit of these services in east Cork, which unfortunately is one of the worst performing regions in the country? I met parents in Poba…

Sorry, Deputy, your time is up.

Deputy Catherine Connolly is sharing time with Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Lean ar aghaidh. Ceart go leor.

I congratulate Deputy Boland on her maiden contribution. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the state of affairs on the agrifood sector in Ireland as somebody who lives on a dairy farm in east Cork. I grew up on one and am the son of a dairy farmer and my mother has worked for nearly four decades in the dairy industry. Agriculture has been the cornerstone of my upbringing and my life and it rema…

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about yesterday’s top story in the Irish Examiner. Once again, it was news about the Redbarn Quality Hotel, where approximately 370 people going through the asylum seeker process have been based. This was done without consultation. As a local Government TD in the constituency, I only learned this was happening, and the number of people who have been placed in the hotel,…

I want to ask the Tánaiste about housing data that came out in recent days. It is, to some degree, worrying. Twice in the State's history in the past 15 years, we had two comprehensive national plans - the national economic recovery plan in 2011 and the State's response to Covid - where everything came in under one roof to try to solve the issue. Is this something that could be looked at in the ne…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue and congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, on his appointment. I had the privilege of serving for four years in the previous Dáil term as the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on transport, being a member of the Oireachtas committee on transport and getting an opportunity to see first-hand the operations and functions of that Department and the…

As this is my first time speaking here since the general election, I take the opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the good people of Cork East and to my canvassers, family, supporters, neighbours and friends on being re-elected to the House. I walked in here at the age 22, and I am back at the age of 27. I have to admit that it is a privilege to be here. It is always special to be in th…