Micheál Carrigy

Deputy Tóibín is not here. I call Deputy Gogarty.

Members, please.

Members, please.

Members please. Sinn Féin has ten minutes to conclude. Deputies Guirke and McDonald have two and a half minutes, two and a half minutes and then five.

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.

The Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has completed its consideration of the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Bill 2026, made amendments thereto and amended the Title to read as follows: AN ACT TO AMEND THE GUARDIANSHIP OF INFANTS ACT 1964 TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTRICTION OR REMOVAL OF GUARDIANSHIP OF A CHILD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BY ORDER OF A COURT IN PROCEEDINGS FOR T…

This Bill is a media governance and transparency reform package for public service media, designed to restore trust in RTÉ, strengthen oversight, support independent production and ensure public money delivers value. It heightens accountability and governance by assigning the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ. Also contained in the Bill is an enhancement of the statutory framework …

I want to raise the issue of the lack of services for rail commuters from Longford travelling to Dublin. In the evening time in particular, there are only three trains - 4.50 p.m., 5.50 p.m. and 6.57 p.m. - that service Longford and beyond. There is no rail service from Longford to Sligo after 7 p.m. We have a growing number of commuters travelling to Dublin. We want to take cars off the road, but…

I acknowledge the good work in the area of dementia supports. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has done a huge amount of work over the years, as has the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. At the weekend, I happened to be watching the London marathon and saw a young guy by the name of Jordan Adams running it with a fridge on his back to signify the weight that he carries, given that he has a gene …

I welcome this discussion with the Minister of State. The comments by Deputy Clendennen brought me reminders of years ago. The World Cup in 1990 was after my first year in college. I flew to Germany to work for the summer. We arrived where we were due to work for the summer and the first thing we looked for was a place to watch the match before we even went to where we were staying. I recall the q…

I wish to refer to the capital investment programme for fire stations throughout the country. I highlight the work of over 60 firefighters, both full-time and part-time, throughout all the stations in County Longford. I thank them for all their good work. They are highly trained and committed to keeping us safe in our communities. I am seeking investment for a new fire station in Ballymahon. Ther…

I now call on the Minister, Deputy Foley, to make her opening statement.

I thank the Minister for that. I also welcome to the Chamber any persons in the Public Gallery who are associated with the Bessborough development.

The Government's primary care strategy, which includes Sláintecare and the primary care infrastructure programme, aims to significantly expand primary care centres across the country. The original programme identified over 130 primary care centres. More than 100 of these centres have now been completed and are operating nationally, including one in Longford town, which serves a town with a populat…

I thank the Tánaiste once again for his support, along with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in respect of significant investment in St. Joseph's Care Centre. I would welcome a meeting with the HSE capital team to speed up this service needs assessment, which has been dragging on over the last 12 months. The people of Longford need first-class facilities, the same as every community in our c…

I thank the Minister of State for taking the debate. I will start by saying I am a postmaster. It has been in our family for generations. My late mother took it over in 1972 and I have been running it for the past 20 years. I still cover the office on certain days or half-days during the week because ultimately, the local post office is the heart of the community. It is heartening to hear those co…

Amendment No. 18 is ruled out of order.

It is a potential charge on revenue.

I raise the issue of Garda numbers in Longford. Of the past three attestations coming out of Templemore, we have been lucky to receive one probationary Garda in our county. Over the past number of months, we have actually lost nine members between retirement, resignation and those transferring to other units. While a number have transferred in, we are still down numbers. We are looking to make sur…

Amendment No. 14 has been ruled out of order due to a potential charge on revenue.

Stick to the amendment, please, Deputy.

Deputy, please stick to the amendment.

Stick to the amendment, please, or I will move on to the next speaker.

Quiet, please.

I wish to raise ophthalmology services in Longford-Westmeath or the lack thereof. In 2024 we lost our service in Longford and since then we have had periods of no service with people having to travel to Dublin or Athlone or a temporary service back in Longford. The most recent correspondence I got from the HSE stated that for patients in Longford-Westmeath requiring a consultant ophthalmologist th…