John Clendennen

In recent weeks, the debating team at St. Brendan's Community School, Birr, was crowned European debating champions. A team from Coláiste Choilm in Tullamore is in Texas right now competing in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition. Students from Sacred Heart school, Tullamore, will be in Texas next week, along with students from Cork and Kildare, all of whom will be competing against the best in the wor…

Offaly and the wider midlands have powered this nation for generations, first through peat and now through renewables. We have led from the front but today we face a critical turning point in our energy and economic future. Midlands just transition was meant to ensure that no community was left behind in the move to a climate-neutral economy but for many in Offaly it has felt like a promise made b…

I fully agree that in our renewable energy journey, we have hit many important milestones. As part of that journey, Offaly has been to the forefront. In addition to mapping, we also need to see a greater level of community recognition. In tandem with renewable zoning, we must overhaul the community benefit fund under the renewable energy support scheme. The current €2 per MW/h is too diluted. Ther…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue. Over the past number of years very significant progress has been made on insurance reform. The importance of insurance and the security and protection it provides for policyholders cannot be underestimated and it must be readily available and affordable. The impetus for and the objectives of all the recent reform was very simple. Insura…

I thank the Minister of State. In no uncertain terms, this will lead to an increase in premiums and costs to every one of the societal areas I mentioned in my earlier contribution. General damages awards in Ireland remain significantly higher than in Europe. Increasing them further will only put more businesses at a competitive disadvantage and place even more pressure on strained sectors of socie…

The promises President Trump made from the Rose Garden last night were essentially protectionism with thorny tariffs, presenting challenges and uncertainty for many sectors, including businesses, farmers and livelihoods in County Offaly. It is essential we maintain a sense of calm with a measured response, proactively working with our EU counterparts through trade, diversification and deepening re…

138. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of embassies and consulates of Ireland operating at present; how this compared with the number at the time of the launch of the Global Island strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15450/25]

Thank you very much, a Cheann Comhairle. I wish you well, and it is good to see you back in the Chair. How many embassies and consulates is Ireland operating and how does this compare with the number at the time of the launch of the Global Ireland strategy?

I thank the Tánaiste. We have made fantastic progress in this area and it is commendable what has been achieved with respect to bolstering our global footprint. That whole Ireland House system has been a wonderful initiative, and it has never been more needed given our ever-changing and ever-shifting global priorities. When you speak to members of the diaspora, you get a great sense of pride and …

When you look at days like St. Patrick's Day and what it achieves in reaching every corner of the world, the more locations where we can have a presence and be able to promote Ireland that way, the better. It also opens an opportunity for greater connectivity around the world. When you see the number of people who are coming here to work from the likes of South America, there is a real opportunity…

The local improvement scheme is one of the best schemes we have seen in terms of reaching corners of all parts of rural Ireland that may not necessarily have street lights or that may be waiting for broadband to be delivered. We should be encouraging councils to clear all their backlogs rather than breaking it down into districts or otherwise. If we can see a way to a situation where applications …

85. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is a central set of criteria which apply under the local enhancement programme, given that the funding is decided at a local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14607/25]

I wish both the Minister and the Minister of State well in their new roles. I ask if there is a central set of criteria which apply under the local enhancement programme, given that the funding is decided at a local level, and if the Minister will make a statement on the matter.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Rialtas as an obair le deich mbliana anuas chun tacú le tuath na hÉireann. It is important to look at the last ten years and see the progress that has been made in rural Ireland, with the establishment of this very Department in providing a strategic plan, a focus and funding for every rural community. Through the Local Government Reform Act 2014, I have seen first hand, t…

I ask that feedback might be taken from local authorities on the applications that were made and the sums that were sought versus what was actually allocated to see what shortfall there was, if any. It is important where good initiatives come forward that they get the full support of the Government and the State. Second, there is a time element as regards the administration burden on local commun…

I wish the Ministers well in the term ahead. I echo the sentiments of Deputy Moynihan in relation to IDA land in Offaly. We have suffered redundancies at Nelipac and Cardinal Health and it is pertinent to see acquisition of land to attract further IDA company investment to the county. There were three visits in 2023 and five in 2024. We need now to secure land in order to secure investment. I invi…

I wish the Minister and the Minister of State well for the term ahead. I know the Minister well. He has a personal story of growing up on a farm. His is a farm family. With his experience and knowledge, he brings a great amount to the Department. That is only going to benefit farmers over the term ahead. Agriculture is undoubtedly the backbone of our economy. The local economy in Offaly is no dif…

As this is my first time taking to my feet in the Chamber, I want to start by acknowledging, and expressing my sincere gratitude to, the people of Offaly, who have entrusted me with the great honour of representing them in Dáil Éireann, and also my wife, son, family, friends and supporters, who have stood by me every step of the way. I thank them sincerely. The Department of Education has been wo…