Rose Conway-Walsh

That is not Irish Water

It is a group scheme.

Thank you.

I commend the work of Dublin City University, Aberdeen University and University College Dublin on the constitutional deliberations from grassroots that is being done by Dr. Shelley Deane, Professor Joanne McEvoy and Professor Jennifer Todd. I raise this because this work has been done with focus groups in Mayo, Bellaghy, Longford, Cookstown and Monaghan. The shared island unit, which is very much…

I am trying to avoid reinventing the wheel.

It is not-----

Let me make it clear: we have only reached this point of establishing a statutory inquiry into the failures in paediatric spinal care in Ireland solely due to the brave families and advocates who have forced the Government to act. I acknowledge that the Minister has listened to the families and they are taking it in good faith that she will do what they are asking her to do. It should never have …

We have had months and months of hand-wringing and vague objections to the agreement in its current form. The fact is that the negotiations are finished, the deal is done and the Government must decide whether it is for it or against it. From an enterprise, tourism and employment perspective, I recognise exactly what is at stake here. Irish agriculture underpins tens of thousands of rural jobs, sm…

1. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the protections his Department will install for workers to prevent the situation that occurred at a company (details supplied) being replicated at other companies, whereby workers are left without any form of income for prolonged periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62594/25]

Last month, one of Ireland's largest delivery companies went into receivership, leaving 300 direct employees' jobs at risk and impacting a further 600-plus jobs, including subcontractors, franchisees and seasonal workers. These workers have been left in limbo and are still technically employed by Fastway but no longer getting paid. What protections will the Department install for workers to preven…

I thank the Minister and I know the discussions we are having obviously overlap with the remit of the Minister for Social Protection. In these situations, it is very important that there is tight communication between both Departments to put in emergency services. The Minister said people can go to their Intreo offices, but in these situations it is important that dedicated personnel are available…

It would be very useful if the Minister and the Minister for Social Protection drew up a definitive list of actions and supports. I will work with them in doing that, so that if this situation happens again, we will have something - almost a pack - to present to workers showing them the do's and don'ts of what they are allowed to do, so people will have clarity around that. Will the Minister consi…

5. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports his Department is providing to companies impacted by the receivership announcement of a company (details supplied) to prevent further closures and job losses; the steps his Department is taking to ensure the packages held by the company are delivered to their owners; and if he will make a statement o…

I want to speak further about Fastway because there is so much to be spoken about. The Minister knows that Fastway is built on a network of local franchisees and subcontractors, many of whom have been the backbone of parcel delivery in rural and regional Ireland. These are small family-run operations which have invested heavily, some of them up to €70,000 in recent months, in vehicles, equipment a…

Some of that information is useful. I thank the Minister for it. I commend my colleagues Senator Maria McCormack and Councillor Claire Murray who are working in the Laois area and who pulled together all the agencies last week to try to get as much information as possible for people. This is not just a commercial issue; it is about jobs and livelihoods. Every unpaid franchisee and subcontractor st…

This incident once again highlights the vulnerability of small operators when large logistic firms collapse. We need to examine the environment in which some companies are allowed to operate. Employees and those who are dependent on them, like subcontractors, need to be notified about what is happening at a very early stage. Earlier, the Minister referred to the fact that we need better corporate …

81. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if the employees of a company that has entered receivership (details supplied) can apply for new employment, jobseeker’s allowance, supplementary welfare allowance or any other social welfare payment during the lengthy receivership period without this action having a negative impact on their redundancy entitlements; and if he wi…

Fáilte to everybody in the Gallery. I am delighted to see them here today. I thank the Social Democrats for tabling the Bill. We remember the Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016. We restored it to the Order Paper in the Seanad in 2021 and it was seconded by Senator Ruane. We are a long time at this; we are too long at it. The Minister of State knows from his contribution that we are too…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue this evening. Absolutely no disrespect to him but I had hoped the relevant Minister, Deputy Patrick O’Donovan, would be here to answer. My aim is to bring to the Minister’s attention the unworkable proposals being put forward by An Post in Ballyhaunis and Erris, County Mayo. Neither the proposal to move the sorting depot from Barnatra in …

The Minister of State's response is really disappointing. This is going to be fought by all public representatives across the board. It completely ignores people in rural Ireland and rural Irish towns. This is the wrong thing to do. The Government is copping out by saying that An Post is a separate commercial entity. It is being funded by the Government. There has to be an influence there to say t…

15. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [59733/25]

A recent report by TCD, UCC and Women's Aid confirms that family law courts fail to take domestic abuse and threats to harm into account when making decisions about guardianship, custody and access to children. Court-ordered access for abusers continues to place survivors and children at risk. Why does parental contact continue to take priority over the rights, safety and express wishes of childre…

Legislation has been repealed in Britain in the last few days. It would be worth examining that because it tackles this issue.

33. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on disability will next meet. [59734/25]

It is an absolute disgrace that even today we still do not know which children were wrongly removed from the scoliosis waiting list or why it happened. Families have been left in the dark while children suffer in pain. There is a clear culture of secrecy, concealment and unaccountability at the heart of children’s healthcare and an utter lack of transparency. I want to talk to the Taoiseach again,…