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Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness used his maiden speech in the Dáil to raise the need for investment in services and infrastructure in rural Ireland, citing as examples the failure by successive governments to invest in a fir-for-purpose water supply in Lismore, flood defences in Tallow, or dredging in Cé Heilbhic. He also used the opportunity to thank his voters, supporters and family, and to set out his vision for the future.
Speaking in the Dáil, McGuinness said:
“Is mór an phribhléid í dom seasamh anseo mar ionadaí tofa do mhuintir Phort Láirge agus labhairt ar a son. Táim fíorbhuíoch de gach uile dhuine a thug tacaíocht dom san olltoghchán agus déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall gach uile lá chun freastal ar an dúshlán agus ar an bhfreagracht mhór a tugadh dom. Beidh mé buíoch i gcónaí de mo bhean chéile, mo pháistí, mo chlann agus mo chomrádaithe.
“It is a great honour for me to speak here this evening for the first time as a Teachta Dála for Waterford.
“I thank my wife and children, my family, my supporters and my comrades in Sinn Féin for their support.
“I am deeply grateful to the people of Waterford for placing their trust in me in the election two months ago. Thank you to all those that voted for me and my colleague Deputy David Cullinane. I will work every single day to advance their interests and to fulfil the mandate they have given me.
“As a new TD and somebody who is raising a young family, my focus is very much on the future. However, I take great inspiration from my predecessors and heroes, two republican activists, Cathal Brugha and Caitlín Brugha, who served as Sinn Féin TDs for County Waterford a century ago.
“A decade of neglect has left many of our public services under-resourced and on the back foot. This is particularly true of local authorities, which have yet to recover from the austerity measures that saw central government funding and staffing levels cut to the bone.
“The decisions of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in various configurations over recent years have left communities across Ireland extremely vulnerable to severe weather events.
“The neglect by the Government stands in stark contrast to the huge effort we see from council staff, emergency personnel, GPs and their surgeries, public health nurses, community pharmacists, postmasters and their staff, ESB personnel, Civil Defence, community volunteers, Defence Forces personnel, farmers and small local businesses.
“Time and again we see the value of their service and we owe them our thanks. Storm Éowyn and other recent storms, from Eunice, to Babet, Darragh and more have exposed the inadequate levels of funding in investment for essential public services and infrastructure. Lives and livelihoods are put at risk across Ireland due to the negligence and indifference of successive governments that have been unwilling to look beyond the Pale.
“Our councils are not adequately resourced. Every storm that comes our way, with increasing frequency and ferocity, exposes the shortcomings in infrastructure investment in our rural communities. The people I represent feel forgotten and left behind.
“Take the town of Tallow in my own constituency, where people whose homes and businesses were flooded during Storm Babet in 2023 have yet to see any movement from the OPW on works to prevent further occurrences.
“One cannot imagine the anxiety they feel every time a storm is forecast, not knowing if the River Bride will burst its banks again and if their homes will be destroyed once more.
“Over a year on and they have received nothing from this Government – no delivery, no plan and not so much as a visit.
“Is féidir Cé Heilbhic, cé iascaireachta i nGaeltacht na nDéise, a lua mar shampla eile. De dheasca gainimh agus siolta, ní féidir le báid iascaireachta nó an bád tarrthála imeacht nó filleadh ar an gcalafort. Tá saolta á gcur i mbaol de réir an easpa infheistíochta anseo.
“Cé Heilbhic, a fishing harbour in the west Waterford Gaeltacht, urgently requires the Government to fund dredging works as fishing boats and the local lifeboat are prevented from leaving or returning to port in low tides. Lives and livelihoods are being put at risk. This situation was well flagged with the previous Minister, and I implore the incoming Minister to take action before life is lost.
“Lismore in County Waterford is yet another example of Government inaction and indifference. This is a heritage town in urgent need of a new water system. Homes, businesses and schools are frequently left without water with no notice.
“These outages last for days, disrupting businesses, causing schools to close and leading to very real hardship and distress for households, particularly those with medical needs, older people or people with disabilities.
“Works should have been carried out years ago to deliver a sustainable water supply in Lismore, but it is never too late to make a start.
“Let us end the neglect and instead invest in sustainable and safe communities that are equipped to withstand the challenges a changing climate and the Atlantic throw our way.”
He concluded his speech by raising the issue of special school capacity in West Waterford and making an impassioned plea for urgent intervention from Government to secure suitable spaces for the children impacted.
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise a very pressing issue affecting a number of families in west Waterford.
“Twenty children have been left without a space for the coming academic year in our fantastic local special school, St. John’s. Their families have been left reeling and uncertain how, where or if the right to education of their children will be vindicated.
“This lack of special school places did not happen overnight, but it has now reached crisis point.
“I ask the Minister of State to raise with his colleague, the Minister for Education, the urgent need to increase special school capacity in Dungarvan and west Waterford to ensure all children can access an education appropriate to their needs now and into the future.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 