Latest news with #ChristopherO'Sullivan
The Journal
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Crackdown announced on mass fishing of sprat in bid to protect whales and birds
A BAN ON the mass fishing of sprat by large trawlers in inshore areas starting in October next year has been announced by the government. The move has been taken following long campaigning by environmental and fisheries groups in a bid to protect whales, who rely on the small but protein-rich fish. Previous attempts to restrict overfishing by large trawlers were overturned in the High Court in 2020 due to a lack of consultation with the industry. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan said the new measures are a 'clear signal that Ireland is serious' about protecting marine life. However, the move has criticised by the Social Democrats as coming 'years too late' and called for a full ban on sprat fishing. How the restrictions will work From 1 October next year, trawling activity by fishing vessels over 18 metres in length in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines will be prohibited. A limited total allowable catch of 2,000 tonnes of sprat will be permitted for vessels over 18 metres length overall inside the six nautical mile zone and inside baselines from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026 only. Trawlers that are over 8 metres in length which are seeking to fish for sprat during that period will require an authorisation to do so. Advertisement The move was announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which said it carried out a wide consultation and received scientific and economic analysis from the Marine Institute and seafood industry group Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries Timmy Dooley announced the plan to place the restrictions on trawling activity by large vessels. Heydon brought a memo to Cabinet this morning to inform them of the decision. He said: 'This is a matter of significant public interest, and the decision has been preceded by an extensive public consultation which has been considered carefully. I am satisfied that this is the right thing to do for the preservation of sustainable fisheries in our inshore waters.' O'Sullivan, the junior minister for nature, heritage and biodiversity, said the 'de facto ban' was a step forward for Ireland's marine environment and for the future of wildlife. Industrial trawling of sprat in Ireland's inshore waters to be banned. This decision reflects the valuable input and advocacy of coastal communities throughout the consultation process. — Christopher O'Sullivan TD (@COSullivanTD) July 22, 2025 'For too long, industrial overfishing of sprat has threatened the very foundation of our marine food web, putting whales, dolphins, and our much-loved seabirds like puffins and kittiwakes at risk,' the Cork South-West TD said. 'The measures agreed today, which amount to a de facto ban on industrial trawling of sprat in our inshore waters, are the result of an extensive public consultation process and careful consideration of the best available scientific advice.' Social Democrats environment spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore said that the move was a 'half measure' which had come too late to help preserve the sprat and limit the consequences of their overfishing on whales and other creatures. 'It's good to see the government finally acknowledge the damage being done to sprat stocks,' Whitmore said, 'But after seven years of dithering, we need more than incremental steps – we need ambition, urgency, and a full moratorium until we have the science and safeguards to manage this fishery responsibly.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Junior minister for heritage criticises 'outrageous' Sinn Féin arguments against GPO revamp
JUNIOR MINISTER FOR Heritage Christopher O'Sullivan has hit out at Sinn Féin for its 'outrageous' opposition to the government's plan to redevelop the General Post Office (GPO). His comments come in response to a Dáil motion from Sinn Féin later today, which seeks to recognise the 'consistent, widespread and negligent destruction of Ireland's republican revolutionary history presided over by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments'. The GPO was the headquarters of the Irish Volunteers during the Easter Rising of 1916. The Cork South West TD, who is a junior minister in the Department of Housing, said the government will be putting down a counter motion to this 'for obvious reasons'. 'Some of the points being suggested in Sinn Féin's motion are absolutely outrageous, for want of a better word. Especially coming from a party that was only established in the 70s,' he said. Sinn Féin was founded by Arthur Griffith in 1905, the party later split in the early 1920s. The modern Sinn Féin became a political force in the 1970s. O'Sullivan argued that his party and Fine Gael have invested in commemorating the early revolutionary period of the Irish State and noted that €10m has already been invested in the current GPO experience and exhibition. 'We absolutely hold this period of Ireland's history dear to our hearts…Sinn Féin don't own this. They don't own the narrative. We all have a connection to that revolutionary period,' he said. Advertisement Last week, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the government's plans for the GPO as 'another shameful betrayal of Ireland's proud revolutionary history'. Plans for shops in the GPO Asked today by The Journal to elaborate on what shops are planned for the iconic building, and if, for example, it will include a Carroll's gift shop, the junior minister said that it was 'way, way too early for me speculating on what may or may not be there'. He said the project will be led by the Office of Public Works and that there will be a public consultation ahead of the final design. 'Just to reiterate, the focus on what happens at the GPO will be on its importance in terms of the role that it played in 1916 and that historically cultural importance,' O'Sullican said. He said the design of the GPO will be based on the recommendations of the Dublin City Taskforce. 'So what we do know is the three recommendations it did suggest were, first and foremost, that focus on the importance in terms of its cultural, historical importance. 'That will be the main focus, and everything that will be done will complement that. There will be a civic office aspect to it, and there will be a retail aspect to it as well,' the junior minister said. He added that there is already a retail aspect to the GPO complex, with over 27 shops on the Henry Street side. This was a reference to the GPO Arcade, which is one of the most distinctive shopping facilities in Dublin, and is located at the back of the GPO post office and museum, with a separate entrance. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Government ‘throwing the kitchen sink' at fixing homelessness crisis
The Government has 'thrown the kitchen sink' at the homelessness crisis, a minister of state has said. Christopher O'Sullivan TD said that it has been a really 'difficult challenge to tackle', but that it is a priority for the Housing Minister. His comments come as the latest figures released on Friday show homelessness has reached another record high. Christopher O'Sullivan. Pic: Fianna Fáil Some 15,747 people are now in emergency accommodation during the last week of May, including 4,844 children. Last week, Children's Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said that the government's housing initiatives consistently fail children. Mr O'Sullivan told RTÉ's The Week In Politics programme: 'The figures at the moment, they're not acceptable, and I don't think anyone is saying for one second that they are. 'The Government is acutely aware that there is a housing crisis, and there is a significant issue with homelessness, which we're trying to tackle. 'Obviously, we're particularly struck by the words of the Children's Ombudsman… This is a really, a really difficult challenge to tackle. 'That's been proven over the last number of years, and we have thrown the kitchen sink [at] it, but I will say this, there's no doubt that it's a priority for the Taoiseach, it's a priority for this Government. Housing Minister James Browne. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos 'Working with [Housing Minister] James Browne, I'm in the Department of Housing as Minister of State, I know that this is a priority for him. 'These stories, these, I suppose, testimonies I know motivate him. They motivate him to make change. They motivate him to make a difference on homelessness. 'That is why the very first piece of legislation that Minister James Browne introduced in the House was around preventing homelessness.' Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, who has backed a redress scheme for children living in emergency accommodation, said there is too much reliance on the private model. He remarked: 'We need to have the State getting back and building in a massive, significant way.'
The Journal
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Junior housing minister says homelessness crisis 'a really difficult challenge to tackle'
IRELAND'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS is a 'really difficult challenge to tackle', junior housing minister Christopher O'Sullivan has said. A total of 15,747 people were living in emergency accommodation in May, according to figures published on Friday . It is the highest-ever figure recorded in Ireland, a continuing trend over the last number of months. It also includes 4,844 children – 69 more than April. Speaking on the issue today during RTÉ television's The Week In Politics, O'Sullivan conceded that the figures are currently unacceptable. He said the government is 'acutely aware' of the housing crisis and the impact it is having on homelessness. The Fianna Fáil TD said: 'Obviously, we're particularly struck by the words of the Children's ombudsman, essentially highlighting the devastating impact that emergency accommodation and homelessness in general is having on children and the long term impacts. Advertisement 'This is a really, really difficult challenge to tackle. That's been proven over the last number of years, and we have thrown the kitchen sink (at) it, but I will say this, there's no doubt that it's a priority for Taoiseach, it's a priority for this government.' Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon told the same programme that there is too much reliance on private accommodation and the use of hotels to house those who are living in emergency housing. Gannon said that environment has long-term impacts on children, citing issues with speech and language, an inability to play with other children and mobility issues. He added that the state needs to zone land as affordable. He said: 'We need to have the state getting back and building in a massive, significant way. We also need to take a step back and understand the impact that these living provisions are having to children in this state.' Children's ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said that Government's housing initiatives continuously fail children. The comments were echoed by homelessness charity leaders on Friday, following the publication of the latest emergency accommodation figures. Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane pointed to the thousands of empty council homes in need of renovation. She said there needs to be a renewed effort to improve the properties to house families. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Government has 'thrown the kitchen sink' at homeless crisis
The Government has 'thrown the kitchen sink' at the homeless crisis in Ireland in an attempt to address it, a minister of state has said. Christopher O'Sullivan said that it has been a really 'difficult challenge to tackle', but that it is a priority for the housing minister. His comments come as the latest figures show there are almost 5,000 homeless children in Ireland. Figures released on Friday show that homelessness reached another record high. The data shows 15,747 people are now in emergency accommodation during the last week of May, some 10,903 of whom are adults and 4,844 children. This is an increase on the 15,418 people, 4,675 of whom were children, recorded in May. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the impact of living in emergency accommodation will be lifelong for children. Last week, Children's ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said that Government's housing initiatives continuously fail children. Mr O'Sullivan told RTE's The Week In Politics programme: 'The figures at the moment, they're not acceptable, and I don't think anyone is saying for one second that they are. 'The Government is acutely aware that there is a housing crisis, and there is a significant issue with homelessness, which we're trying to tackle. 'Obviously, we're particularly struck by the words of the Children's ombudsman, essentially highlighting the devastating impact that emergency accommodation and homelessness in general is having on children and the long term impacts. 'This is a really, a really difficult challenge to tackle. 'That's been proven over the last number of years, and we have thrown the kitchen sink (at) it, but I will say this, there's no doubt that it's a priority for Taoiseach, it's a priority for this government. 'Working with (housing minister) James Browne, I'm in the Department of Housing as Minister of State, I know that this is a priority for him. 'These stories, these, I suppose, testimonies I know motivate him. 'They motivate him to make change. 'They motivate made him to make a difference on homelessness. 'That is why the very first piece of legislation that Minister James Browne introduced in the House was around preventing homelessness.' Mr Gannon, who has also backed a redress scheme for children living in emergency accommodation, said there is too much reliance on the private model. He added: 'For those children who are living in those substandard hotel accommodation, (that is) being paid for by the taxpayer. 'The impacts that they're having on their lives, be that through the inability to be just playing in the area, the therapeutic sports that's going to be needed, the lifelong consequences, that will also be funded by the taxpayer.' 'The impact this is having with children's lives is going on now for a decade. 'We know the impacts in terms of speech and language, an inability to play, mobility issues. 'Look, we need to be zoning land as affordable. We need to have the state getting back and building in a massive, significant way. 'We also need to take a step back and understand the impact that these living provisions are having children in this state.' Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane told the programme the Government should first use the thousands of empty council homes across the country. 'We need to get them turned around, and we need to get families into them,' she added. 'We need to look at those derelict properties, particularly in our rural areas. 'They're in every town and village. 'And we need to look at quick wins in terms of turning these buildings around, that we can provide immediate homes for people as quickly as possible.'
