Barry Heneghan

9. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on water quality will meet next. [59583/25]

I have raised the issue of water quality in Dublin Bay time and time again. I am not going to just single out the north side. This is a north and south Dublin problem. We saw the rain that fell at the weekend. We have all seen the drone footage of the bay being polluted. I have swimmers whose only way of socialising is getting into that water and having the chats but the E. coli levels are not acc…

When we talk about strategy or security policy, we have to begin thinking about the reality of this war. I have friends who have come from Ukraine and friends whose families are still in Ukraine. According to the United Nation’s report, and I am sure the Minister of State is well-aware of this as I have spoken to him about it before, the number of civilian casualties - this is something we are see…

I also wish to raise the issue of the 123 service. Multiple constituents, in particular the elderly and people with disabilities, are very upset about the change. They had a routine set as to where the bus was ending, but now there has been a change, not only of the bus number but also the destination. I welcome that the Minister of State will look into this. These people are set in their ways. Th…

83. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the condition of DART and train stations across Dublin Bay North (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63444/25]

I rise to speak about transport across my constituency, especially regarding the DART and to see overall investment in the DART train stations in Clontarf, Killester, Harmonstown and Raheny and up to Clongriffin and out to Howth. There is a huge need for investment. I understand there is going to be a large investment going in. My issue is that I was at multiple meetings of residents and they had …

I thank the Minister of State very much for that reply. A lot of the DART stations on the northside are currently not updating their social media quickly when lifts are unavailable to let people with accessibility issues know this is the case. They then get off at the station, and have to go through the process of getting to another station. In relation to what I said about the Donaghmede estate r…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit and I appreciate that he will address that. It is ridiculous that when it comes to the next election, it is politicians who will be taking the brunt on public transport, as the Minister of State knows himself. When I send an email, from the office of a Deputy, I do not get a response from Iarnród Éireann asking for a clear date and time of when a drop happened. …

76. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reviewing the income disregards for carers and people with disabilities in light of the increased cost of living to ensure that social protection supports do not act as a disincentive to work or education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62187/25]

Bhí an tAire ag rá rud éigin ansin faoi bheith ag caint faoi dhaoine le míchumais, or people with disabilities. One of the things we could definitely do in this House would be to allow the wage subsidy scheme to be taken on by Deputies and Senators, in a sense that it would give people with disabilities easier access to policymakers. My parliamentary assistant, Michael Reynolds, has a disability. …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus gabhaim leithscéal leis, bhí orm sin a rá tar eis an comhrá sin. The reason I posed my second question is because many families and people with disabilities in my constituency have been telling me that even a small amount of work or training can push them over the threshold, which creates a barrier rather than an incentive to work. Saoirse Smith, who I have met m…

I appreciate the update on the work the Minister is doing and the meetings we have had. The issue is that the existing threshold does not reflect the hidden cost of disability, which has been mentioned by Deputies across the House this morning, or the medical, transport and energy costs people face. I welcome the fact that the Minister has been carrying out a consultation. We need to modernise the…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Farrelly for tabling this. I am in full support of it. One of the main reasons is taxation without representation. If we are not going to give young people the chance to vote, are we going to make them exempt from taxes at the age of 15, 16 or 17? When I started work, I was on €6.06 an hour at the age of 15, but I was not able to vote until the age of 21. The thing…

29. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on disability will next meet. [57153/25]

32. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on disability will meet next. [59584/25]

Is there an update or timeline from the Cabinet committee on disability on assessments of need? In my own constituency, Stapolin Educate Together primary school is looking for two additional autism classes. It has a very powerful image of 12 chairs outside that school representing children locked out. I would urge the Taoiseach push-----

Stapolin in Dublin Bay North. I can send details to the Taoiseach’s office. These children are locked out. I urge that the NCSE look at this school. It has brilliant staff who are really hard working. Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Aire, Deputy McEntee, i dtaobh Ghaelcholáiste Reachrann. Tá sé iontach go bhfuil rudaí ag bogadh ar aghaidh air sin.

6. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the level of preparedness within the Defence Forces to respond to cyber or physical interference via subsea communication cables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60462/25]

This question has been asked twice already, so it is good that I have a clear insight. My question refers to the preparedness within the Defence Forces to respond to cyber and physical interference. I will discuss how we should strengthen our interconnectivity in terms of not only data but also electricity. The Minister knows I want our system to be decentralised and for there to be private wires.…

I thank the Minister for the update. Saturday is the one-year anniversary of the death of former Senator Billy Lawless, on the day the general election was called. I want to put on the record of the House that his previous PA is working with my team. In her words, there is not much to say about him but simply that it was a huge pleasure to have worked with him and he was one of a kind. Ar dheis Dé…

I thank the Tánaiste for his kind words. Back to the same point, I am delighted to hear about the investments going into protecting our offshore infrastructure. However, in relation to the benefits of private wires not only will it help the investments the Government will be making but it will allow critical infrastructure, businesses and communities, to generate and use power locally. By creating…

Míle buíochas le Aengus Ó Snodaigh as an gcuireadh inniu. Bhí sé an-tábhachtach dom labhairt leis na daoine seo ar fad inniu chun scéalta a gcuid saolta a chloisteáil agus na trioblóidí atá siad ag dul tríd faoi láthair. Tá sé an-deacair do na daoine seo mar níl aon support ann dóibh. I thank every Deputy who spoke today. Many Deputies spoke about the loss of talent, talent being drained from this…

Aontaím go láidir le go leor rudaí a bhí á rá ag Deputy McAuliffe ansin. Tá ár Dáilcheantair an-ghar dá chéile agus bímid ag obair ar na rudaí céanna. Míle buíochas le Páirtí an Lucht Oibre as an rún seo a thabhairt isteach sa Dáil. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach dom. I rith an toghcháin bhí mé ag dul ó dhoras go doras agus bhí go leor páirtithe sa Teach seo ag rá go mbeadh siad ar son an rud se…

Ba mhaith liom comghairdeas mór a dhéanamh le Catherine Connolly, an Uachtarán-elect. What I say in this contribution is not directed at the Minister of State; it is directed at the entire system I have been facing ever since being elected to this House. I welcome the Bill and the opportunity it provides. The billions of euro in investment in ESB Networks are badly needed. I am a member of the cli…

These small local issues will be the things that help. At the moment, it is not only that there is a housing crisis. Where somebody is waiting for a connection to build houses, if someone else can easily build a solar farm and have a direct line link to those houses, it will speed up everything. Germany, the UK and Denmark are doing it. I understand the Government is bringing forward a policy and …