Barry Heneghan

Bhí an Teachta Healy-Rae ag caint faoi rud éigint atá thar a bheith fíor. An rud ná nach bhfuil gá ag an Aire ná ag an HSE. Nuair atáim ag cur ceisteanna parlaiminte isteach chuig an HSE nó NTA, tá sé soiléir go bhfuil rud éigint mícheart leis an system atá againn. Níl aon duine responsible. It is ridiculous. I do not understand how we have given the power to these senior civil servants and I wond…

Listen, I did not disturb you when you spoke so please be quiet. I will get a lot more done than any of you will. I want to highlight the unacceptable surge in waiting lists for autism assessments and broader failings in the assessment of need systems. The regional group negotiated pay parity for section 38 and section 39 workers and I am delighted to see it has been done, but let us be honest abo…

124. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports his Department is providing to help farmers meet national and EU climate targets, particularly regarding emissions reduction, biodiversity enhancement and sustainable land use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25747/25]

What support is the Minister's Department providing to help farmers meet national and EU climate targets, especially in emissions reduction, biodiversity enhancement and sustainable land use? Will the Department focus in particular on nature-based solutions? I was very lucky to have worked on an integrated constructed wetland and I would love to hear the Department's opinion on the use of such wet…

I am delighted to hear that the Minister is committed to our climate targets. I know he might be surprised to hear a north Dublin TD who cares about agriculture, but it is something I have studied in college. He has just mentioned the sustainability aspect. To what extent are the CAP payments now tied to the measurable climate targets and how is the Department ensuring these conditions drive genui…

I am delighted to hear that, and I thank the Minister for the engagement today. I wish him the best of luck. He has a great brief, and Ireland will definitely be defined and our Government will be defined by how we act in the next four or five years in this regard. I urge the Department to look at integrated constructed wetlands as a cost-effective solution. They store carbon, they boost biodivers…

We all agree that Ireland urgently needs better infrastructure to meet its housing needs. The Minister has sat here listening to all of the Deputies say this with regard to water planning and grid capacity. The solution does not lie in trading blame. It lies in us all rolling up our sleeves and fixing what is broken, and what is easily fixable right in front of us. There are small legislative chan…

97. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he and his Department officials will visit a new clubhouse development (details supplied) to speak with the board. [22889/25]

I wish to raise an issue on which the Minister of State has engaged with me regarding Raheny Shamrocks Athletics Club and a development that the board of the club has been working really hard on. I welcome the fact the Minister of State has been speaking to the board. I ask him to comment on the fact that the northside needs more investment in this club and in running tracks across the board.

It is great to hear that the Minister of State will be coming to the club. Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club has a significant history of producing Olympians not just for the northside but for all of Ireland, such as Dick Hooper, Mick Clohisey and Sophie Becker as well as paralympians Orla Comerford and David McNally, and Brian Fay, who I went to school with. With over 850 members, the club still has …

I welcome the fact that the Minister of State said that. Regarding the lack of running tracks and the number of Olympians, maybe northsiders are just better runners. I ask that the capital plan that, please God, will go to Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club not be a one-time investment. If Dublin City Council could do this, it could charge people, which would build revenue for the council. We would als…

157. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to strengthen our cyberdefence capabilities in light of increasing global threats to digital infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18129/25]

Inniu ba mhaith liom caint faoi rud éigin atá i mbéal an phobail faoi láthair. What steps are being taken to strengthen Irish cyberdefence capabilities, especially in the environment we are in at present? Cyberattacks are no longer hypothetical. They are a real and growing threat to our economy, our national security and our democracy. The Tánaiste has spoken about this before but I want to know w…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste. Tá sé iontach le cloisteáil go bhfuil an obair sin á déanamh aige. It is great to see the Tánaiste is working collaboratively with the Defence Forces to establish this new unit but we need to see our Defence Forces equipped, trained and empowered to meet these real threats. I ask the Department to meet the universities, one of which, DCU, I just left. They are de…

I welcome the fact the Tánaiste will engage with the universities. As I have seen growing up and going through the education system, mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. If we do not invest in education and universities and give them the option, they will go. As the Tánaiste mentioned, cyberdefence depends on highly skilled personnel. I welcome the fact the Tánaiste has mentioned this. I have many frien…

Aontaím go mór leis an rún seo. When we speak about education we do not just speak about education, buildings or the boards of management. We speak about values, choice and identity. I can understand a lot of the stuff behind the motion. I agree with the spirit of the motion but I also signed up to support the programme for Government. I did not do so blindly and uncritically. I had a good look at…

Since taking up employment, my parliamentary assistant, who has a disability, has had his travel allowance and disability allowance removed. There are key steps in the programme for Government. Will this Government provide for a universal, non-means-tested payment in respect of disability allowance? We all know the cost of disability. There are huge costs to people with a disability. We need there…

I thank every Member for everything they have said about this. I do not want to repeat what we know is wrong. The real question is what we are going to do to make sure it never happens again. This case really exposed more than individual failure. It exposed the culture of silence and of institutions more focused on protecting systems than protecting people. When the person who is failed is someone…

Apologies for that. It is just to give attention to the case. I did not give the full date of birth.

12. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the process being put in place to fulfil the programme for Government commitment to "Examine ways to facilitate people who are on work permits to move jobs more easily and legally, while protecting the integrity of the immigration system"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21619/…

I am asking for an update on the commitment in the programme for Government to examine ways to make it easier and more transparent for people on work permits to change jobs legally. Last week, I visited the Migrant Rights Centre. I had a great discussion with it and met many people who had come to this country with the intention to work. There is a matter of basic fairness and of upholding our int…

I welcome the fact there is movement on this, but at the heart of the issue is a simple question of fairness. Workers who come to Ireland on employment permits are legally present in the country, paying taxes and contributing to our essential sectors, such as those mentioned by the Minister of State, but once they arrive, they find themselves tied to a single employer under rigid rules that limit …

I welcome the fact the Minister of State is engaging with these industries and he should continue to do that. I would also like his Department to examine the fee migrant workers are paying. Off the top of my head, it costs €200 yearly. It is an unfair fee and should be reduced because these people are struggling. They are coming here to work. Workers should not have to choose between leaving a bad…

Táim ag labhairt inniu ar son na dtuismitheoirí, na ndaltaí agus na múinteoirí i nGaelcholáiste Reachrann i nDomhnach Míde. Tá an scoil ag feidhmiú i bhfoirgnimh shealadacha le breis agus 20 bliain. Tá sé ráite go minic ag an Rialtas go bhfuil an tionscadal ag dul ar aghaidh ach níl sé. I raise yet again a matter that is a key priority for me. I spoke about it during the negotiations to form the …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste agus an Aire. Yet again - and I see why people get frustrated - the Tánaiste did not answer my question. Will the Tánaiste and the Minister commit to a visit to Gaelcholáiste Reachrann before the end of the school term? Will they commit to that? That is all I am asking for - a commitment. The school is waiting. I will drive them there; it is 25 minutes away. It i…