Micheál Martin

Yes, we are, but these are legally binding targets that both the Government and Europe have imposed. I would argue that the last Government did more than previous Governments in moving this forward and step-changing the nature of the response, but it is very challenging. I disagree with the Deputy's analysis. He disparagingly referred to tech companies. Tech companies in this country put bread on …

-----in the country in such companies, be they indigenous or multinational. The Deputy just dismissed them.

It is as if work does not matter.

Work matters. Is Deputy Murphy saying to the workers that they should be laid off or that we should reduce the investment in the companies?

We will deal with it. In terms of the energy reserve, the Deputy is also wrong. It is a security imperative that we develop an LNG facility. We are dependent on two connectors, which are vulnerable from a security perspective.

I know the Deputy does not want to see any evil in terms of Russia's designs and so on, but that is a problem.

The Deputy must know the answer. Does he?

I beg your pardon?

I know but the Deputy must have picked up a phone and talked to someone in the council or someone-----

How am I supposed to-----

I am sorry. The Deputy is a fairly diligent fellow on the ground. I would imagine he knows the answer.

Maybe he can communicate with me on this. He must know the answer.

There is always a reason something happens. If we can establish the reason, we can see if we can rectify it.

The Deputy must know the answer.

GDPR?

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. The Minister for housing and the Minister of State in that Department are examining that issue of the guidelines for rural planning. Obviously, it can make a contribution to the housing issue - there is no question about that. There are issues that have to be resolved, but I know the Minister is actively working on the matter.

No one is being treated as a second-class citizen. Enormous resources have been committed and are currently being spent on the remediation scheme in Donegal, Mayo and elsewhere. That will continue. The legislation in relation to all of this is imminent.

This Government is very serious about investing in road projects. The sectoral plan from the national development plan in transport will be very comprehensive and substantial. Investment has already been allocated to the Kilmeaden to Carrolls Cross stretch. That should be acknowledged. More generally, there has never been the level of investment in our roads in the history of the State that we hav…

I thank the Deputy for raising a very serious issue. It is a distressing and devastating issue for all those who have been victims, essentially, of the activity and business of this company. Deputy McCormack also raised this publicly. As the Deputy said, there are issues for the workers. We will do everything we can through State agencies to be of assistance to the workers. There are issues of sel…

There is flexibility in the workplace in the current era compared with any other previous era. Many companies are still working through the aftermath of Covid. Many good practices have emerged. Some have been reviewed. At company level, there is a legislative framework governing the right to seek to work remotely. It is within that framework that I think companies to work with their employees with…

Again, that is an issue which has to be resolved at the local authority level. If the Deputy can give me some further material on that - I am obviously not aware of the individual case - we can examine it and see what the situation is.

First, no workers should be harassed. I hope that is not the case in Dublin Bus but I will have the matter examined. I will talk to the Minister involved in terms of the specific issue. This is, of course, the industrial relations machinery available to resolve these issues but I will talk to the Minister and have the matter examined.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 17, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments that relate to matters under these headings. It was established in February 2025 following the appointment of the new Government in January. The Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs h…

That was a lengthy list of questions from quite a number of Deputies. Deputy Ardagh was first into the fray. I agree with her and will talk to Minister for justice and other Ministers in respect of a dedicated safe inner city initiative, particularly as some of the ideas outlined were implemented in the north-east inner city at the time of the Kinahan-Hutch feud. The impact of that feud on childre…

There is no excuse for an armed group being established. We cannot blame politicians for people who take it upon themselves to set up an armed group and procure weapons and bombs. It is wrong to blame politicians for that. I would simply make that point. That said, the campaign of, in certain respects, far-right terror is a worry. There is no doubt about that. Threats to politicians have increased…