Paul McAuliffe

2. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the plenary meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he chaired on 4 April 2025. [19067/25]

The Labour Employer Economic Forum is an important opportunity for members of the trade union movement to make representations to the Government with regard to the labour market and the issues which impact it. Legislation has been put forward in this House with regard to the rights of pensioners, particularly pensioners of many State bodies, who after retiring have very little input into the chang…

I compliment my colleague from Dublin 15. Representatives from that area have been working on the issue of drones for some time. Griffith Avenue residents have raised it on the basis that drone use is expanding to new areas. While it currently relates to food deliveries, we can only imagine the impact it would have if, for example, all parcel deliveries were to be transferred to drones in a short …

95. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the Finglas Luas expansion project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34107/25]

I want to raise an issue that is identified in the national development programme, which is the Finglas Luas project. It is a fantastic project that makes a lot of sense, with 4 km and four stops connecting it to an existing line that will give access to thousands of people in my constituency. We are one of the few constituencies in the country that does not have rail services. We are entirely rel…

It is very welcome that we will have a planning decision by 30 September. The Minister is right that the decision to bring it to the Cabinet for gate 1 was really important. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, really assisted us in doing that. He came on site and examined the potential of it. I was pleased the Cabinet signed off on that. Almost all the Luas projects that have happened have gone through…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I see we are making good progress on that. We will keep a watchful eye and ensure it continues. Many people on the other side of the constituency will hope for the delivery of the metro project with the same urgency. It is a far more complex and detailed project but one that has been promised for some time. The review of the national development plan is happening in …

Hear, hear.

16. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Dublin city task force recommendations through his Department, and on his plans to apply the task force model to other areas in need of revitalisation. [32473/25]

I know that, as a Cork man, the Taoiseach will join me in saying how great Dublin city is, but as great as it is, we certainly have challenges, especially in the city centre. The task force report was an important way of identifying those challenges. The challenge now will be delivering them. Within the Dublin City Council structure, there certainly seems to be the appetite to establish a dedicat…

While the pay and conditions of staff are incredibly important, the physical buildings in which they operate are also important. While I particularly welcome the building blocks programme which was an important initiative, the Minister and I know the limitations of that. We could do with a few more bob from the Department of public expenditure - if it was giving it to the Minister - but also for t…

83. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for plans and an indicative timeline of implementation for a community neuro-rehabilitation team for the treatment of neurological patients in north Dublin, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32453/25]

I recently met with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland who raised a number of questions with me. They were specifically interested in the programme for Government commitment, which seeks to put in place community neuro-rehabilitation teams. I was particularly concerned when they alerted me to the fact that north Dublin, the area that covers my constituency, does not currently have a community ne…

I agree with the Minister of State that these services are incredibly important. The multidisciplinary nature of the teams provides intensive neuro-rehabilitation at critical times and they assist with acute hospital discharges. Studies have shown that, on average, they save up to three days per patient, but they are also a critical intervention. Any multidisciplinary approach to patients can impr…

I encourage the Minister of State to engage with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. It is a strong organisation. I know the Minister of State has met its representatives. Tomorrow she will visit my constituency and a member organisation of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, An Síol, which deals with longer term treatments. It is keen to get a permanent home. It has identified a site with Dub…

Deputy Cummins helpfully asked the question I was due to raise on school funding and I re-emphasise that point. Given the news breaking on the plane crash in India, which I believe involves 169 Indian nationals, 45 Britons, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, will the Tánaiste as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade do everything in his power to provide consular assistance to any Irish citizens an…

Like many in the House, my heart was breaking when I watched the programme last Monday. The Beneavin nursing home is literally five minutes from where I live. There are neighbours and friends who have relatives in Beneavin nursing home. However difficult it was for any of us to watch the programme, I cannot imagine how difficult it was for them. I know many people could not bring themselves to wat…

First, I will respond to the thousands of emails I have received and make it clear that I, my party and the Government do not support the genocide taking place in Gaza. We do not support the genocide, the starvation of Gazan citizens or the current actions of Hamas or Israel. We believe those actions are undermining the stability of peace in the region and of the ultimate solution, a two-state sol…

The Minister is one of those people who was certain about CERN a long time ago. While that organisation might operate at the speed of light, the implementation of our associate membership, unfortunately, did not. This is a small step in some ways but it also represents an important underlining of the investment by Governments over many decades in education and research, which has put Ireland and t…

I welcome the amendment because it opens the discussion on dual diagnosis, which is incredibly important. I was lucky enough to be part of the DCU Finglas Addiction Support Team, FAST, peer-reviewed research on dual diagnosis. There were a whole range of recommendations included within it. One of those was an amendment to the Mental Health Act that would ensure a no wrong door approach. Of course…

I see the specific issue with trying to include a particular condition because there are many others that could be. I have reminded myself of the specific request in the DCU FAST report, which is to do with people being committed to psychiatric institutions when they are under the influence. There is a difficulty with doing that. The way we might deal with it on Report Stage is that rather than lo…

Hear, hear.

12. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will next meet. [27570/25]

I spent five years on the housing committee during the previous Dáil, and I learned fairly quickly that there is no silver bullet to solve the housing crisis. It is by turning on the supply in multiple different streams that we will be able to reach that. Despite what previous speakers said, we cannot ignore the fact that we are now at the stage where we are building more social or public housing …

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 205, the Bills which lapsed on the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil and are set out in the Schedule to this motion, shall be restored, at the stage specified in the Schedule below and notice of them shall be published pursuant to Standing Order 37. SCHEDULE