Shane Moynihan

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. It is important to say at the outset that the proliferation of new technologies like artificial intelligence and the generation and communication tools associated with that are a massive opportunity in terms of connecting society and making information more plentiful, but also presents a number of challenges. I am a firm believer that inno…

17. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [33559/25]

I am encouraged to hear the importance of focusing on our public transport and water infrastructure, which I know the Taoiseach believes in, and the laser focus the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will have over the lifetime of this Government. As I have often mentioned on the floor of this House, public transport is extremely important in my own constituency of Dublin Mid-West where projects …

The Taoiseach won that, though, did he not?

16. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if new EE-zoned land will be identified in tandem with industrial land rezonings for housing to enable relocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35806/25]

Will the Department issue guidance on the need for enterprise and employment zoned land to be identified in tandem with the industrial land rezonings that are being rezoned to enable further provision of housing and if that will then be used to enable relocation?

I thank the Minister of State for that reply. The context for this question is in the fact the Dublin local authorities are advancing development frameworks that involve the rezoning of existing industrial land to residential or mixed use to meet housing supply targets. As the Minister of State said in his reply, that is a function of the local authority but done under the auspices of the national…

One of the reasons I am raising this is the shortage of land. If we want to promote compact growth, or initiatives like 15-minute cities, it is important with large-scale housing developments we have adequate amounts of industrial and commercial land there as well. While I fully take the point that planning authorities do set their own development plans, we are also familiar with instances where e…

7. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if the Belgian model is being examined in the context of the programme for Government commitment to investigate early access schemes for rare disease treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34617/25]

The Minister is no doubt aware of the cases of those who suffer with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a matter which has been raised in the Dáil a number of times, as well as with the Minister directly, not least because of the Thompson boys in my own constituency. This has brought into focus the need for an early access scheme for rare disease drugs. I know there is a commitment to this in the progra…

It is great to hear about the progress that has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Mazars report on this subject that was published some years ago. That goes to the heart of the extra resourcing that the Minister spoke about. She is right; there needs to be a partnership between industry and the State to make sure that these applications are put through immediately and that the H…

I appreciate the efforts of the Minister in this regard and I have conveyed that to the families involved. I am very grateful for the Minister's proactive approach. The beauty of getting an early access scheme right is that it does not necessarily rely on the proactivity of the State to be involved in that process but, rather, the partnership is hardwired into every piece of the system and the Sta…

6. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the plenary meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he chaired on 4 April 2025. [33558/25]

We have often discussed the importance of policymakers recognising the effort and energy that goes into running a business and sustaining high levels of employment. The plight of SMEs in particular has been raised on the floor of the Dáil, as has the need for policies to make sure we encourage and incentivise SMEs to scale up to be able to pursue research and innovation for their own benefit and f…

I congratulate my colleague, Deputy McAuliffe, on his advocacy for Finglas Luas. The Minister will know Luas Lucan is very important to me. I am keen to know about the overall set of plans identified by the NTA for extension of Luas lines around Dublin. Will he consider putting a standing Luas project office in place to think of continued expansion of light rail? It is fair to say we have develope…

Like other colleagues, I want to raise not only the awful deteriorating disease that is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but also the need for an approach to an early access programme along the lines of what is in Belgium, the UK and the US. In my constituency, there are two very unique and special boys, Conor and Dean Thompson, who have been spearheading the Build for the Boys campaign. Speaking to f…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Is mór agam an deis seo labhairt ar an mBille seo agus ar na himpleachtaí a bheidh ag baint leis do thionóntaí ar fud na tíre agus an éifeacht a bheidh aige ar mhargadh na gcíosanna. Gan amhras, tá an géarchéim thithíochta ar cheann de na géarchéimeanna is mór atá os comhair na tíre faoi láthair. Tá sé in am dúinn féachaint ar gach uile réiteach is f…

6. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will next meet. [29737/25]

Core to our transition to a green economy will be ensuring that the workforce has the skills necessary to enable it. A recent SOLAS report shows that, of all the jobs in the workforce, 75% require some sort of green or sustainability-based skill and that there are more than 400,000 people in employment in green occupations. Green jobs are an area of growth for the future, especially as Ireland emb…

6. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the recent European Council. [27215/25]

I thank the Taoiseach for the report. I note that in the conclusion of the European Council meeting in March competitiveness featured largely. I would like to hear more about what discussions were had about keeping the Commission honest in terms of following the simplification agenda. We know from the Draghi and Letta reports that there is a need for an impetus towards the simplification agenda th…

22. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work being carried out by the shared island unit with sport's governing bodies in promoting its objectives through grassroots engagement. [22408/25]

Without doubt the shared island initiative is one of the signature achievements in taking forward the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and ensuring there is reconciliation and also that we see this shared island as our common home place. I am struck also by the Taoiseach's mention that sports governing bodies have been engaged by applying to the various funds for activation across the island. I…

As I have said in the House in the past, I represent Dublin Mid-West, one of the fastest growing constituencies in the country. I wish to ask the Tánaiste about secondary school places for the people of Newcastle, which is the fastest growing town in Europe. At the county development plan stage in 2022, it was forecast that by 2028, 5,000 people would be living there. However, the most recent cens…

175. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent engagement with the British Government regarding the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27324/25]