Ged Nash

How do you sleep?

The invisible man.

Chair-----

Hear, hear.

There is a truism that abounds around this place at this time every year as we approach the budget. It goes something like "Show me your budget and I will show you my priorities". This is especially true of a budget that takes place at the start of a Government's term. We do not know a huge amount about the complexion of the budget that will be introduced on 7 October. However, we know from a very…

You are on this side of the House now.

Have a word with your brother.

92. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the agreement reached between the G7 and the United States in relation to the OECD's global minimum corporation tax rate proportion for large MNCs; his views on the implications for Ireland's corporation tax base, the Exchequer more generally, and inward investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39703/25]

I thank the Minister for his response. I note the publication of that statement and that he has placed on the record of the House that at this stage, this is an understanding. At the time, my recollection is that he welcomed the removal of section 899 retaliatory measures and that is very important for businesses. We have to remember that Ireland has significant foreign direct investment in the Un…

I appreciate this is a bit of an moveable feast but there are uncertainties. The G20 nations were the guardians of the OECD deal originally. The OECD adopted it and we adopted it. I welcomed at the time that we adopted the process ourselves. That was not without risks for Ireland. It was a welcome thing to do. Because the framework of this deal is subject to EU legislation, I assume EU legislation…

I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1: After "compare prices and make informed choices" to insert: "calls on the Government to: — commit to passing the Competition and Consumer Protection (Unfair Prices) Bill 2023; and — instead of using over €700 million to cut the rate of Value Added Tax on hospitality in Budget 2026, to use these hundreds of millions to reduce child poverty with a targe…

Do not be so cynical.

That is exactly what the Government has been doing for the past three years. This is why it is in this difficulty.

Tax cuts to target child poverty.

Absolutely.

And then you delayed my Bill by 12 months.

The failures of care exposed by the media in recent weeks are not just a failure of one private nursing home operator. This is a failure by our State, a failure of public policy, a failure of regulation, and an abject failure to uphold the dignity of those who have no option but to put their care into others' hands. It would be naive of us to think that we have seen is anything other than the tip …

I will cut to the chase. North Drogheda objectively needs a train station. It should already be in place. I was on Louth County Council more than 20 years ago when we masterplanned the provision of 5,000 new homes. Half of those homes have been or are in the process of being built. These plans included a site for a train station, but then came the crash. Up to half of those homes, as I said, have …

I congratulate my colleague Deputy Farrell for bringing this Bill forward. It is significant legislation. It very much aligns with the work that the Deputy has done since she entered this Chamber in 2020. She is very much focused on the question of public procurement and driving economic and social change through the development of responsible public procurement systems. It is quite extraordinary …

Captured by civil servants-----

The Labour Party will amend the Bill on Committee Stage. I can assure the House that we will not amend it on the basis that we want to see what is a modest charge on properties abolished. It is extraordinary that every time we debate the principle of the property tax in this House there are parties who purport to be on the left in Irish politics which say they oppose it. They oppose it for their o…

I will be sharing time with my colleague Deputy Lawlor. We are in an incredible situation in this country and in the Middle East at present. For the first time, two weeks ago, in response to a Labour Party motion and a Sinn Féin Bill two weeks ago on Israeli bonds, a significant statement was made by senior Government representatives in this House. Finally, a senior Government figure in the State …

80. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of staff in his Department's new infrastructure division; the respective grades and areas of responsibility of staff; and if he will confirm the division's key responsibilities and deliverables for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28801/25]

Will the Minister elaborate on the staffing composition of the new infrastructure division within his Department and on what he views as the key responsibilities and deliverables for the division in 2025? This is a key objective of the Minister and is contained in the programme for Government. Will he inform the House as to what the priorities are for the rest of this year?

That is not an insignificant number of staff. Can the Minister confirm that those from State agencies who will be working in the division will continue to be paid by their parent agencies? I assume that will be the case. The Minister was quoted in The Irish Times yesterday as saying that the acid test will be delivery. I assume the action plan on infrastructure delivery the Minister referred to …