Joe Neville

Today, in marking Europe Day, I want to talk positively because I have seen the changes in my lifetime. The reasons for the European Union’s coming into being were obviously the worst things that ever happened. Just over 80 years ago, Europe was devastated by the horrors of the Second World War. All around many of our rooms, we have the books, films and documentaries, but ultimately, because we ne…

6. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is envisaged that a new whole-of-government action plan on competitiveness and productivity will be finalised in line with the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21913/25]

When is it envisaged that a whole-of-government action plan on competitiveness and productivity will be finalised in line with the programme for Government? As the Minister knows, there is obviously a lot of news happening, some of which has just been discussed, in respect of the different issues with the economy. Will he go through that?

I thank the Minister for his reply. It is great the timeline has been brought forward. The Minister is conscious of time, no more than myself, and therefore, it is a real positive that July is the new date. While the Minister and his team are doing significant work, there are challenges. As someone who has worked as an accountant with both large Irish multinationals and many smaller businesses, I …

I thank the Minister. Intel's situation underscores how crucial it is that we address the systemic issues. In other Departments, we have things like planning delays, which can cause uncertainty. Energy prices, which the Minister alluded to earlier, are a key issue not only for small businesses but also for very large businesses like Intel. Energy prices are above many EU rates, so that is somethin…

It is a great honour to be here, as a relatively newly elected TD, to speak on International Workers' Day. This is a day that rings out not only around Ireland but across the world. Workers in different societies have, for many generations and over hundreds of years, had a constant fight to get their rights, whether it is in industry or otherwise. We have seen it in the United Kingdom, the US and …

I congratulate Deputy John Cummins on his role as Minister of State. He has been there for a few months but it is my first time speaking to him directly in the Chamber. Deputy Cummins was a great councillor friend of mine. Obviously, he is from Waterford and I am from Kildare but we were great friends for so many years that is a great honour to be able to speak to him in this way today. I want to…

"I believe in America" is the opening line of "The Godfather" movie and as the undertaker Bonasera said, I too believe in America. Brought up in a western European post-war world, many of us saw America as a beacon of prosperity and hope, a vision of opportunity. Over the years and through different US administrations, we have not always agreed with American presidents but we have broadly supporte…

I wish to express my condolences on the passing of Mick O'Dwyer, a legend of the GAA who gave us great days in Kildare. I thank the Minister for all his information on the tariffs last night. Coming from Leixlip, we have Intel and the Kerry Group in our area in north Kildare. I saw a lot of the fears of my peers last night, the people I worked with in the business sector. What level of engagement …

9. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, considered a policy around land use and development due to the increased competition for arable land in areas such as north Kildare, for new technologies such as solar farms. [13821/25]

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. As a fellow Kildare man, we are obviously having more success off the pitch than on it but well done to him. Have the Departments of agriculture and local government considered a policy on land use development due to the increased competition for arable lands in areas such as north Kildare - I use my own rural constituency as an example - for new te…

I welcome the Minister's response. He mentioned a number of topics and the very positive innovation introduced in the previous Dáil, which means there is no need for planning permission for the installation of solar panels on barns and sheds around the country. That has been really positive. Through the TAMS process, a lot of people continue to take advantage of that. That is something of which I …

I thank the Minister again for his response. This Government and in fairness, this country, has always had a very strong agricultural backbone. It is hugely important to our name around the world and that is why we are here on both sides of the House to support it. In this time where renewables are changing and the world is changing around us, we have to take every positive step both from a renewa…

It is always difficult to follow Deputy Ward, especially when he has been so knowledgeable of and engaging on the topic under discussion. I have been listening for the past couple of hours, both up in my office and since I came into the Chamber. There were similarities with what many people said, but I was struck by one statement. Someone said that this is quite a simple problem. It is anything bu…

As someone from a Garda family, my father having served in the force and my brother currently serving, I know at first hand the vital role that an effective and well-resourced Garda service plays in keeping our community safe. However, in north Kildare, where towns like Kilcock, Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip and Naas are experiencing rapid growth, Garda numbers have not kept pace. Celbridge, with i…

I am the first speaker since yesterday's events. It is nice to be able to speak in a proper forum. After what happened yesterday, business continues. The item I will speak about is local to me. It is Ryevale House, which is a period house in Leixlip and in the past two years there have been major issues surrounding it in the locality. I will give a quick timeline to give the Minister of State a b…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I will focus on the planning issues and the ongoing work. This is a beautiful area with a big house and beautiful old trees that were destroyed for no reason. The pictures before and after show a development in a quiet area that has ultimately been destroyed from a conservation perspective. Matters have got out of hand in the area on that side. I t…

We all saw last weekend the worst of toxic masculinity with Conor McGregor being invited to speak on the world stage on our national day of celebration. People like Conor McGregor, the Irish version of Andrew Tate, promote hyperaggressive, misogynistic and often violent forms of masculinity. As a parent and as someone who coaches underage teams, works with local schools and is a director of a loca…

It is a great opportunity to speak again. I must be getting used to being in the Dáil, as this is the third time in two days. The issue we are speaking about is important to the country. The St. Patrick's Day festivities really brought home to us the opportunities we have as a country to discuss and to use our soft power. It was important and potentially very beneficial. As we know, the US is goin…

I am delighted to be able to speak on this extremely important topic. It has been the major national issue for a number of years. As a county councillor in Kildare, I saw that at first hand. I saw it from the point of view of the person who could not get a house, obtain zoning for land or build a house. We have seen planning permissions come in. In some locations, the people have been against them…

Withdraw that remark.

I refer to the regular water outages we are having in north Kildare. Following the bursting of a pipe, there has been chronic low water pressure in Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and even in Naas. This is a daily struggle for people living all around Kildare North. The population has exploded but the water infrastructure is buckling. We see it every day. There were even outages on Christmas Day. The…

Is mór an onóir dom é a bheith i Dáil Éireann as a Member of the Thirty-fourth Dáil following in the footsteps of those elected to the First Dáil in 1918. I thank the people of north Kildare who placed their trust in me, the people of Leixlip who supported me as a councillor and my wife, children, family, friends and parents for their unwavering encouragement. Just like my uncle Dan and cousin Tom…

North Kildare.

I thank the Minister.