Darragh O'Brien

Tá an freagra chéanna agam arís faoin na leasaithe sin, leasaithe a 6 agus a 13. Ní aontaíom leis na leasaithe sin agus nílim ábalta aontú leo mar gheall ar an freagra chéanna ar leasaithe a 4 agus a 11. They are already linked. These amendments are linked to the previous ones that we discussed, amendments Nos. 4 and 11. I refer to those new sections 88D and 44B of the Bill. It is the same answer …

Labhróidh mé ar leasuithe Uimh. 7 agus 14. Mar a dúirt mé cheana, níl mé in ann glacadh leis na leasuithe seo. Is é an freagra céanna atá agam arís. I reiterate that I am more than happy that the new sections 88D and 44B, as drafted, are fully compliant with the directive and san Acht forbartha freisin in 2024. Therefore, as set out on Committee Stage, bhí plé fada againn faoi na leasuithe sin sa …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na leasuithe seo. Labhróidh mé faoi leasuithe Uimh. 9 agus 17 le chéile. These amendments again relate to the EPA Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996. They propose that ministerial regulations be prescribed in the context of timeframes for decision-making and the reporting obligations of the agency. Regarding the proposed new subsection (4), provisi…

For the information of the House, Committee Stage of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 is starting at 3.30 p.m. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, will come in after I have spoken. Officials will take note of matters raised by all Deputies here and we will respond. It is outside my control as the committee meeting was scheduled by the committee. Since 2022, we have seen sign…

I move the following Further Revised Estimate: Vote 29 — Climate, Energy and the Environment (Further Revised Estimate). That a sum not exceeding €980,504,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment including ce…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo ach ní aontaím léi ar chor ar bith. I do not agree with her at all. The measures that have been taken in the budget are targeted to help those who need them most, particularly in the area of social protection. We have increased the fuel allowance substantially and expanded it to about 460,000 households right across the…

-----the extension and expansion of renewables into our grid, a project that Deputy McDonald's party seems to be flip-flopping on north of the Border. I have met her party's ministers in the North of Ireland, who are for the project; its Deputies in the South are opposed to it. This is a permanent measure that will deliver affordability.

I have met Caoimhe Archibald and Liz Kimmins. All of the Deputy's colleagues in the North are taking the right position. They want to see this delivered. What do we do in the meantime? As regards energy, we unquestionably have affordability issues. That is why we established the national energy affordability task force. We have brought forward interim measures already. That work is continuing and…

I have answered the Deputy's question directly. For many families, it is not easy and the State is there to support them. That is why we have expanded the social protection measures that are targeted at those who need them. The Deputy made no reference to that. Again, it is in stark contrast to what her colleagues are doing in the North in relation to helping with fuel bills. The fuel allowance pa…

That is true. Let us leave the politics piece out of it. I can say to families out there that the Government and the State will work with them right the way through this winter to bring about permanent affordability measures. I have mentioned retrofitting.

The Deputy is opposed to carbon tax. The carbon tax is invested in people's households to bring about permanent changes to their homes, permanent affordability measures and permanent health measures to their homes. This year 60,000 homes will be retrofitted.

First, may I deal with this charge that the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the Labour Party have made that the Taoiseach is in some way absent. He is on Government business.

He is at the G20 Summit. Should he not go to that as Head of the Irish Government? Should he not go EU-African Union Summit?

I know Deputy McDonald is just back from New York as well, but he was actually on Government business. Deputy McDonald was probably fundraising over there, filling the Sinn Féin bag full of cash.

I will answer the Deputy's questions. Energy affordability is critical and I am glad Deputy Bacik raised the point. I have already answered Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. If we look at the measures that have been taken in the budget, they are targeted measures. They are very targeted across all areas, not just energy. If we look at social welfare rate increases, the renter's tax credit and the mortgage…

-----64,500 households that will be retrofitted this year. Next year, we are providing €558 million through the carbon tax receipts to put that directly into homes and small businesses to reduce their energy costs. The IEA has said it, not me, that those cost savings are between €900 and €1,200 on average per annum. Permanent changes for households, that is what we need. We need to expand renewabl…

We will obviously ensure the measures we have brought forward are implemented. On retrofitting alone, we have retrofitted nearly 230,000 homes across the country. That is scaling up every single year. As I said, we will do about 64,500 this year. They are permanent changes for households to ensure they can bring down their energy costs. There is the issue of the energy markets and the cost on the…

I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this very serious and important matter. I read the transcripts of the court case and it is absolutely horrific. I want to commend the bravery of that young lady. I have a 17-year-old daughter. I cannot imagine what she and her family are going through. There should be no tolerance of violence against women, and there is no tolerance of it. That is why the Governm…

On the counselling notes, the Minister will bring forward amending legislation towards the end of this year or very early next year. That will be brought forward. I outlined in my first answer to the Deputy the other measures we are taking by way of legislation. As she raised, it is critically important that there be safe places for victims to go. The Government and I agree with her that more need…

We are committed as a Government to protecting whistleblowers. Work is ongoing at EU and national level to further strengthen those reports. The Deputy has a Private Members' motion tomorrow morning, I think, on this matter. We will get an opportunity to debate it in the round. We accept the motion tabled by Independent Deputies is well intentioned and seeks to increase protections for whistleblow…

The Deputy asked whether we are satisfied with the legal advice we received which the Taoiseach read in this House. Of course we are. The Deputy has an opportunity tomorrow morning to raise specific points around his motion. As I said to him in my initial answer, this whole area is something that remains under review both at EU and national level. We want to make sure the process is fair and trans…

To deal with the important matter that the Deputy raised, I know Sinn Féin has legislation in that regard. I outlined earlier on some of the measures that the Government was taking on this important and critical issue. I will certainly discuss Sinn Féin's Private Members' Bill with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and will revert directly to the Deputy in relation to how the Government proposes t…

He is travelling back as we speak.

I will let him know the Deputy was asking for him.

I agree with the Deputy. I mentioned in my opening remarks earlier on during Leaders' Questions that all us share responsibility in this House but also outside the House, and that includes corporate bodies and our education system. Our teachers and our other educators are doing a lot of work in this regard from a very young age, particularly in relation to boys' and young men's attitudes towards s…