Cian O'Callaghan

When is the occupied territories Bill going to be enacted?

The Tánaiste has been telling us for quite some time that he will be bringing the Bill forward very shortly and that he will be meeting the sponsor of the Bill. He has met with the sponsor of the Bill several time and that is welcome. When is it actually going to be brought forward? Surely at this stage, given everything that has happened, the Tánaiste can actually give us a firm commitment and ti…

When will the Tánaiste take action to stop munitions destined for Israel going through Irish airspace?

With respect, that is the same answer we have been getting all year. We are told that the Minister is investigating, has gotten reports and is looking into it. Munitions that are being used in a genocide are going through our Irish airspace and the Tánaiste needs to act to stop that from happening. Enough of the excuses about looking at reports, investigating and so forth; when is he actually goin…

Prosecute them.

When is the Tánaiste going to stop our sovereign wealth fund from investing in companies that are trading illegally in occupied Palestinian territories?

The Minister for Finance in a recent reply to me stated that €5.6 million of taxpayers' money is still being invested in companies operating in the occupied territories. The Tánaiste has absolutely no mandate - none whatsoever - to use our public money to invest in these companies. How can he justify this? Will he put an immediate end to this gross misuse of public funds? Will he instruct the Irel…

I am not looking for more information about this. We have information from the Minister for Finance. I want the Government to act. Our public money is being invested against the wishes of the Irish people in companies operating illegally in the occupied territories. You are the Tánaiste of the Government. Will you pick up the phone to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and tell them to stop usi…

You will not act.

I thank my colleague Deputy Quaide for bringing forward this motion. I want to respond first to some of the comments from the Minister. The Government has not opposed our motion, is not tabling its own amendment and will not vote against the motion. What the Government is not doing is acting on our motion, which clearly sets out that the means test should be abolished this year. It is okay not to …

I thank an Teachta Doherty for tabling the motion and recognise the work he has done on this over the years. I also recognise the work the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, has done. We made a submission to him on this and are waiting for the suggestions we made in that submission to be acted on. I recognise the various reforms that have happened over the years. However, in his comments the Ministe…

The Government voted down our proposals on this.

Why did the Government vote against it?

Work which the Government is not doing.

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I express our absolute revulsion at the threats made against the Tánaiste and his family. They have absolutely no place and are strongly condemned by us all. I want him to know that we will work with him to do everything we can to ensure these kind of threats against our democracy are not in any way tolerated. I extend our deepest condolences to all those who kn…

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I join with him in his comments on the gardaí and front-line workers and the excellent work they have been doing. The Irish Association of Social Workers has called for a full statutory review. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon has expressed extreme concern over the State's response. Dr. Muldoon asked: "How could a child have been born, dealt wit…

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I welcome and support this Bill. I commend Deputy Ardagh for all her work on this over the years. I commend the Minister of State and the Department for running with it. I particularly acknowledge all of the work done by the Irish Cancer Society and its patient advocates over the years in campaigning for this. Indeed, they have not just campaigned for this import…

I am raising this issue in relation to the situation in Clongriffin and Belmayne. It is a very large community. The start of development there happened about 20 years ago. Many people moved in there then and started out in their lives. They did not have families at that stage. Since then, they have formed families. Children have been born, grown up and become young adults. Over this time, there ha…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I acknowledge that Deputy Denise Mitchell has been very supportive, along with the other TDs for this area and all the public representatives from all parties, in supporting the local communities on this. I know the Minister of State has not written his response but there are a few things in it that are factually wrong. Neither Clongriffin nor Belmay…

For the record, the Social Democrats has published detailed proposals about how to increase financing for housing, make it more affordable and build more homes. The Taoiseach owes the people an explanation. Why was their money used to fund Israel's genocide in Gaza? There is no denying or hiding it. Not only was public money used but the Taoiseach actually increased that funding in 2024. Last yea…

It is public money.

It is funded by Government.

The Irish Strategic Investment Fund is funded by the Government using public money - money that belongs to the public. The Government gives the Irish Strategic Investment Fund its strategic direction. It should be directing it not to have any of our money invested in companies operating in contravention to international law in the West Bank.

There are much better places our money should be spent - in affordable housing, healthcare and disability services. Not a cent should be invested in companies operating in occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank. The Taoiseach knows that. Is he going to stop this now and will he tell the Dáil when were the Israeli bonds sold, on what date? We know it was a few weeks ago. The Minister for…

Is the Taoiseach going to act to ensure not a cent of Irish public money goes into these companies?