Cian O'Callaghan

Does the Taoiseach accept the evidence that shows the countries in Europe with the largest and most successful rental sectors also have very strong rent regulation? Does he accept the evidence that shows that rents in Ireland are among the highest in Europe? The Taoiseach asked for solutions; I will give him just two in the time available. One would be to introduce specific zoning for affordable …

Did the Taoiseach even read that Housing Europe report?

Did the Taoiseach read the report?

Did the Taoiseach read the report?

In relation to the programme for Government and what it says about pensions, I want to ask the Taoiseach about the pension entitlements of retired postal workers. As the Taoiseach knows, when An Post was founded in 1984, postal workers were promised at that stage that they would not lose their pension entitlements. That promise was copperfastened by the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act o…

On the issue of infrastructure and education, I recently visited Gaelcholáiste Reachrann along with my constituency colleagues. It is an incredibly impressive Gaelcholáiste with a brilliant atmosphere. The staff are hugely dedicated and students achieve brilliant results both academically and on the sports field. Most of the school has been housed in prefabs for the last 20 years. The school has b…

On competitiveness, the Taoiseach knows housing is a key challenge. The Taoiseach said himself there are issues with the refurbishment of long-term voids on a large scale. There is something that could be done to change this. On the cost of refurbishing long-term voids, the assumption is that it is spread over ten years. For other capital projects, it is usually spread over 30 years. If the Taoise…

The Minister is at it again. The Government has just been caught out using dodgy housing data and talking about 40,000 homes completed last year and just now, the Minister told us work commenced on 60,000 homes in 2024, using the same dodgy data based on commencement notices filed and housing sites then lying idle, which has been happening all around the country. Do not take my word for that; Prop…

Does the Minister know that the countries in Europe with the largest rental sectors, the most landlords and the most investors, are also the countries in Europe with the strongest forms of rent regulation? Does he know, as regards constructive proposals, about those in the Housing Europe report commissioned by one of Fianna Fáil's MEPs about how to get billions of euro of funding into affordable h…

In 2023, Women's Aid received its highest ever number of domestic abuse disclosures in its 50-year history. There were 40,048 disclosures of domestic abuse against women and children, which was an increase of nearly 20% in a year. Among the horrors being experienced by women behind closed doors were assaults with weapons, constant surveillance, rape and threats to life. Much of this violence happe…

I have watched the Taoiseach's answers in the Dáil Chamber over the last five years. I have to say the answer he gave on housing and the 40,000 homes is one of the weakest I have ever seen him deliver in this House. He said he had a genuine belief that 40,000 homes would be delivered, based on estimates from private entities. Why did the Taoiseach completely disregard the hard data coming from the…

Ten out of ten to the Taoiseach for deflection and evasion. Where are the 40,000 homes the Taoiseach promised? Why, as Taoiseach, when it comes to housing completions data, does he accept reports from private entities and reject the data from the CSO?

Why? The Taoiseach has not answered that. He failed to answer that. Is it only when it comes to housing completions in an election year that he does not listen to CSO data-----

----- or is it when it suits him? For years, no one could trust Fianna Fáil after then Ministers Noel Dempsey and Dermot Ahern could not keep a straight face when they were denying there was going to be a bailout of the banks after the economic crash. The Taoiseach worked hard to try to rebuild trust in Fianna Fáil and he is throwing that away by going into election years and making claims about …

You did not even know what was in our housing policy.

Answer the question.

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I express our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and all the loved ones of the young man who died in the storm. The heartbreak and pain from having the life of a loved one, a young person, cut off are unthinkable. I wanted to express that sympathy. I also pay tribute to the incredible work done by the ESB and international crews in restoring power. They h…

A Cheann Comhairle, I thank you for the work you have done in helping to bring this to a resolution for today. I also welcome the statement from the Government Chief Whip and the engagement with all of the different party leaders this morning to resolve this. It should never have come to this. All of us, on the Government benches and the Opposition benches, need to work constructively together in …

I wish Micheál Martin well today. It is a very proud day for him and his family, especially now that his family are able to join him today having not been in the convention centre during the pandemic. While we wish the incoming Taoiseach and Government well in their terms of office, the Social Democrats will not be supporting any of the nominations today. As a country, we face huge challenges, mo…

At the outset, on behalf of the Social Democrats, I congratulate the Taoiseach on his election. Today is a special day for you and your family, for your wife, Mary, and your friends. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the crucial role that families and partners play in supporting all of us in public life, very much behind the scenes. This is rarely acknowledged and it is appropriate to do…

The Deputy is in the technical group propping them up.

I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on having been elected but I think Deputy Hearne is taking this slot for us.

The date is hard to understand given the election that has just taken place and the pressing issues people raised with us as we have been out campaigning. There is a need for urgent action to address the climate crisis. There is an urgent need to do something about children with disabilities waiting for assessments of need and waiting for services, and to address the crisis in our healthcare and o…