Jim O'Callaghan

If a Member believes legislation should be introduced to change the law, they should come forward with that legislation. We need to be careful about vilifying grocers. There are a lot of grocers in Ireland that provide a lot of employment to people. Of course, they make profits. It is our job to ensure that their profits are not excessive and that we curtail them. The best way to do that is throug…

I thank Deputy O'Flynn for his question. As the budget approaches, many sectors in society will be anxious to ensure their sector gets taken care of in the budget. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, the Government has a limited cake and that amount has to be spread out equitably across the different sectors. Regarding school funding and capitation, since 2020 schools have benefited from sign…

It has been a game-changer for parents of schoolchildren. It has had a considerable role in reducing the pressures on them. I am conscious, as I know the Minister, Deputy McEntee is, that schools can face financial difficulties and that there are further financial burdens placed upon them. The capitation grant has increased, and we hope it will increase again. There are mechanisms through which sc…

That constitutional obligation on the State is being complied with.

It is being complied with-----

What about the other resources that the Deputy has not mentioned?

The Government has put €200 million into ICT in schools. The minor works programme can be availed of for the purposes of works in schools. The summer works programme, which is very popular, ensures works can be done over a short period of time while schools are out on holiday.

As I stated, the free books scheme has not been mentioned by him. There is the hot meals scheme as well in schools.

There are huge advantages that have been introduced into the education sector in schools by this Government and its predecessor and they need to be acknowledged by the Deputy. We acknowledge that there are schools that are under financial pressures but there is a mechanism for them to engage with the Department in respect of that. If there are schools that need to engage with the Department, the M…

I thank Deputy Murphy very much for his question. I very much share his concerns about the impact that vacancy and dereliction can have on our towns and cities throughout the country. It can create the impression of a downturn in that area and this has an impact not just on the local community but in terms of the development of business in the area. I commend Deputy Murphy on coming forward with p…

We certainly do need to return all derelict properties to use, and preferably residential use. We all know the time it takes to construct new dwellings. If we have derelict dwellings in our towns and cities we need to get them back into use as quickly as possible. I cannot give a commitment in respect of the proposals the Deputy is making here this afternoon but, as I said, I will raise it with th…

I am pleased to hear the Deputy spoke to Senator Andrews. It is obviously a very traumatic event for him and all other persons who are on the flotilla. As I said in my earlier comments, this is a reflection of the contempt Israel has for people who are non-combatants, whether they are in Gaza or on international waters. Having engaged with the Tánaiste's Department this morning I am aware that the…

Government policy on any health issue has to be guided by science. It cannot be guided by politics. I recall 20 years ago there was a theory put out that there was a link between autism and the MMR vaccine. It got a lot of traction in very respectable organs. Ultimately, it was completely disproven. The Irish Government will certainly not be taking any stances in respect of causes of diseases with…

No. I thank the Deputy for the question. Like him, I am a Deputy for Dublin city centre. It is a great city. I am concerned about a narrative that keeps stating that it is a dangerous place to go into.

There are tens of thousands of people walking around the streets of Dublin today as the Deputy and I will do later. They feel safe, and they are right to feel safe.

There are always going to be circumstances where there are criminal acts. It is a city and county that has 1.2 million people in it. As Minister for justice, I cannot come to the Deputy and say there will be no criminal activity in Dublin. It is a large international capital city. What we have to do as Deputies representing the city centre is be more positive about it. There are obviously aspects-…

There are parts of Dublin city that can be unsafe, particularly for somebody who has been attacked, but predominantly it is a safe city. Look at the crime statistics; they are down. Look at the knife statistics; they are down. The Garda is doing a good job and the Deputy should get behind his city rather than denigrating it.

I thank Deputy Ward. I was not aware there was a closure of the ISPCA centre in Donegal. It is obviously a concern for people and for the animals of Donegal. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Heydon. I do not have an answer for the Deputy. I do not where it is proposed that the closest centre will be for people in Donegal. I hope there will be one in Donegal or the surrounding counties. I will …

I thank the Deputy for the question. I agree with him that family resource centres do outstanding work. I have them in my own constituency. I would say every Member of this House is aware of the excellent work they do. I am informed that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has announced the opening of five new family resource centres this year. There are many applications for funding in respect of the res…

I have been given a note in respect to that matter. I am very concerned that people have taken the extreme step of going on hunger strike. Like the Deputy, I urge them to reflect upon the potential damage they are doing to themselves by engaging in this. I will certainly speak to the relevant Ministers for the purpose of seeing whether a resolution can be obtained. From what Deputy Cahill says, th…

I have to be aware of the limits of Irish influence and Irish powers. We are not a strong military power. I cannot direct marines or members of the Irish Rangers to rescue people on that ship. We are not in that type of business. When it comes to what action are we going to take, the Deputy knows as well as I do that the only action we can take is through the power of our influence, by condemning …

In fairness, the Deputy asked a straightforward question. I do not have that information. I will ask the Minister for Health to give me the specific information in respect of it. However, there was an announcement today that it is the Minister's intention to fully integrate CHI into the HSE, which is a positive development. There has been a number of reviews recently focused on the paediatric serv…

-----phase 2 of which is reviewing the service, including the governance being provided by the paediatric surgery service at Temple Street. I cannot tell the Deputy when it will be finished.

No.

My instruction is that it is not yet with the Minister. I will ask the Minister when it will be available.