Roderic O'Gorman

This debate must first of all reflect on the carnage on our roads in 2025, a year in which 185 lives were lost in crashes and accidents. This was the highest fatality rate in over a decade. It was a year in which we saw the previous trends of progress in this area not just stalled, but actually reversed. That momentum of tragic reversal has continued in 2026. I think everyone here recognises that…

Having been denied the opportunity to tease out some of the provisions of this legislation by the decision to waive pre-legislative scrutiny, giving a mere 60 minutes to the debate on Report Stage is entirely inappropriate. I have deep concerns about what the Government is doing tonight. It is seeking to undermine the climate action Act by the back door. More significantly, by the provision of se…

I will come back to the central issue of whether this Bill will make it more or less likely that judicial reviews will be taken, and also the question of whether it will mean judicial reviews are more or less likely to be successful after they are taken. The Minister noted that there have been academic articles discussing the impact of the climate Act. He said this is tangible evidence of the risk…

20. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [32858/26]

37. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [32859/26]

102. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of the planned inner orbital O route as part of the BusConnects project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31313/26]

Kilkenny is well represented in the Chair this morning. I wish to ask the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of the planned O route, which is the inner orbital route, as part of the BusConnects project in Dublin.

One of the most difficult things to do in public transport in Dublin is get across the city rather than in and out of it. That is why those orbital routes are so important. The BusConnects O route will connect communities across Dublin city centre, from Infirmary Road in the west and North Strand in East Wall to across the Liffey and around the South Circular Road back to Heuston Station. Running …

We are missing an opportunity if we do not speed up the introduction of this O route. Running buses in both directions in a circuit around Dublin city centre will change the way people get around the city. There is one point about which I am concerned. My understanding, from comments an NTA official made to me, is that the roll-out of the O route might be split into two semi-circles, with only th…

Over the weekend, the Tánaiste stated that the Government is exploring one-off payments towards environmentally-friendly measures such as heat pumps and efficient cars. I welcome that the Government is looking at how it can support householders more. My worry is by floating for potential of new grants without a timeline, there is some risk people will defer big decisions on new EVs or heat pumps u…

Over the weekend the Tánaiste stated he was exploring one-off payments towards environmentally friendly energy measures such as heat pumps and efficient cars. I welcome the fact the Government is giving consideration to how it can do more to protect households and how it can make them more energy efficient and cut their bills. However, when it comes to offering new grants there is a problem with f…

12. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [30491/26]

26. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [30492/26]

6. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the report of the Dublin 15 special education task force will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29032/26]

There is real anger about the fact that this report that was handed over to the Department in July still has not been published. The Minister was involved in the establishment of this task force, so I do not need to go into the entire history. Before the 2024 general election, when there was a real crisis in Dublin 15 about lack of places for autism classes and in special schools, the Government, …

In Dublin 15, it has been parents and educators who have provided the leadership when it comes to special education. Danu Community Special School has a large number of autism classes. It was driven forward by the Dublin 15 autism group. The common application system, which is where, for the first time, a family only has to apply in one location and that application is sent for autism classes acro…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are an existential threat to humanity; notes that the 22nd of April, is Earth Day, where people around the world are called to stand in defence of the only home we share; declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, becoming the second national parliament in the world to…

-----and right now we have the financial resources to support the development of these new industries.

Let us not wait until the next war or the next fuel crisis; let us act now.

I thank Deputies for their contributions to this debate, particularly those Deputies who indicated their support for my motion. In the effort to try to find a bit of common ground among Deputies who disagreed, I was delighted to hear Deputy Michael Collins speak about supporting one of his constituents who is trying to move transport and heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, onto a battery source. I recomme…

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. At Cabinet today I understand the Government approved Robert Watt to head the special purpose vehicle, SPV, charged with addressing dereliction in Dublin city centre. His appointment comes a full 18 months after the report of the Dublin city task force was published but, helpfully, 24 hours before the writ is moved for the Dublin Central by-election. The task force r…

The Taoiseach says the Government will not be found wanting and he has listed a number of undoubtedly valuable projects, like the Moore Street regeneration. However, these were in train years before the Dublin task force published its report. The whole idea behind setting up the task force was because additionality was needed to move the dial within Dublin's city centre. It was never meant to be a…

16. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress his Department is making in tackling child poverty. [28441/26]

25. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach for an overview of the Budget 2026: Spotlight on Disability report recently published by his Department. [28442/26]

232. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has assessed the predicted shortfall in revenue from the recent cuts to the carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28778/26]