Niamh Smyth

I thank Deputy Lawlor for moving his Bill. I do appreciate the concern he has around this issue, and it is laudable. I stand before Members to debate a Private Members’ Bill that proposes to amend provisions governing the operation and constitution of joint labour committees. This Bill seeks to address situations where employers or workers fail to engage in consultation with the Labour Court, by g…

I thank colleagues for raising this. I know they are here on a Thursday evening to raise this matter because they feel passionately about it, and they have raised it in a very articulate and passionate way. Unfortunately, the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, cannot be here this evening. I have taken copious notes on the issues that all three Deputies have raised in case clarity is needed on anyth…

I would not agree.

I thank the Deputy for her heartfelt request and for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this matter on behalf of the Department of Health. Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange medical services for himself or …

As I outlined, eligibility for the medical card is primarily based on means and a financial assessment conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970. The HSE has put in place a range of measures to assist people in applying for the medical card, which includes the availability of medical cards online. All of this the Deputy knows. I concur with the sentiment of her proposition that f…

I thank Deputy Brennan very much for his very eloquent, heartfelt and almost emotional contribution. He is speaking from experience in the aftermath of his visit out there. I know he has been very active and vocal on the occupied territories Bill at the committee, which is what he is seeking a response on today. I concur with the Deputy's comments about Senator Frances Black. She has done enormou…

I concur with the Deputy’s sentiments. His parting thoughts leaving at the weekend were of the young people and the mentality of the young people having suffered what they had suffered. Yesterday, during Leaders’ Questions, we discussed the occupied territories Bill. The Taoiseach talked how if it were not for media and social media, we would be blind to much of what was happening. However, we are…

I thank the Deputy for his presentation. I concur, particularly with his opening piece on the vulnerabilities within Ireland. I disagree with him in the sense that he talked about the vulnerability. I sit on the trade forum established by the Tánaiste since the trade war, or the utterance of trade wars, began. All the Government agencies and State bodies, such as Fáilte Ireland and the IDA, as wel…

The Tánaiste and other Ministers have been vocal and constructive voices at the table to ensure the EU's approach remains measured and appropriate. The Government's constant and consistent position has been, and remains, that we need substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States. This is also the position of the EU. Our objective remains to reach agreement on a mutu…

I thank the Deputy for her emotional presentation. I know she is acutely aware of the requirements that should be in place. She has the experience of a school that is doing the job really well. As she asked, why fix something that is not broken? Her experience of this school has obviously been a positive one. The Government is committed to the provision of additional special school places for chi…

Deputy Ardagh has made the case well for Scoil Eoin. It is important that we, as public representatives, who have the opportunity to listen to the real-life stories of parents and teachers, such as in Scoil Eoin relay that to Department officials as well as the Deputy's sense that to make any change will dismantle something that works, that is good and that is providing the care and the educationa…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after " Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that the Government; — recognises concerns with regards to the rising cost of groceries and the financial pressure on households; — shares the commitment to ensuring fairness, transparency, and competition in the retail sector; and — are actively progressing a range of targeted measures to s…

It is not profit, it is turnover. There is a big difference.

I thank the Deputy for his very important question. I am happy to tell him that the Government and I, as Minister of State with responsibility for trade promotion, digitalisation and AI, are committed to developing Ireland's enterprise base across all regions over the next five years. This ranges from backing small businesses and start-ups to scaling up indigenous firms and enhancing our attractiv…

I thank the Deputy for the very legitimate concerns he has raised. On the first piece around planning, he will agree that the Planning and Development Act passed by the previous Government has gone a huge way towards trying to address that. Whether we are in opposition or government, we all know this country has been choked and almost had its development stifled due to planning. We are doing every…

Point taken. It is a very reasonable observation to make. Procurement is a language of its own. We all know that from filling in procurement applications for grants for communities, for example. There is a language and that can sometimes be off-putting, make it difficult and create further challenges for business. However, we are in the business of creating business. We are in the business, as a G…

I thank the Deputy for his question on the National Enterprise Hub which was established on 10 July 2024 and since then, the NEH has handled more than 6,000 inquiries from businesses. Monthly numbers have increased consistently and 773 were received in May alone. The primary goal of the NEH is to improve access to Government supports for businesses. We also want to simplify access and reach busine…

I thank the Deputy. As I said at the outset, the National Enterprise Hub not only gives the information but it is collecting the data too which gives the Government a laser sharp focus on the type of policy, grant aid and supports we need to offer to get to the critical crux of what businesses need to support, grow and scale. The figures I gave out on the inquiries it has had so far are incredibl…

In my short few months in the Department, the Minister, Deputy Burke, has been relentless on the theme of lighter, faster and simpler with what the Deputy is talking about and providing opportunities for businesses to apply for those grants and make it easier and quicker and not as onerous or burdensome. As we all know and we hear it at meetings ourselves, business people ask is it worth the effor…

I thank all Deputies for some of the very strongly held views expressed on this particular topic. The Government is fully committed to supporting workers and employers and delivering further supports for collective bargaining this year, following the public consultation. However, the Bill as proposed would leave the resultant legislation open to the possibility of legal challenge as regards an em…

I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this issue this evening. Cabra, like every other community in the country, is as entitled to it as anywhere else. I have the lived experience of the benefits of a family resource centre in my community in Bailieborough. Many moons ago, a community got together and established it in a housing estate in Bailieborough called Drumbannon. I had the privilege of startin…

The Deputy is right in what he said that they can be the heart and soul and can be designed in such a way that they really respond to the nuances of a community, because communities' needs are not always the same. It is a real opportunity when a new application process is opened. The Deputy is well entitled to stand here and advocate for the Cabra centre, especially when, as he said himself, it wi…

I thank everyone who has contributed in such a meaningful way to the debate this evening. There were some technical issues raised by Deputy Barry Ward. I will ask the officials in the Department to go back to him directly. His remarks were quite technical. I have some notes here but since he is not in the Chamber himself, it would be important and useful if the officials could revert to him direct…

I thank Deputy Collins for his question. There are now 26,026 people employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in County Cork, a net increase of 846 jobs during 2024. There was also positive job creation recorded across the three LEOs based in County Cork, with 3,076 jobs supported by 618 LEO clients. This represents a net gain in 2024 of 119 jobs. The FDI performance in the south west, w…

I take the Deputy's point. Balanced regional development is a key priority for the Government and all TDs who are from more rural parts of the country. I will raise the Deputy's specific questions with the Department following this. The number of jobs in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in County Cork has increased by 846 since 2023, with 26,026 now employed in the county by those companies.…