Barry Ward

I am very glad to be able to make a contribution to the statements on International Women's Day. It is important to recognise the extent to which women contribute, despite the fact that it is more and more difficult for them to contribute, at whatever level it might be. What is also important about these statements is that it is not an opportunity to score political points. I am disappointed that…

Instead of selectively and smugly choosing statistics to show how wonderful they are, look at actually-----

I was going to say that laws that are brought in to encourage female participation in politics and gender quotas have definitely achieved results, but they have not addressed the issues that discourage women from getting involved in politics. In that regard, I would much rather see us pursue positive, progressive policies that make it easier for people from every walk of life to get involved in po…

Aontaím leis na cainteoirí a dúirt go bhfuil tábhacht a bhaineann leis an teanga náisiúnta agus ár dteanga dhúchais. Ní aontaím leis na ráitis a dúirt go dtiocfaidh bás ar an teanga i gceann 100 bliain nó mar sin. Ní aontaím leis in aon chor, ach is féidir linn a fheiceáil go bhfuil feabhas ag teacht i gcónaí ar an nGaeilge agus an méid daoine a labhraíonn í gach lá, cé nach bhfuil an líon céanna …

I congratulate the Minister and wish him the very best in what is a tough role. I welcome the statements that have been made in the Chamber about support for, investment in and resources for An Garda Síochána. However, I was dismayed to hear on the news today that the bulk of new gardaí are going to Dublin city centre. We in Dún Laoghaire need gardaí as well. One of the complaints I hear from peop…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Oideachais as ucht an t-am seo a thabhairt dom labhairt ar an ábhar seo, atá thar a bheith tábhachtach domsa. Mar is eol dúinn go léir, ní gnáthrud é go mbeadh seans ag cúlbhinseoir Rialtais labhairt ar Ghnó Príobháideach de chuid an Fhreasúra. Gabhaim buíochas freisin le Sinn Féin as a chuid ama a thabhairt chun an cheist seo a phlé. Aithním go háirithe an Teachta Ó …

102. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any initiative his Department is progressing to improve passenger safety on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8931/25]

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis na hAirí. Go n-éirí an bheirt acu leis na poist atá acu. Baineann an cheist atá agam le sábháilteacht phaisinéirí ar iompar poiblí. What plans or measures are in place to protect passengers' safety on public transport?

I do not have to ask my constituents about this because I get the bus myself. The lack of a ministerial car means I have to get the E2. I was about to say the 46A but it is the E2 now. I appreciate what the Minister said. I presume it is not planned to have a transport security force person on every bus, DART or Luas. Are there other measures that could be put in place? I think of DART stations. I…

I agree with what the Minister said. There is an ancillary issue. Obviously, my question contemplates personal safety in the context of the antisocial behaviour and criminality the Minister referred to, but a lady in Glasthule raised an issue with me today regarding the difference in the style of driving between different bus drivers depending on whether they were trained by Bus Átha Cliath or Go-…

11. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education her views on the importance of promoting the provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7382/25]

Is í mo cheist chun an Aire inniu ná faoin tábhacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeloideachas, na Gaelcholáistí agus Gaelscoileanna a chur chun cinn. I am wondering about the Minister's views on the importance of promoting the provision of Gaeloideachas, Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. I ask her to make a statement on the matter.

I appreciate both the Minister's commitment and the commitment in the programme for Government to Gaeloideachas. There is a huge need. The Minister referred to providing more Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand for it. I assure her there is demand for it, and I will come back to that in a second. There are, as far as I know, only 79 Gaelcholáistí in the country and 291 Gaelscoil…

That is exactly the issue that has led me to ask this question, namely the criteria and how the Department assesses whether there is a demand. In my constituency, as I said there are two Gaelcholáistí colocated, Coláiste Íosagáin and Coláiste Eoin, but there is an enormous demand because although there are only two Gaelscoileanna in the adjacent areas - it must be remembered that in Dublin constit…

I recognise the value of the report of the Housing Commission from last May. Of the 83 recommendations, approximately 65 are in train or at an advanced stage, which I welcome. Coming from the constituency of Dún Laoghaire where we have amongst the highest average property prices in the country, there is a real problem for people acquiring property that goes beyond what most people face around Ire…

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit as a phost nua. Go n-éirí leis. We have had a really positive change in recent years in the way we assess patronage in schools. That communities actually get to have a say and indicate to the Department very directly the kind of school they want represents a very positive change by comparison with where we were when I was growing up. I have expressed the v…

I appreciate entirely what the Minister of State said. The OPPS is excellent. The way we have changed how we assess patronage is a good thing. I also appreciate what the Minister of State said about the criteria. The key in his answer is that the process is open and "provides objective information to parents in the relevant school planning areas". That is the difficulty I have. If we are only taki…

A little over three years ago, when the Russian troops rolled into Ukraine, I think few of us had any confidence that the Ukrainians or the Ukrainian army could resist that attack; barbaric as it was, sudden, yet not entirely unexpected in many quarters, but it was absolutely ferocious. We have been surprised, and perhaps very much impressed, by how Ukrainian forces have managed to not just keep b…

119. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding any initiatives or research her Department proposes to attract and retain staff in the disability sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7383/25]

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit. Go n-éirí leo sna poist nua. Is í an cheist atá agam anocht ná seo: cad iad na tionscnaimh atá i bhfeidhm sa Roinn chun foireann agus oibrithe a mhealladh agus a choimeád san earnáil mhíchumais? What initiatives and research does the Department propose to attract and retain staff in the disability sector?

I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the ambition and achievement in the sector and I recognise the amount of money that has been invested, but retention is very important in circumstances where one in four workers in the disability sector will leave the job within a given year. This is three times the average of other sectors. It is important to invest in this and put in place measures be…

I acknowledge the programmes the Minister of State mentioned. I welcome the appointment of the assistant national director and I look forward to the strategy that will be published this year. We can all agree that the retention of staff in the sector is something that has more than just a financial impact. People who work in the disabilities sector do an incredibly difficult job. It calls on them …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Más féidir liom, i dtús báire, gabhaim mo chomhghairdeas leat as a bheith tofa inné agus tá súil agam go mbeidh gach rud déanta duitse chun meas a thabhairt don Chathaoir sa Teach seo, chomh mór is a bheidh leis an gCeann Comhairle í féin freisin. Ar an ábhar sin, maidir le mo chomhghleacaithe, na hAirí nua, ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghabhái…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach chun déileáil leis an gceist seo. At first glance, "catfish" might sound like a non-native marine animal but this is something that has been brought to the fore in the past year or more by people using their power in the media. I refer in particular to the 2 Johnnies and journalists like Ellen Coyne, who have highlighted the practice of ca…

I welcome the acknowledgement of the seriousness of what I said. I welcome the fact the Minister of State and the Department acknowledge that catfishing is wrong. I also recognise that the Minister of State said it is not illegal. I was in these Houses when we passed Coco's Law, but Coco's Law does not stop this from happening. The various legislative instruments to which the Minister of State ref…