Mark Ward

I thank the Minister. It is hard to believe that only 32 years ago it was illegal to be gay in Ireland. In 1993, when the law was changed, I was only 18. I was not aware of this rule when I was 18 but you can bet your life if I had been a young gay man, I would have been. Gay men at the time would have been driven underground. They suffered trauma and abuse. Ireland has come a long way since 1993,…

I welcome the Minister's comments on the Bill that was introduced this week by Deputy Ó Snodaigh and several other Opposition Deputies, the Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025. The timing was to coincide with Pride last week and this week. We still have people around the world who are subjected to tyranny and abuse just for being gay. In its essence,…

That is a crime.

Absolutely.

No more so than you.

There is a need for robust legislation to tackle terrorism and terrorist activity. I know everybody can agree on this. This is needed, particularly given the current global climate. However, the vagueness in this Bill is more likely to lead to abuse by the Government to stamp out political protest, political activism and free speech. I listened to the Minister’s speech. Intention and the glorific…

Badly.

I speak in support of both amendments tabled by Deputy Carthy and Sinn Féin. It is clear the Government has been dragging its feet on the Offences Against the State Act. In 2020, Sinn Féin called for a review of this Act. A review was put in place later that year and we called for an end to the Act. Every year there is an extension of this emergency legislation and, based on the Minister's earlier…

14. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [32436/25]

We do not believe you.

We need reliable public transport but that is not always the case for residents of Dublin Mid-West. By the time a bus or train arrives at a stop, it is often at capacity and simply passes by. Worst of all are the so-called ghost buses, buses that are on the schedule but simply disappear and do not arrive, leaving commuters stranded on the way to work, college or other important appointments. There…

There are reports the Citywest complex in Saggart will be purchased by the State to become a public International Protection Accommodation Services, IPAS, centre. Citywest currently accommodates 2,000 people seeking refuge. It is deeply disappointing residents and elected representatives only heard this from newspaper reports. Deputy Ó Broin and I have contacted the Minister for Justice to try to …

Has the decision been made?

14. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his Department’s interdepartmental group report on the Dublin city task force recommendations. [32435/25]

The Dublin city task force and Dublin City Council recommended that a single waste management company should provide bin collection services, with a further recommendation that, in the long term, waste services should be taken under the control of Dublin City Council. This is positive and will be welcomed by householders across Dublin. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment and Climate …

In response to a parliamentary question to my colleague Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire last month, the Taoiseach said that the development of Ireland's first national security strategy is still ongoing, almost seven years after a Government commission called for it. The report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended the immediate establishment of a strategic threat analysis centr…

34. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans for recruitment of air traffic control staff at Baldonnel Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30989/25]

95. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the application from a school to replace their 50-year-old prefabs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30986/25]

I am asking for an update on the application from St. Kevin's Community College in Clondalkin to replace their 50-year-old prefabs. These prefabs are old. They are not fit for purpose. They are not a good learning environment for pupils or a good working environment for teachers. I have health and safety concerns that I have reported to the appropriate authorities. When will these 50-year-old pref…

I am a former pupil of St. Kevin's Community College and have been working with the school for a long time - not just since 2024 - to get these prefabs replaced. The school and I have been receiving some contrasting information from the Department in the last months. In April, a communication referred to when the school had appointed a design team and the site presenting technical challenges, and…

I first attended St. Kevin's 37 years ago and these prefabs were in situ when I went to school. It is a school in an extremely disadvantaged area, but one that often punches above its weight. In fact, the Taoiseach visited the school last year to see the award-winning DEIS Connect programme. I wonder whether he knew there were kids in 50-year-old prefabs out the back. As I said, I used these prefa…

Okay.

It has been completed. I am again going to press to see when these prefabs are going to be replaced. Will it be in the next six months, next year or the year after?

The Minister of State and I have had many debates over the years on mental health and dual diagnosis. The very first legislation I introduced here in 2021 was the Health (Amendment) (Dual Diagnosis: No Wrong Door) Bill. I introduced it because working in mental health and addiction services I saw the real need for that. I understand 100% why Deputy Clarke is looking to have this enshrined in the B…

I appreciate the work that has been done by the Minister of State and the HSE in reducing the number of young people who have been admitted into adult psychiatric facilities under her tenure. It is acknowledged and it has worked but, as she knows, I always say that we should set the bar high. Let us aim for zero because that is what we should be aiming for. I am not questioning the Minister of Sta…