Naoise Ó Cearúil

Do not shout at me, Deputy.

Cathaoirleach, he is way over time.

127. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the progress of section 50 regulations required to open up and facilitate the transfer of a PSNI officer to the ranks of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12512/25]

We have seen an exceptional Garda recruitment campaign recently in February. I commend the Minister and An Garda Síochána on this. However, there are ready-made police officers and there is a barrier to them becoming gardaí. Can the Minister provide an update on the progress of section 50 regulations required to open up and facilitate the transfer of a PSNI officer to the ranks of An Garda Síochán…

While I appreciate that the Minister will be consulting with his counterparts in the UK, at a time when we have an acute shortage of gardaí and require additional officers, there are members of the PSNI who wish to become gardaí. They are living in the Republic and commuting to the North. They are ready-made police officers ready to act. There are many such members. One in particular who I am awa…

I thank the Minister. I appreciate him looking into this matter in more detail. I will work with him outside the House in respect of the case to which I refer. The number involved is not huge. To my knowledge, it is in the teens. These are people who are working in the PSNI. They have spent a lifetime in policing and have a considerable amount of experience that could contribute a great deal to b…

7. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will next meet. [10807/25]

Given the recent devastation, which was widely reported and debated in the House, caused by Storm Éowyn, which resulted in widespread power outages and damage amounting to hundreds of millions of euros, the Climate Change Advisory Council has urged immediate action to prepare for future extreme weather events. It recommends establishing a national climate damage register to track the economic, soc…

Gabhaim buíochas, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle.

11. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [4389/25]

Could the Taoiseach provide a report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February? This meeting focused on European defence, addressing critical topical issues such as enhancing defence capabilities and financing EU defence priorities. We have seen the need to improve our own defence capabilities in this country, and I look forward to hearing the Taoiseach's response.

23. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the commemoration for the liberation of Auschwitz. [4391/25]

During the commemoration, survivors expressed deep concern over the resurgence of antisemitism and the rise of radical ideologies worldwide. Leon Weintraub, a 99-year-old survivor, highlighted that such ideologies preach hostility and hatred towards others, defining racism, antisemitism and homophobia as virtues. In light of these alarming trends, how does the Government plan to strengthen and imp…

81. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health for an update regarding the proposed primary care centre in Maynooth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10050/25]

Ar dtús báire, guím gach rath ar an Aire. I wish the Minister well with her new brief. We have seen the success of primary care. I look to my home town of Maynooth, which is yet to have a primary care centre. I have been calling for this for a long time. The population of Maynooth is 17,000, on top of which there are 14,000 students, as I mentioned previously, and a projected population increase o…

I welcome the news about the primary care centre in Leixlip. As the Minister mentioned, it will be a significant investment by the State and a significant primary care centre in Leixlip but bear in mind that the whole idea of primary care is accessibility, that older people, young families and mums with children can walk down to a primary care centre and receive care in the community. I ask the Mi…

The Minister has hit the nail on the head. There was a site where a health centre was to be changed into a health centre, which is ludicrous. There is a wider argument around planning, particularly how one arm of the State speaks to another. That is a wider question. I welcome that there will be a primary care centre in Leixlip. I will continue to work with the Minister to try to find an alternati…

Is cúis áthais é labhairt anseo inniu faoin nGaeilge, go háirithe i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Tráthnóna inné, bhí mé ag ócaid de chuid Gaeilge365 i Halla na Cathrach, áit ar pléadh an obair iontach atá ar siúl ag grúpaí agus daoine aonair ar son na Gaeilge. Tugaim aitheantas do Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Daithí de Buitléar as an obair atá ar siúl acu. Tá sé mar chuspóir ag an Ri…

I also wish the Minister well in his new role. I also wish to comment on the positive recruitment campaign for gardaí that was launched recently and to encourage people to consider the Garda as a positive career choice. We are fortunate to have an excellent police force, obviously throughout the country but in Kildare specifically. Community gardaí, such as Garda Aidan McGuane, contribute so much …

87. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new baby grants that have been made to parents in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8460/25]

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle sa ról nua atá aige agus leis an Aire chomh maith. Ba mhaith liom fiafraí den Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí cé mhéid deontas de naíonáin nuabheirthe atá tugtha anois do thuismitheoirí i gContae Chill Dara agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ar an ábhar. How many newborn baby grants have been made to parents in Kildare and will the Minister make a statement o…

Naturally, I welcome the grant. In the programme for Government, there are a number of very good commitments for families and young children and this grant, for example, goes a long way towards helping with the costs that come with having a newborn. There is talk in the document of examining the extension of parent's leave and benefit and providing additional flexibility. I ask that consideration …

I thank the Minister. I also commend the fact the new baby grant is made automatically with the child benefit payment, without the need for an additional application.

90. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for ensuring that the social welfare system is progressive and empowers people with a disability to live full and independent lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8462/25]

Fiafraím den Aire maidir lena na gcuid pleananna chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an córas leasa coimirce forásach agus go gcumhachtaítear do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas saol iomlán neamhspleách a chaitheamh agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ar an ábhar? What are the Minister's plans for ensuring that the social welfare system is progressive and empowers people with disabilities to live full and independent lives…