Seán Ó Fearghaíl

We all want peace, but what is certain is that Russia cannot be rewarded for its crimes. It should not be readmitted to the G8 or reintegrated into the global economy. The plan, for example, demands Ukrainian denazification, effectively validating Russia's absurd narrative that Ukraine is riddled with Nazis. I have been there, as have other Members of this House, and I do not think there is any e…

16. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. [48521/25]

I am delighted we are having this debate on Gaza. We cannot have enough debates on this matter for as long as the travesty happening there lasts. As one of the older Members of this House, I can remember the atrocities we have seen in the world down through the years. I remember Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge and the 2 million people slaughtered in Cambodia. I remember other, more recent events in Europe: …

16. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the supports she is providing for naoínraí. [49985/25]

I join with colleagues in expressing my horror and revulsion at the experiences of the Tánaiste and his family and the intimidation inflicted on them earlier this year. I think the solution to that particular problem rests in following the advice of the Ceann Comhairle yesterday and proceeding to build on the work of the committee on safe participation in public life, led by the former Commissione…

90. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on his Department’s work to promote Irish as an official language of the European Union. [38068/25]

The Tánaiste will not be surprised that I rise to speak today to mention the illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains. In mentioning them, I immediately thank the Tánaiste and his official for the speed with which they moved in the earlier part of this year to deal with the several illegal encampments which were established. The Tánaiste's alacrity contrasts with the way in which the problem was …

5. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent engagement with the US President. [26753/25]

As someone who has heard the heartbreaking descriptions of the plight of women and emaciated children in Gaza from heroic front-line defenders and medics over the past 24 hours, like others, I cannot stand here without referring to that particular matter and adding my voice to the calls for a ceasefire and for peace. We have to acknowledge that Hamas terrorists and the monstrous Netanyahu regime h…

Since this tragedy began 20 months ago, we have heard some of the most passionate and sincere contributions in this House from people whose concern is palpable about what we see transpiring before our eyes. Our inboxes over recent days have been inundated by correspondence from members of the Irish public right across the country who are concerned, troubled and heartbroken by what they see happeni…

14. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent discussions with President Zelenskyy. [16804/25]

122. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for building four new elective hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24131/25]

158. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to radically restructure Defence Forces recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17594/25]

Despite the wonderful weather we are having, there is a certain sense of foreboding around the country as we see - thanks to Donald Trump - the dark clouds of economic uncertainty beginning to gather. I am conscious that in such circumstances, where we have had difficulties in the past, we have always moved to secure the well-being and welfare of the most disadvantaged and the less well off. It is…

Does the Taoiseach see his Government being able to meet the needs and resolve the problems surrounding those survivors of thalidomide?

Why is it that this great State of ours-----

-----has to be forced so often to apologise for the mistakes of the past?

10. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the child poverty programme in his Department. [13751/25]

One child living in poverty is one child too many nonetheless we must recognise that major achievements have been made. ECCE, increased child support payments, the free clothing scheme, free school books and the meal allowance have helped to support families in dire need. Points were made by Deputies Bacik and Connolly about child homelessness as being one of the key issues affecting children livi…

14. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach how he intends to increase the co-ordination role of his Department in national security; and when the new national security committee will be established. [4525/25]

During the course of the last week, the Governor of the Central Bank, Gabriel Makhlouf, entered the debate on housing. He did so in response to a Government initiative calling for greater liquidity for developers and builders. He told us that the banks are well capitalised and have plenty of money to lend but that they would do so subject to their own lending criteria and risk assessment. If you t…

As a Member who fully appreciates the need for us all to drive, and drive enthusiastically, the development of the renewable energy sector, I am very conscious that the concentration in recent years has been on the offshore energy sector. It would be beneficial to all of us to have a clearer understanding of the timescales involved in the development of this sector. We have spoken about being able…

13. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February. [4524/25]

I find myself in large agreement with Deputy Daly. Like the Taoiseach, I was born in 1960. Back in the sixties, for entertainment we had a very strong diet of American movies, TV programmes and sitcoms. That might have helped us come to the view of the US as the land of opportunity, a champion of democracy and human rights on the world stage and, if you like, a self-appointed world police force. I…

29. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the commemoration for the liberation of Auschwitz. [12018/25]