Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

70. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress on the drafting of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill 2025; if she will outline the recent advice she has received from the Attorney General; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23431/26]

This question has been frequently debated in recent months and years. The Government was elected on the basis of both parties committing to pass the occupied territories Bill, not a watered-down version of it. In any event, the progress we have seen on any occupied territories legislation has been quite halting since the election of this Government. When are we going to see that Bill on the floor …

My concern and that of a lot of people is that we are going to continue with this dance whereby the Attorney General sends something across to the Government, the Government looks for clarification, the Attorney General sends something back and we are at this slow-bicycle race forever. The urgency of this is very clear. For all of the talk of the ceasefire, the Board of Peace and so on, the situat…

The manifesto commitments were different from the programme for Government commitments but both Government parties had access to the Attorney General's advice at that point, which was that while it is challenging to do, there is no particular obstacle to acting on services as well as goods. The Minister talked about other European countries. Ireland is now but one of five that are examining this. …

72. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will make efforts to ensure that European sanctions are made against Rosatom, the Russian atomic agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23432/26]

In the four years since the start of Russia's appalling war of aggression against Ukraine, there has been a wide range of sanctions against Russian individuals and companies, and against the Russian Government. In recent days, we have, unfortunately, seen an easing of sanctions on oil and gas by the United States. I am sure that is something the Minister regrets. That move makes it all the more im…

The Minister will be well familiar with our support for civilian, humanitarian and infrastructural aid. That has been the case for several years, continues to be the case and will be the case in the future. I welcome what the Minister has said about the sanctions. The package continues to be worked upon. The issue of sanctions against Rosatom is a very clear priority for the Ukrainian Government,…

I say again to the Minister that civil, humanitarian and infrastructural aid is important. It should continue and Ireland should continue to support that. I will raise the issue of Aughinish Alumina in County Limerick, which provides alumina. In recent days, a report in The Irish Times highlighted the fact that smelters supply aluminium to a Moscow-based trading company, which in turn supplies Ru…

I ask the Minister to please clarify-----

I am going to talk about Bessborough, but I will also talk about the entire system of mother and baby homes, industrial schools and county homes. We have had many apologies in this House, and rightly so; they are welcome. Too often, however, the State has failed to truly get to grips with what was actually in place in this State, that is, an entire system that was integrated between county homes, …

12. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in the south Lee area awaiting paediatric and juvenile primary care psychology; the number waiting over six months, 12 months and two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17839/26]

Primary care psychology for adolescents is a huge issue. I am concerned that sometimes it slips under the radar. This service provides important support, but, unfortunately, from my experience in replies to previous questions, the numbers on the waiting list in south Lee are significant, including over a year for some people.

Can the Minister clarify the figure of 198? How many weeks is that in excess of? It was the figure right at the start of the answer.

The Deputy gave a number of 198 people waiting over a certain number of weeks. I did not catch how many weeks it was.

That is a huge number. It is maybe a slight improvement, but very comparable to what was there before. This time last year about 70% of the posts in primary care psychology were absent. That is not in the reply and I am sure the Minister will not have those numbers in front of her. Part of the problem here is that there is a gap in recruitment. My big concern in relation to primary care psychology…

It is vitally important that we make this early intervention. The nature of primary care is that people are not triaged. It is very much a question of how long people are on the waiting list. CAMHS can triage people according to severity. The nature of primary care is, of course, that one comes in and is waiting the time one is waiting. That is all. All that time somebody's condition can be escala…

The Tánaiste will be aware that pensioners who worked in Bus Éireann and CIÉ have been waiting for over 18 years for an increase at a time of cost-of-living increases. Many of them are under severe pressure. They have been told numerous things, that a pension increase has been agreed between the unions and the company and is awaiting sign-off of a statutory instrument, and that it is with the Depa…

Ar an gcéad dul síos, aontaím leis an méid atá ráite ag an Aire Stáit. Gan dabht, ba chóir go mbeadh ár saoránaigh mar thosaíocht ag an Rialtas. Ba cheart don Rialtas a chinntiú go bhfuil siad slán sábháilte agus go bhfuil cumarsáid mhaith leo agus lena gcuid teaghlach. Tá sé sin fíorthábhachtach. Tiocfaidh mé ar ais chuige sin. Sometimes when you speak to people about politics, the international…

Tá an córas oifig an phoist thart timpeall an Stáit riachtanach, lárnach inár gcuid pobail agus níos sine ná an Stát féin. I go leor cásanna, d’imigh an ról síos ó ghlúin go glúin laistigh de theaghlach. Tá sé dlúthcheangailte leis an bpobal. Tá sé sin tábhachtach. Caithfimid an córas, an bonneagar agus an t-infrastruchtúr a chosaint. Ní tharlóidh sé sin trí bhotún. Caithfear infheistíocht a dhéan…

Déanfaidh mé dhá phríomhphointe. Tá mé chun rud éigin a rá atá cosúil leis an méid atá ráite ag an Teachta Mac Aonghusa ó thaobh an tobair de. Uaireanta, fiosraíonn daoine, agus fios acu go bhfuil Gaeilge agam, faoi mo thuairim agus léargas ar staid na Gaelainne. Deirim go bhfuil idir ábhair dhóchais is imní ann. Ó thaobh an dóchais de, is cinnte go bhfuil go leor rudaí maithe ag tarlú inár nGaels…

On a point of order, and I hope the Minister takes this in the right spirit, can he confirm he understood all the contributions from this side of the House? I do not have any issue with somebody-----

Can I just clarify? The point is this. I have no issue with somebody-----

No, I will just finish the point of order.

It is a point of order.

No, I just want to finish this.