Naoise Ó Muirí

On the tourism tax, I understand the Minister's point which, as he said, is moot but from my perspective, if I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to a European capital, the fact that I am paying a tourism tax in that city to help with its infrastructure does not deter me.

We should be looking to do both. We have a report to be implemented which needs new sources of revenue. A tourism tax and other options should all be on the table because it is important for the city.

I thank Deputy Heneghan, who is a former teacher, for raising this matter. This club has really deep roots in Raheny and Clontarf and further afield. It is well known throughout the country for its excellence but at its core, it has very strong community roots and really deserves our support. We look forward to seeing the Minister of State visit it. I hope we can work together to progress the club…

I ask for an update on the national roll-out of standardised labelling of alcohol products. I understand that in 2023 the then Minister for Health signed the regulations into law and that the labelling is due to come into effect a year from now, in May 2026. Could the Tánaiste confirm that we are on target for the labels to be on all drinks one year from now and whether there are any implementatio…

95. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that his Department will be the lead on the introduction of a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21596/25]

I ask the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that his Department will be the lead for the introduction of a permanent annual cost of disability support payment and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am delighted to hear that. It is a welcome commitment in the programme for Government. Those who are living with a disability, as the Minister rightly says, have many additional challenges, including healthcare, transport costs and other challenges. The least we can do is to look to support them where we can. Those living with a disability and their representative organisations will be happy wit…

97. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to develop a career path in the childcare sector in view of the staff turnover rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20433/25]

I ask about the steps being taken to develop a career path in the childcare sector in view of the high staff turnover rate and whether the Minister will make a statement on the matter.

We heard earlier that 30% of childcare managers are struggling to find new staff. Would she consider adding childcare to the critical skills list, which would make it easier for that sector to attract skilled and qualified personnel, especially, of course, from countries outside the European Economic Area such as New Zealand, Brazil and Australia? Skilled people from these countries, obviously wit…

The blackout yesterday in Spain and Portugal was a jarring but very real reminder of the vulnerability of our energy systems. In five seconds, the Iberian power network lost 15 GW. That is about 60% of normal consumer demand there. By way of comparison, the peak that has been recorded in Ireland is 6 GW, so two and a half times the full consumption of Ireland went off that grid in five seconds. It…

I appreciate the Minister of State's comments. I welcome the news that temporary emergency generation capacity has got to four power stations, two in Dublin and two down the country. I also welcome the IEA’s study of our electricity security with regard to energy transition. The one point I want to repeat concerns the European experience. We were very happy to welcome, and it was great to see, cre…

I will talk about two vital Irish Water projects for the Dublin region. The first is the Shannon to Dublin water supply project. In the greater Dublin region, just one source, namely, the River Liffey, supplies 85% of our water. The dependence on the River Liffey and the two big treatment plants in Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip means the greater Dublin region is exposed to risks such as prolonged …

Where is Dún Laoghaire? Nobody knows.

It is incredible that no one in the entire US Washington Administration is challenging these tariffs. It is incredible that the Republican Party, the party which produced Ronald Regan who, for all his faults, understood the benefits and value of free trade, is moving away from this and clearly wrapping itself in the cloak of protectionism. It is incredible that has happened. It is frankly incredi…

I want to raise youth facilities. Deputy Currie mentioned all the important facilities we need to make available, including youth cafes, youth clubs, skate parks, music clubs and astro pitches. These are the best ways to divert younger people, get them engaged and keep them involved in the community. In our area, there was a fabulous plan 20 years ago to build many community facilities into the no…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue matter this morning. This is about a badly-needed special school in our area so that those with additional needs can get the education they deserve. It is also about the needs of Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School. The school has very a committed principal and staff who are trying to achieve the very best for their students. Our t…

I thank the Minister of State. It is indicated further on in the written response circulated to Members that there has been engagement with the school. There was a meeting with the school authorities on 25 March. I welcome that and the fact that additional engagement is planned. The concern which Deputy Brabazon set out relates to the long term, and that those students will be there in the long te…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle, and commend her for keeping the car between the ditches yesterday, which was a difficult workday for her. Cuirim fáilte roimh Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú), 2024 agus na hathruithe atá i gceist ó thaobh bord an údaráis a thoghadh. Tá athruithe beaga sa Bhille ó thaobh an t-údarás a bheith in ann talamh a dhíol le AHBs nó le húdaráis tithíochta, chun dídean a c…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an díospóireacht seo a bheith againn anseo anocht. Cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille seo. Tá sé go maith go mbeidh cuid den bhord sin tofa arís, mar a bhí blianta ó shín. Caithfidh muid a bheith cúramach ó thaobh na n-uimhreacha ar an mbord, gan iad a bheith rómhór mar tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh an bord in ann oibriú go maith le chéile agus straitéis an údaráis a…

I again wish to raise the issue of the accommodation recognition payment, ARP. In the midst of the awful ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, it is vital that we try to give some certainty to our Ukrainian guests here in Ireland who are still here having fled their homeland and to those households around this country who generously took in those people in an act of humanity and social soli…

I thank the Minister of State for attending this debate. I will raise a couple of matters. I welcome the Government's commitment to the Dublin city task force and the implementation of its report. It is very important for the city centre and restoring confidence in the city. I will call out two items in the report. The first is "Big Move 5 - Deliver more targeted and better located services for v…

Tá sé iontach an Ghaeilge a chloisteáil á labhairt i dTeach Laighean an tseachtain seo. Ach an oiread leis an Teachta a labhair romham, tacaím leis an dátheangachas. Tá sé iontach an dream atá ar bheagán focal nó a gceapann nach bhfuil cumas cuimsitheach acu a chloisteáil ag déanamh iarracht an Ghaeilge a labhairt. Cuirim an-fháilte roimhe sin. Bíonn fáilte roimhe sin i gcónaí. Níor cheart go mbea…

I thank the Ministers for being in the Chamber and for taking this debate. This is a good report and I encourage or ask the Government to give it good consideration. Section 3 deals with recommendations on sustainable housing supply. I want to speak about recommendations 18 and 19, which are about money and finance, the State supplying finance, getting involved and providing essential finance, wh…

Comhghairdeas leis an Naoise eile on his maiden address sa Dáil. Much of the debate today has been around the military side, but like others, I will mention the EU humanitarian response to this war. The invasion began on 24 February 2022 and the European Union activated the temporary protection directive, TPD, in March 2022. That was pretty quick. Some 6.8 million people had to seek refuge from t…