Ruairí Ó Murchú

Yes, but there is a time delay-----

We all accept that nitrous oxide has legitimate uses in medicine, healthcare, veterinary and catering. This legislation ensures that those who legitimately want to sell, buy and use this are the only people who are allowed so that it no longer has the impact it is having on young people across the country. Deputy Ward is absolutely correct. The Government has known about this for a significant per…

It is absolutely necessary that we have this focus. That focus means resources to ensure all children can involve themselves in sport, particularly those who will have greater challenges. High Five is a programme run for children, particularly those with autism, in boxing clubs. My own local club, Clann Naofa, has such a programme ongoing. We have all seen the all-stars programmes run by the GAA. …

We all know the importance of sports capital for sporting organisations across the State. We are talking about this opening at the end of summer 2026. I thought it would be quarter 1 but once we have a date, sports clubs can work around it. I agree with what has been said. There needs to be added effort in facilitating local authorities to provide municipal pitches and sporting settings in some c…

They will be shovel-ready.

We heard a whole pile of horror issues in the audiovisual room. In fairness, the Irish Wheelchair Association, Access for All Ireland and the Disability Federation of Ireland have done really good work in putting this idea out there and making sure that people are aware of the need for a cost-of-disability payment. The Minister obviously accepts that, given the fact that there is a review process …

We all accept there is a need for a cost-of-disability payment. That goes without saying. We also need to ensure we facilitate as many people into employment as possible. The Minister has accepted there is underemployment within the State of those with disabilities. He quibbled some of the figures that are out there. If the Minister could come back on that, it would be useful. I have spoken many t…

It goes without saying we are in a world with absolute double standards at this point and it is not a case of what is good for the goose is good for the gander. With Iran, I think we are all in agreement that no one wants to see protesters who are out protesting against higher costs, and the other particular issues they have, die and nobody wants to see executions. None of this is good enough but …

Following on from that, could we have some answers regarding where the Irish Government proposes to go as regards Mercosur and some element of push back? We obviously know there is to be a vote by MEPs. The question has been asked on what way Government MEPs will vote. Beyond that, what engagement will there be with the rest of the MEPs across Europe? We need to keep maximum pressure on, whether t…

Not monitoring.

I do not think anybody doubts the absolute necessity of ensuring that we have the proper level of regulation, particularly when we are talking about natural gas and liquified petroleum gas. We all know the issues that can exist. We all know the dangers that exist. In fairness, my colleagues, Deputies Pa Daly and Bennett recently stated, like many others have done, that there are issues those who h…

4. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [69322/25]

It would be fair to say that the world is not exactly where we would like it to be, whether we are talking about the draconian actions of the Iranian regime, the so-called "peace" in Palestine or the ongoing conflict in Sudan. We have seen Donald Trump tear to bits international law. Whatever people's view of President Maduro, nobody can stand up and state that America has the right to remove whic…

We are not talking about that.

There have been many poor leaders supported by America for many years.

16. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [69323/25]

What co-ordination has there been across the Cabinet on what is going to happen regarding Grok? We all know the importance of the tech industry to Ireland, but I do not think anybody in the House could stand over what we can only call a child pornography factory. We know how it can be used and is being used. It is disgraceful. It is fair to say that the answers from Elon Musk have not been up to s…

We want to arrest people for producing child pornography.

It goes without saying that the issue of assessments of need has been a disaster for a considerable time. There is much unease about the proposals that were put forward. One of the issues with the proposals is that they are only an indication of a proposal. We had an engagement earlier in the week and if we are talking about removing the need for assessments of need in schools, it is a fact that w…

We all support the idea of a single point of access. My understanding is there will be 11 teams delivered in 2026 and then nine teams in 2027. That all sounds grand but I would follow up on what Deputy Quinlivan said. At this point I imagine, because we cannot always get the updated figures, we are looking at 300 or so positions unfilled in the CDNTs. I would like if that figure was lower but how …

25. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement there has been with relevant Departments and agencies, including Tusla, following the publication of recommendations from the national review panel report on the case of a person (details supplied); the projected timeline and cost of this implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

What engagement has there been with relevant Departments and agencies, including Tusla? I am talking about the recommendations following the national review panel, NRP, report on Kyran Durnin. We have had a large number of child protection issues, including in respect of Vadym Davydenko and Daniel Aruebose, and the shocking events surrounding the brutal assault on a ten-year-old girl who had been …

The Minister will have an opportunity to follow on regarding what she envisages changing legislatively. Her comments recognise the need to update legislation and ensure a framework for child protection. Our thoughts are on Kyran Durnin and the other tragic cases I have mentioned. We need to put whatever protections we can in place. I ask that the Minister engage with Tusla and other agencies to e…

What the Minister referred to is vital whether we are talking about putting the NRP on a statutory footing or following through on all the recommendations. Could I have a notion of what the general timeline is? I understand that due diligence had to be done on the legislative process. The issues around the tracking of pupils, particularly whatever cross-border directive is needed, should be addre…

I ask the Minister to come back to me on a timeline for the report.