71. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the preparedness of Irish industry for the implementation of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM); the supports being provided to affected sectors, particularly SMEs and energy-intensive industries, to comply with reporting and cost implications arising from the transitional phase; the estimated impact on competitiveness and…
72. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the current national targets for employment participation of persons with disabilities in the open labour market; the baseline used for measuring progress; and the most recent data available on progress towards these targets, including the way in which this is being monitored across Government departments and age…
73. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether a formal cross-departmental implementation structure exists to ensure delivery of employment activation measures for persons with disabilities; the timelines for any forthcoming strategy updates or action plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44602/26]
74. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which the findings of a report (details supplied) will inform Government policy on the future development of data centre capacity under the Large Energy User Action Plan, particularly in relation to ensuring alignment with energy security, grid capacity and climate objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4…
149. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific measures that are currently in place to support and incentivise employers to recruit and retain persons with disabilities; whether any new initiatives are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44601/26]
159. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that the data-sharing and data-processing provisions contained in the general scheme of the Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026, comply with the principles of necessity and proportionality under the GDPR and constitutional privacy protections; whether a detailed assessment or justification has been undertaken in respect of the…
160. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that the proposed legislation in the general scheme of Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026 provides sufficient transparency to social welfare recipients regarding how their personal data may be collected, shared, cross-checked, profiled or otherwise processed across State bodies; what measures are proposed to prevent "function…
161. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the assessment that has been undertaken of international experiences where automated decision-making systems, welfare analytics or fraud detection technologies resulted in wrongful suspensions, incorrect overpayments, or discriminatory outcomes; whether consideration has been given to the potential for algorithmic bias or indirect discrimination arisin…
162. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is satisfied that the current oversight framework provides the Data Protection Commission with sufficient statutory powers and resources to effectively monitor compliance with large-scale interdepartmental welfare data-sharing arrangements; the way in which the Government intends to balance the legitimate objective of tackling welfare fraud with …
163. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the latest data from the Central Statistics Office on trends in income inequality and poverty over the past decade; if the Gini coefficient has fallen from 32 to 27 between 2014 and 2024; whether the income quintile share ratio has declined over the same period; the changes in the at-risk-of-poverty rate and the consistent poverty rate since 2014; the …
164. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to ensure that employees and employers fully understand their obligations and entitlements under the new auto-enrolment pension scheme in advance of the opt-out window coming into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44598/26]
192. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current number of Garda members assigned to roads policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44585/26]
335. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his engagement with Electric Ireland regarding recent and proposed electricity price increases; his assessment of the impact of such increases on households already facing cost-of-living pressures; the measures he has taken to encourage Electric Ireland and other energy suppliers to moderate or defer further price increases; if he has…
336. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to implement the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation; the steps his Department will take to achieve a 5% reduction in packaging waste by 2030 and a 90% plastic bottle collection rate by 2029; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43713/26]
337. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the investment that will be provided to ensure nationwide full and enhanced separate textile collection by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43714/26]
338. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps his Department is taking to address the generation adequacy challenges identified in EirGrid’s All-Island Resource Adequacy Assessment (AIRAA) 2026–2035 report, particularly the potential capacity deficits forecast for the period 2026 to 2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43715/26]
1002. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the actions being undertaken to protect children and young people from harmful content and online misinformation on social media platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43717/26]
1003. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress made in developing a national strategy for the use of artificial intelligence across the media, cultural and creative sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43718/26]
1004. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the Government will publish its updated national strategy on artificial intelligence; the measures that will be included to support Irish creators, artists and media organisations affected by generative AI technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43719/26]
1005. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of complaints received by Coimisiún na Meán relating to online harms since the commencement of the Online Safety Code; if he is satisfied that sufficient enforcement resources are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43720/26]
1006. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total amount of State funding provided to sporting bodies and organisations in respect of preparations for major international events during 2025 and 2026; the legacy outcomes expected from that expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43721/26]
1007. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of arts and cultural organisations that have notified his Department of financial pressures arising from increased operating and energy costs in the past 12 months; if additional supports are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43722/26]
1431. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the national rollout of body-worn cameras for members of An Garda Síochána; the expected date by which body-worn cameras will be available to all frontline Garda members nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43710/26]
2354. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures she intends to take to address the significant physiotherapy waiting lists within the HSE; whether she is aware that approximately 90,000 people are currently awaiting physiotherapy services; whether she has considered engaging with certified athletic therapists as part of a strategy to reduce waiting times for patients with musculoskeletal injuries…
2355. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the progress made towards the statutory regulation of certified athletic therapists through CORU; the reasons for the delay in advancing regulation despite representations from the profession over a period of more than sixteen years; the timeframe within which she expects a decision on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43727/26]