Paula Butterly

I thank the Minister of State for his answer, but it does not go to the heart of the issue, which is that these retained firefighters have to retire at 62. I am going to repeat much of what I said in my four minutes. These people have bills to pay and families to support. They are fighting fit and able to work. They want to work, and there is dignity in the fact that they want to work. They want t…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputies Dessie Ellis and Paul McAuliffe - To discuss the new school building for Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, Bóthar Ghlas Naíon, Finglas East, Dublin 11. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss supports for children and students with dyslexia. Deputy …

I want to raise the ongoing and deeply frustrating situation facing retired CIÉ pensioners in County Louth and across the country, many of whom have not received any pension increase since 2008. These are men and women who have worked for decades in public transport and who often kept the wheels turning in both good times and bad. Last May, after 17 years, CIÉ and the trade unions finally reached …

I am encouraged by the Tánaiste's words and by the fact that the Ministers are taking this very seriously. Time passes very quickly and the older you get, it passes even quicker. For a lot of these pensioners, what they are looking for is very modest but it will make a great difference in their daily lives. Time, for them, is really of the essence. I take the Tánaiste's point about communication. …

I welcome the Our Rural Future policy consultation process. It is a further step to re-addressing and rebalancing the regional balance, which is so vital for all of us in this country. It is essential if we are to provide better services and better infrastructure for not just our rural areas but also for our rural villages and towns. I have listened to comments from the Opposition over the last t…

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy and call the Minister of State.

Thank you, Deputy.

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.

I thank the Deputy. I call Deputy Ellis. Apologies; I call the Minister of State.

I ask the Deputy to let the Minister of State respond.

I thank the Minister for her clear and constructive decision-making over the past number of days. I also acknowledge the staff and all those who have been working around the clock to ensure Irish citizens feel safe in unsafe circumstances and have been reassured the State is there to support them. As we gather here today against the backdrop of a conflict that has inflicted profound suffering acr…

Before I adjourn the House, I wish all of you an enjoyable and happy St. Patrick's Day.

I thank the Minister for her genuine interest in this matter, which has not been lost on the survivors of Michael Shine. I welcome the announcement from the Minister on appointing Lorcan Staines SC as the independent facilitator for the scoping exercise, as requested by Dignity4Patients on behalf of the survivors of Michael Shine. This is a significant and long-awaited step and it is important we …

137. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider establishing and funding a dedicated Irish town of culture programme to support local creative initiatives and community-based cultural development in Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16277/26]

Will the Minister consider establishing and funding a dedicated Irish town of culture programme to support towns such as Drogheda and Ardee with strong cultural identities and significant heritage assets? This would be particularly relevant for Drogheda, which has a rich artistic community and a deep historical footprint.

I thank the Minister. I am delighted to hear he is in favour of such a programme. Drogheda is a cultural powerhouse in the north east. It is home to festivals like the Drogheda Arts Festival, the Drogheda classical musical series and the Lú festival. It provides entertainment for locals but it is also a calling card for people from outside Drogheda and County Louth to visit the town. Like many Iri…

I tend to agree with the Minister. A few years ago, Drogheda had the fleadh for two years, during which it brought great short-term benefit to the town. I agree with the Minister that this designation would have to develop over a three- or five-year period in order to have a long-lasting impact on the town. Where I may disagree with the Minister is in terms of the competition among local authoriti…

Childhood memories should be nuggets of joy and flashbacks of events evoked by the smells, words or actions of others and of happier times. They should make us laugh and smile when we remember. They should be a guide for us, if or when, we are lucky enough to have own children. They should wrap around us like a cosy duvet on dark miserable days. Some of us can point to a teacher who was inspirati…

Will the Minister of State consider establishing a cross-Border assessment of need scheme, modelled on existing cross-Border dental and surgical treatment pathways, to ensure that children can access timely assessments outside the State when domestic waiting lists are excessive?

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the shortage of mainstream school places in Dunshaughlin, County Meath for the 2026-27 school year. Deputy Grace Boland - To discuss the national fare structure for train fares announced by the National …

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue because it undoubtedly affects people in Dunleer, Togher, Drogheda and Dundalk and no doubt it also affects people the breadth of Ireland. I came in to the Chamber in October 2025 to talk about a constituency who had come to me having lost her husband a year prior. She was facing having to rear her four children, get back to work, get on with he…

I thank the Minister of State. I am heartened that he has grasped the seriousness of the situation and by the fact that he is going to raise the urgent need for this to be reviewed. Let us review it and implement it. Let us find a timeline of many months but, rather, weeks or a few months. The Minister of State has grasped the seriousness of the situation, as has the Minister, Deputy Calleary. It …