Paula Butterly

I welcome all these updates, in particular the largest investment. I also welcome the fact that this is going to be monitored and that the Minister will receive quarterly reports because without a robust energy delivery, we are going to find ourselves in great difficulty going into the future. For example, the Minister, Deputy Burke, launched in May 2025 the Silicon Island project. This is a very …

The M1 corridor is uniquely positioned to attract new FDI. We have the lands and talent, as well as the proximity not just to two large cities but also the airports. This is an area in which I welcomed, during engagement throughout the summer with ESB Networks, its announcement of a commitment to invest €90 million. That will take us into the next five years but not the next ten years, however. It…

Drogheda has experienced deep and persistent challenges linked to intergenerational addiction, domestic abuse and violence, particularly in communities that have faced long-term social and economic disadvantage. The Drogheda Implementation Board was a welcome and necessary intervention. It brought additional resources and enhanced policing. However, as that implementation phase has concluded, ther…

Is the Deputy not sharing time?

Go ahead.

Before I outline the reasons I will support this Bill, I will pause for a moment and reflect on the words and comments made by our Opposition colleagues. The discussion today has muddied the waters. We have heard our sovereignty and democracy are under threat. I dispute this because what we have before us is an arbitration Bill, which sets out what happens when two parties are in dispute. However,…

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.

I welcome the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley.

10. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if Dundalk and Drogheda will be included in the Finance Act 2024 to ensure that the living cities initiative can commence in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57738/25]

As it is my first time to address and put a question to the Tánaiste as Minister for Finance, I wish him very well in his new role. On budget day, Dundalk and Drogheda were cited as two of the towns that will be part of the new living cities initiative. Will the Tánaiste be so kind as to outline the next steps and how we will get it up and running in 2026?

When two of the five towns identified are Dundalk and Drogheda in such a wee county, the Tánaiste can obviously imagine that the wee county is jumping for joy because we see this as a vote of confidence in the county in the famous, or infamous, M1 corridor. Drogheda and Dundalk have huge potential but let us acknowledge the fact that we have a lot of underutilised and older buildings - a lot of st…

This is not only about bricks and mortar. This is about restoring vibrancy and safety. Let us not undervalue the fact that when we get our town centres regenerated, working again and bustling, there will be the important effect of passive surveillance. People feel safer on the streets, but also at night-time, when you have people living above the shop. There is an added layer of security. When I s…

I could not but help but put my hand to ask a further question when I heard a Deputy talk about something being fundamentally Irish. When I hear the words "whiskey" and "beer", I am automatically reminded of the farmers and tillage farmers in particular. While I know this is a request that will require cross-consultation with the Minister for Finance, the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, a…

The Celtic interconnector will connect the Irish electricity grid from France. The cable will have enough capacity to power up to 500,000 homes. Within the next three years, we will be importing from France and Britain. Indeed, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, said this year that the interconnector is a major strategic infrastructure project that will play an important role in Ireland's energ…

The housing plan 2025 to 2030 presents a valuable opportunity to rethink how we design and deliver homes in a sustainable way. A key element must be a shift towards building up rather than building out, ensuring we protect greenfield land while promoting compact growth. This does not mean high-rise development but well-designed, high-density urban living that fits the character and scale of our to…

Today, like many of my colleagues, I would like to raise one of the most important ongoing humanitarian disasters, the unfolding civil war in Sudan and the sheer amount of civilian death and tragedy unfolding in its wake. The war in Sudan is not a simple conflict. It is a catastrophe causing the slaughter of innocent women and children and the starvation of millions. It is a conflict that strikes…

I call on the Minister of State to make his concluding statement which shall not exceed ten minutes.

That concludes statements on Sudan. I thank the Deputies and the Minister.

The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2025: Vote 34.

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 Conor Sheehan - To discuss punctuality issues on the 304A bus service in Limerick city. Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss establishing an NCT centre in Erris, County Mayo. Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the lack of school places in Sc…

I thank the Deputies.

I ask the Deputy to move the Bill.

15. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his assessment of the current distribution of film industry infrastructure and funding across the State; if he will consider targeted supports or new initiatives to promote film-industry growth and infrastructure at regional level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64601/25]

Will the Minister outline his assessment of the current distribution of film industry infrastructure and funding across the State? Will he indicate whether he will consider targeted supports or new initiatives to promote film industry growth and production capacity at a regional level?

While all of this is very welcome, it is essential that funding and infrastructure be distributed fairly across the State and never concentrated in a small number of locations. County Louth provides a strong example of the potential that exists regionally when investment and opportunities are made available. The film "Skintown", produced by Keeper Pictures with the support of Screen Ireland and No…