Malcolm Byrne

184. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the implications of aging demographics as set out in the Future Forty report; and the actions his Department will take as a result. [69523/25]

This is an incredibly important report, as the Tánaiste said. I welcome the fact that he acknowledges the role of AI and technology, and how it may change our lives. It is worthy of a full debate in the House. Given the statistics we are looking at, by 2041, on current projections, there will be 1.4 million people aged 65 and older, and by 2065, there will be 2 million people aged 65 and older, tr…

I agree with Deputy Clendennen on auto-enrolment. It is essential, but it is important that we take on board the concerns of SMEs. It is very welcome that we now have life expectancy of 83 in this country. It is a huge success that we are at that point. One of the challenges is that we age healthily. In Singapore, as part of the old age package, admission to community gyms and swimming pools is f…

I accept the Deputy's point that there are some examples in the sector but it is important to remember there are up to 16,000 people directly or indirectly employed in film, television and animation production in this country, including in the Tánaiste's constituency and in mine. For every €1 invested under section 481, the return to the State is estimated at nearly €4. It is a significant part of…

I certainly welcome this legislation. Vaping is both a public health and an environmental scourge. Many Tidy Towns groups are insisting that we get rid of these disposable vapes and the litter associated with them as quickly as possible. I want to focus on the public health elements of this legislation. Enforcement is critical and that we ensure when we introduce this legislation that we can enfor…

16. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the Conference of the Parties summit in Brazil in November 2025. [62257/25]

I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach attended the COP in Brazil as head of Government. It is appropriate that he did so. I welcome his remarks while there. I ask the Taoiseach to consider that Ireland might consider hosting a future COP to raise awareness of the important issues he has outlined. I do want to express concern that if we are going to reduce our own dependence on fossil fuels and ge…

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112. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence Ireland's plans for the deployment of counter-unmanned aircraft systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71588/25]

I raise again the question of support for school secretaries and caretakers. It is unfortunate that the talks at the Workplace Relations Committee, WRC, collapsed and the issue is now going to the Labour Court in January 2026. We need to give a clear commitment in this House that we will look to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible. It is a real concern for long-serving school caretakers…

I thank the Minister for taking this debate and for his personal interest in this important subject. As legislators, we can have no greater responsibility than ensuring the safety of our citizens in both the offline and the online world, and particular those who are vulnerable, especially children and young people. It is critical that we get the balance right between regulation and education. It c…

17. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach for an update on his Department’s plans to co-ordinate a range of actions aimed at regulatory reform. [63479/25]

104. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing an insurance scheme or a guarantee of a basic income for the tillage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66245/25]

I thank the Minister. He and I do not need to discuss the challenges facing the sector; I know he is very much aware of them. What farmers are looking for is a guarantee of a basic income. Obviously we already have the BISS scheme in place. I welcome the fact that as part of the CAP negotiations the Minister is looking at trying to provide some floor for farmers. It is not just important for the s…

The Minister is aware that in the US there is a federal crop insurance programme which was introduced during the time of the depression. I was with the Canadian ambassador when he spoke to the IFA about guarantees, insurance and a basic income scheme that operate in Canada. It continues to be a concern that 1,400 tillage farmers have left the sector in recent years. I know the Minister is committe…

It is good to see Deputy Feighan here as Minister of State. I thank him for being here for this very important debate. I pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Shane Moynihan, who has been raising this issue during Taoiseach's questions since the beginning of the year. Barry Andrews, MEP, raises it regularly in the European Parliament. This is a very important debate. As colleagues said, it has perha…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this item. Like my colleague Deputy Cleere, I acknowledge the significant investment in the school building programme. However, there does, of late, seem to be slow progress on certain projects. We are looking for an assurance that when it comes to the school building programme the capital is in place to be able to deliver on those much-needed schools. The …

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I totally understand there can be delays to various projects. In nearly all of these cases, if it has got to stage 2b, the land is there and the school is ready to go. Stage 2b seems to be some sort of bizarre purgatory within the Department. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State talked about 80 further school programmes. All that many of th…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the renaming of Dublin Airport as Seán Lemass Dublin International Airport and to provide for related matters. I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me the time to move this Bill. It provides for the formal renaming of Dublin Airport as the Seán Lemass Dublin international airport. This is not simply a quest…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

I support Deputy Butterly on this. The Minister might update us. We had a regional film uplift fund in the past but, as a result of issues relating to EU supports, that could not continue. He will certainly be aware that, when filming has to take place outside of Dublin and Wicklow, crews have to travel and there is a cost to that. He has outlined the success we have seen with filming right around…

18. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the planned arts capital programme promised in the programme for Government. [64150/25]

I applaud the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach's efficiency in the Chair. I thank the Minister for taking this question. It concerns the proposal in the programme for Government to develop an arts capital scheme. Will the Minister provide us with an update?

The sports capital programme has been incredibly successful at providing support for sport within our communities. I welcome the Government's continued commitment but we have not placed the same level of investment in arts and cultural facilities in our organisations. I appreciate the point about stream E but, as the Minister pointed out, the maximum grant available is €50,000. In a capital progra…

I welcome that. Will the Minister outline a rough timeline for that? He talks of local authorities but not all venues are local authority-run or have local authority input. Many venues for amateur drama or the arts are run on a community or voluntary basis. It is about the process of application and capacity-building in the sector. Does the local authority have to be involved? I appreciate the sch…