Rose Conway-Walsh

I am shocked at the Taoiseach.

23. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department’s statement of strategy for 2025 to 2028. [22090/26]

The effectiveness of our national security framework depends not only on the capabilities of our security services but also on maintaining the trust and confidence of the public. That trust must be grounded in transparency, accountability and proper democratic oversight. At present, the mechanisms available to this House to scrutinise national security policy remain limited in scope and visibility…

Yes, there is. Obviously, we are constrained.

I thank my colleague David Cullinane for bringing forward this motion. As the last speaker, Pa Daly, said, medical cards for cancer patients are a real issue, as is the affordability of access to care. I ask the Minister of State to bring that back to the Minister to ensure that something is done about it. I commend all the staff working in oncology. They work really hard. In Mayo cancer patients…

Deputy Farrell is on her way. While marking International Women's Day we need to reflect not only on the achievements of women across Ireland but also on a difficult and painful history that cannot be ignored. For generations women in Ireland were marginalised, silenced and controlled, from institutional abuses to systematic exclusion from public life. I want to acknowledge the recent development…

I want to begin by reading an email I received from a constituent who is freezing in her own home because she ran out of heating oil. She says: I have recently run out of oil due to the massive price hike, which is reported to be up to 60% in some areas. I simply can't afford to refill the tank. As a result, I'm left freezing in my own home, which is not a situation anyone should face in 2026. T…

I received a message this morning from the parents of Mikey Henry-Benson from Mayo, who has scoliosis. The Minister met and knows the family. The parents stated that CHI has ruined their lives, shattered Mikey's sisters' lives and destroyed Mikey's chance at life. They stated that the HSE has put another nail in it. They stated that they asked the HSE for an independent assessment for Mikey but he…

18. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [14820/26]

28. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at a meeting of the British-Irish Council. [9963/26]

1. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which he will address the disparity in income levels across the State; the way in which he will ensure high-paid jobs are not only centralised in major urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13851/26]

What is Minister doing about the disparity in income levels across the State and what is he doing to ensure that well-paid jobs are not just centralised in the major urban areas but also spread out to the regions? I and many other rural and regional Deputies stand here week in, week out asking for fairness and balanced regional investment to attract secure and well-paid jobs to our regions. We ha…

The newly released 2024 data from the CSO shows stark disparities in disposable income and worrying employment trends, particularly around the northern and western region. I will set out some of the figures that are causing me concern. The average disposable income per person nationally in 2024 was €30,139 but in the northern and western region, it was €27,166. In Mayo, it was €27,343, which was a…

There is something to see here. I ask the Minister to pay attention to this because what I quoted to him in terms of the drop of 8.7% in 2024 in Mayo alone represents 5,540 fewer jobs located in the county in just one year. Yes, some people commute to neighbouring counties but when the number of jobs physically based in a county falls so sharply, it signals declining regional investment and missed…

3. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the comprehensive review assessing the cost structures for SME and family-owned businesses, which can be found in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13850/26]

The cost of doing business in this State for small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs; family-owned businesses; and the self-employed is running out of control. In the programme for Government, it is listed that the Government will conduct a comprehensive review to assess the cost structures for SMEs and family-owned businesses to identify areas where costs can be reduced. Will the Minister provid…

Go raibh maith agat, Minister, for that update. The important thing is that it makes a difference on the ground and makes a difference to businesses because the situation facing SMEs with regard to costs is increasingly more unsustainable. We saw 848 insolvencies last year. I fear for what the number will be in 2026. At the end of 2025, 80% of businesses from across all sectors that participated i…

The question that must be asked is this: what is happening here at home? When we look globally, the Minister has named all of the initiatives he is doing but why are Irish business leaders growing even more pessimistic about the future? Confidence in projected revenue growth dropped dramatically at the end of last year, from 79% to 59% in just three months. When businesses were asked about increas…

4. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his concerns regarding the high levels of youth unemployment; the initiatives he has in place to tackle it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13849/26]

We wanted a PRSI rebate in the budget to help businesses with their costs, including additional labour costs. We need good, quality jobs. We do not need a race to the bottom but we will have that discussion on another day. I wish to ask the Minister if he is concerned about the levels of youth employment. What initiatives is he putting in place to tackle it? I am deeply concerned with the consiste…

The Minister of State rightly says that this is not unique to Ireland but I do not think that is a reason for saying that everything is okay. If you look at the EU average, yes, it is 15%. In Britain it is 15.3%. However, there are actions that need to be taken here. For unemployment in general, we have nearly three times that rate for youth unemployment. Young people who complete their education …

My view of the world is different from that of the Minister of State. When you look at our own county, you see that Youthreach is a really good programme in regard to addressing disadvantage and social exclusion. We have waiting lists to get onto those programmes in Ballina and Kiltimagh. We do not have either the physical space to be able to do the training with them or the personnel. I ask the M…

I thank the Labour Party for bringing this Bill to the House this morning. I listened to the Minister of State's speech. He and the Government really need to wake up to the fact that remote working can benefit not only workers and their families, but local businesses and communities as well. The Minister of State knows that coming from a county like Mayo. He also knows that if people with disabili…

8. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach for an update on the first progress report of Climate Action Plan 2025. [8271/26]

19. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first progress report of the climate action plan. [12465/26]