Martin Daly

I begin by sincerely acknowledging the Minister of State's continued commitment to tackling flood risk across the country. I have worked closely with him in my own constituency of Roscommon-Galway and I have first-hand knowledge of his deep engagement with local communities and his determination to deliver real, practical outcomes. His leadership has been instrumental in progressing key projects t…

I want to put on record my horror at the actions of Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza. It has been a totally disproportionate reaction to the 7 October attacks. Those were despicable but the killing of 54,000 people and deliberately targeting by hunger and total war a whole population of people is inexplicable and unforgivable. We have to use our best influence through the European Un…

It is with significant regret that I have to speak today. I am a member of the medical profession. I am not an orthopaedic specialist but I am a doctor of nearly 40 years' standing. The Thomas audit of the management of developmental dysplasia of hips in children in CHI at Temple Street and Crumlin and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh is deeply disappointing and unsettling, most especiall…

24. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with rural affairs and community development will next meet. [22656/25]

I welcome the commendable year-on-year investment by the Government in rural towns and villages, both under the CLÁR scheme, as the Taoiseach pointed out, and the RRDF scheme. One of the challenges that remains is that we need to retain our people in our villages. Some 30 or 40 years ago, people were emigrating because of a lack of employment. Now young people want to come back to our villages to …

10. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to Roscommon County Council for the tenant in situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24656/25]

I thank the Minister for that answer. I understand that the tenant in situ scheme was a temporary scheme. It was a safety net for people who were given a notification of termination of their tenancy to avoid homelessness. It is important to address the anxiety of people right around the country - not just in Roscommon or in Ballinasloe, which is also part of my constituency - about the possibility…

Of course, the solution to all of this is to drive the provision of housing right through the different sectors - social, affordable and private. I welcome the new planning framework which will hopefully drive and allow local authorities to redraw their county development plans and deliver that housing. I visited two modular factories during the week. One was in Lidan in Roscommon that produces s…

In a world being reshaped by technology, climate change and shifting geopolitics, one truth remains constant: knowledge drives prosperity. In this rapidly changing landscape, higher education, research and skills are not luxuries. They are economic necessities. Ireland's competitive edge will not come from natural resources or low costs; it will come from talent and from the people we educate, the…

Will the Minister outline the timeframe for the building of the four new elective hospitals?

The elective hospitals are absolutely critical health infrastructure. In the past, acute and emergency cases have had to compete with elective cases, with people who had waited long periods having their elective surgery deferred. We often talk about the emergency room as being the focus point but it is really just a symptom of lack of capacity within our health services. I am very happy with what …

On this Europe Day, I pause to reflect on a remarkable journey that began more than 74 years ago with the simple but transformative idea that peace and co-operation could replace conflict and division on our continent. Today, the European Union is more than a political and economic project. It is a symbol of shared values, democracy, the rule of law, solidarity and a commitment to human dignity. I…

I am grateful for the opportunity to make a statement on Children's Health Ireland, CHI, and to reflect on the recent deeply troubling revelations about the insertion of non-medical grade springs into the spines of children undergoing complex spinal surgery and the emergence of a divergence in clinical decision-making for the threshold for pelvic osteotomies for developmental dysplasia of the hip …

The imposition of 20% tariffs on EU exports by the United States is not only unjustified and regrettable, but also erroneous in its rationale and deeply flawed in its calculations. It marks a significant retrogressive step in rules-based international trade developed in the aftermath of the Second World War. It is remarkable that one officeholder, the President of the United States, has been able …

There was no criticism. I was noting a comment she made on the radio reflecting advice she received.

All right.

As we know, housing production is the number one priority for the Government as is reflected in the programme for Government. Ireland's housing need is real and we need to consider all methods of construction to deliver the targets we set out in the programme for Government. We have to increase housing supply, improve sustainability and boost construction productivity. A recent report by the Natio…

One unfortunate phenomenon in recent years has been the conflation in people's minds of prefabricated housing and modular housing. High-quality modular housing is a permanent housing solution. Prefabricated models like the prefabs provided for Ukrainian refugees were expensive and had a poor BER rating of C. These modern modular housing units are permanent solutions and are extremely energy effici…

Some children come into contact with the law as a consequence of doing what comes naturally to them: pushing boundaries, acting without thought of consequence and establishing themselves in the mistaken judgment that they are impressing their peers. They may also be victims of criminal exploitation. However, research shows that where children are apprehended and convicted in the criminal justice s…

Could the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler, indicate when the Mental Health Bill 2024 will proceed to Committee Stage for examination? It is critical that we get the legislation right. While strong safeguards are essential, we must also ensure timely and appropriate access to treatment for people who are seriously ill and cannot make that decision for themselves. Thankf…

6. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Taoiseach the engagements he has had with the National Emergency Co-ordination Group in the days before, during and after storm Éowyn. [11060/25]

I am well aware that the Taoiseach visited the Roscommon-Galway constituency in the aftermath of the storm and witnessed first hand the devastation that was caused. I think he was taken aback by the level of devastation caused by Storm Éowyn. It is clear that up to 80% of the power outages were caused by forestry falls. We really have to learn the lesson about the establishment of tree corridors a…

20. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Taoiseach the way he plans to increase the co-ordination role of his Department in national security; and when the new national security committee will be established. [13730/25]

Taoiseach-----

I welcome the establishment of the national security council. It will give co-ordination, weight and urgency to our security requirements with increased risks because of the unstable international environment and the risk of hybrid cyberattacks and hybrid warfare. It is not as if we have not been attacked. The HSE was attacked a number of years ago, There are lots of private institutions and compa…