Alan Dillon

I thank all the Deputies for their very informative contributions and the obvious passion they have towards this subject. It is great to hear some people's passion not just for the sector itself, but through having past experience in it. It is incumbent on us all to recognise the world-class arts sector we have, both amateur and professional. That is recognised internationally and domestically. It…

I welcome the successful passing of the Bill through the Dáil. This Bill will introduce a new employment right and will facilitate workers who want to continue in employment until they first access the State pension. It also makes the necessary provision for the limited cases where a lower retirement age may be required. The Bill gives effect to a Government commitment under the Pensions Commissi…

I thank the Deputy and the Opposition for supporting the general scheme of the Bill. No amendments have been tabled on Report Stage. We welcome the Deputy's engagement and contribution. In general terms, the intent is that employees continuing in employment past the age of 65 should, where possible, be treated in the same way as colleagues below that age. We understand the challenges around the i…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill will provide the legal mechanism for the payment of €1.5 billion of equity investment in ESB, as committed to by the Government under the national development plan. I will set out the broader context for why Government equity investme…

It was the worst in history.

I also warmly congratulate our President-elect, Catherine Connolly. I wish her the very best in her appointment. Leaving Mayo-Galway rivalries aside, I know she will do a tremendous job. I wish her the very best. I thank all the Deputies for their engagement in respect of this very important Bill. I appreciate the general support right across the Chamber in that regard. The fact that many Members…

I want to express my sincere sympathies to Harvey Morrison Sherratt's parents, Gillian and Stephen, and all families impacted by CHI's scoliosis and spinal surgery waiting list. This is a deeply serious issue, one on which we are all united across the Dáil in wanting to resolve. Simon, the Government and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, are working with parents and advocates to agree a struc…

It offers no constructive budget and no constructive policy.

Budget 2026 is about securing Ireland's future, supporting families, protecting jobs and investing in infrastructure that is much needed. This is a budget of more than €9.4 billion, with €8.1 billion in spending and a €1.3 billion tax package. That is a 7% increase in total spend. We are prioritising those who need it most. We are looking after pensioners, carers and people with disabilities. As a…

It was in the programme for Government.

As we conclude the debate, I want to acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and his officials who have been listening throughout this debate. I want to bring us all back to the essentials we are discussing here today which is that insurance is not abstract. It is a daily reality for every motorist, every small business and every household. It is the guarantee that if the worst happens - a…

I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this important issue. Ireland's healthcare system is changing with the introduction and implementation of Sláintecare, the first cross-party plan for major health reform in Ireland which was introduced in 2017. The Sláintecare vision is to provide universal, accessible, affordable, person-centred, safe and high-quality health and social care for all the people…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I certainly agree on the necessity around an early access programme. We are making significant progress in regards to the treatment of cancer. However, I would agree that access to medicines should not become a barrier; it should become part of the normal process. I will report what the Deputy has said here to the Minister. In regards to the G…

I thank Deputy Quinlivan for the timely opportunity to address the House on capacity at University Hospital Limerick. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who sends her apologies that she cannot be here to provide an update on the measures that are being taken to alleviate overcrowding. Since the Deputy last raised a Topical Issue on this matter i…

We are all in agreement that the people of the mid-west rightly deserve access to responsive urgent and emergency care. The HIQA review was published today. It has an extensive range of findings across the healthcare service in the mid-west. I would be interested to hear what the Deputy disagrees with in the HIQA report.

I would be interested to hear if there is anything in the report that he disagrees with. It will be given full consideration and all the findings-----

-----are under way to determine the future direction of the services in the region. It is important to also highlight UHL's annual budget spend has increased from €265 million in 2019 to over €507 million in 2024. A package of wide-ranging reform support measures also is being implemented. It is important these measures are aimed at both capacity and reform of the healthcare system in the region. …

I thank both Deputies for raising this important matter around concerns relating to the delivery of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is unavoidably absent today. The safety and quality of our maternity services are of critical importance to the women and families who use them, as well as to the Governme…

Again, I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. I am sure they will understand that the Government and the Minister for Health are very much committed to ensuring that all women and families receive the highest standard of care, both at Portiuncula and across all maternity services nationally. The Minister and her Department officials will continue to work closely with the HSE, the …

I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this important matter. I take his point. I was a backbencher too so I understand the frustration when you put in a Topical Issue and the relevant Minister or Minister of State is not present. I will relay that back to the Chief Whip. The Government is very much committed to supporting children with additional needs to reach their full potential, and the program…

I thank the Deputy for articulating the case for Scoil Mochua and the challenges it faces. It is no different than any other constituency. Indeed, I have faced many challenges regarding families and children deserving and demanding access to resources. There is a challenging environment. I acknowledge the particular circumstances the Deputy mentioned. When one engages with the NCSE, it is responsi…

I thank all the Deputies for raising these important matters and allowing time to discuss them. I also welcome the opportunity to discuss the pressures Irish householders are facing as a result of high energy costs and the actions the Government is taking in response. The pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs remain a deep concern for the Government. Providing support…

I thank the Deputy. I convey the apologies of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. He is at an EU Environment Council meeting on the 2040 environmental targets. We sought a swap but due to the Dáil resuming that was very difficult. On the Deputy's question, the Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The programme for Government a…

We have as a Government delivered over €3.3 billion in credits to over 2.3 million households in recent times, but we need to be strategic with this upcoming budget. Once-off measures are certainly not a long-term fix. That is why, as I said earlier, we have established the national energy affordability task force which is preparing an interim report to inform budget 2026. We are also looking at s…

In the context of what we are discussing, the reality is that Ireland operates in a liberalised EU energy market where prices are set commercially, not by governments. That said, we are not passive observers in this regard. The CRU has statutory powers to oversee suppliers' conduct. We have recently strengthened its protections for consumers this winter. On profits, I accept that energy companies …