Paschal Donohoe

Again, I condemn what is happening to the people of Gaza and the awful violence and trauma that is being inflicted on them. However, the Deputy referred to the importance of international law. I also have to adhere to domestic law and under domestic law, ISIF is independent of me. I can give it guidance, and strong guidance, in relation to its overall strategy, for which I have a statutory role, b…

It is important that I do not play a role. This is an organisation that is responsible for €16.6 billion of our money. In order for that money to be looked after and managed in a way that is safe, it is very important that a Government does not play a role in directing it on individual transactions it makes.

I want to emphasise again my condemnation of all that is happening to the people of Gaza.

I provided some information on this in my answer to Deputy Nash earlier, so I will just reiterate some of the key points. It will take some time to understand the consequences of this understanding that has been reached between a number of countries and America. The key issue I am concerned about is how this is consistent with the operation of the OECD agreement and the particular issues within th…

I do not expect pillar 1 to conclude soon given all the difficulties with regard to pillar 2 at the moment. On whether this would automatically lead to a change in the EU directive, I do not believe it will. As I said in response to Deputy Nash earlier, we are considering what this will mean for the implementation of the EU directive and what that means for Ireland’s competitiveness and for Europe…

I believe they are still inside the OECD agreement and pillar 2 and those countries are participating in the OECD reaction to all this and making clear they are committed to the OECD process. Therefore, the answer to the Deputy’s question is that, yes, I believe they are still in it. I have not spoken to EU finance ministers on this particular tax issue in the last number of weeks but it was discu…

The brevity of the Deputy's question gives me a moment to outline what Government is already doing to help with student accommodation-----

-----and to make a difference to what we know is a huge cost for many families. The Government is clear in recognising education, particularly higher and further education, allows students to fulfil their potential and plays a vital role in the economic development of our country in creating jobs and culture that is the heart of the progress Ireland is making. Let me outline the supports we are a…

At present, with the support the Government has made available through the Minister, Deputy Lawless, as well as the work of this Government and the previous one, one in three students did not pay a student contribution. At present, half of students, through the SUSI scheme available, are supported in costs for becoming students, which we know are difficult. The Government has adjusted the standard…

Today, households with an income of up to €64,000 do not pay a student contribution. For those families who have more family members or a higher number of children, that ceiling is higher again. For postgraduate education, maintenance grants have been fully restored and a SUSI support is now available for the first time for those in hybrid or part-time education. That is what the Government has do…

The Deputy's question may have been brief-----

-----but the answer to it is longer in outlining the supports and difference we already make and want to build upon.

It is exactly because this issue is life-defining for so many that Government already has supports in place.

Of course, Sinn Féin will never acknowledge this in any contribution it makes. The difference between those of us who sit over here and Deputy Carthy is that we are interested in solutions rather than sound bites.

We are interested in action that will make a difference-----

-----rather than the Deputy's attempt at action on the issue of the day.

The answer to this question-----

-----is the same answer that has been given at every other point in recent years. As this is such an important issue, it must be decided budget by budget-----

In the engagement every Minister has with the rest of Government and the Minister for public expenditure, the progress and supports in place recognise this is not only something that will be life-defining in a positive way but will also bring with it costs.

What Government wants to do is help in a permanent way and we will outline our answer to that serious question, as we will to many others, when the budget is completed.

First, I want to deal with the different language and points that the Deputy has made before I come to the really important issue of Elaine, her children and her children's future. For the Deputy to use language such as “stacking the deck against students” does no justice to the seriousness of this cause and demeans the need for serious debate regarding important decisions that this country has to…

It is because of my respect for those families that it is important to give a clear and honest answer. It is important to recognise that those families also have other needs and issues that they want our country to make progress on. In order for us to make progress on those collectively, we have to make decisions as part of the budget process so we can ensure that the changes we make are affordabl…

-----not only with questions on this but on many other priorities they want to see the Government make progress on. It is what we have done each year. We will need to do that now in the context of having normal budgets in a world that is becoming more uncertain and complex. We will need to look at how we can make improvements, budget by budget. That is why, as has always been the case, we will be …

In recognition of the horror that is being inflicted on the people of Gaza, the loss of life, the new low that we are seeing being perpetrated when aid is being used in a way that appears to be assembling people for further deaths and injury, let me outline what the Government has done and what we continue to do to respond in a diplomatic and practical way to this. I refer to the work the Irish Go…

At what point in my contribution did I look for thanks or recognition? At what point in the statements that I or any other member of the Government has made in relation to what is unfolding in the Middle East have we looked for recognition from the Deputy or, indeed, anybody else?