Gary Gannon

The Tánaiste was outside answering migration questions-----

Satellite images taken by the humanitarian research lab at the Yale School of Public Health show numerous clusters of ground discoloration across Darfur, consistent with the presence of human bodies. The blood spilled in Sudan is now visible from space. Let us think about that for a moment. The scale of killing is so vast, unrestrained and utterly unhidden that it is visible from orbit. Nobody, no…

As a self-proclaimed Irish Republican, does the Taoiseach have any shame at all that his Government continues to change our laws around immigration simply to mimic those of Great Britain and the influence Nigel Farage is having on its politics? Today it was announced that there will be family reunification only for the wealthiest of migrants. The Government has set the standard that those on welfa…

If it is suitable.

Is it possible to come in?

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing that. I am happy to support the extension of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 once again but I will say at the outset what we said the last several times we have been asked to extend this piece of legislation: we cannot keep treating it as a temporary measure. I appreciate the Minister of State said in his opening contribu…

International co-operation in the fight against serious crime and terrorism is vital. No one disputes that, but how we co-operate matters just as much as whether we co-operate. These motions on the conclusion and signing of PNR data-sharing agreements between the EU and South Korea are part of a wider framework that can enhance public safety. I support that objective, but I sound a note of caution…

I will be voting against this motion for a variety of reasons, but first when it comes to the transposition of the asylum and migration pact into Irish law through the International Protection Bill 2025. Anybody at the justice committee a month ago when this was going through pre-legislative scrutiny could not in good conscience agree to advance it one Stage further. Heads of the Bill were missing…

Under Standing Order 35(3), I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business for Thursday's afternoon session, that we have statements on the changes to immigration brought forward by the Minister for Justice, Migration and Home Affairs, which are quite significant. When we respond, as we should, we are often told we are shutting down debate. We would like to have a debate this week on the Min…

Yes. I propose an amendment to amend the arrangements for Thursday’s afternoon’s business in order to provide for statements in relation to the Minister’s changes to immigration procedures.

I begin by acknowledging the presence of all those in the Visitors Gallery. They are all very welcome. I thank Deputy Carthy and Sinn Féin for bringing Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill 2025. It is fitting that we are discussing it on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. I also acknowledge every woman who has survived domestic, sexual or gender…

The Taoiseach's office oversees the north inner-city task force in Dublin. I imagine this week he was as proud as anyone else in the country when a young man from the north inner city captured the nation's heart by scoring two goals against Portugal and three against Hungary, namely, Troy Parrott. Whenever we have these heroes from the north inner city – I assure the Taoiseach we have many of them…

That is what you are supposed to do.

The Taoiseach oversees the task force.

I commend Deputy Farrelly on bringing forward the Bill and on the work he has put into it. Deputy Farrelly has dedicated a lot of his life to youth work and youth empowerment, and that shines through in the work he brings to Dáil Éireann every week. In relation to the timed amendment, the idea does not carry much weight for me any more. Deputy Byrne referred to John Collison. Following an article…

Urgent and deeply troubling concerns have been brought to me by the staff of Casa Caterina special school in Cabra, a school that provides critical education and care for children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. I understand the Minister of State is stepping in tonight for the Minister of State with responsibility for special education. I feel that this issue is also directly r…

I am really happy to hear that a meeting has taken place between the Department and the school, Casa Caterina. It is incredible. I walked into that school about a month ago and, to my own shame and detriment, I did not actually know the school existed. Then I walked up to the shut gates. They open up and you are initially met by the kids who are playing in the playground. Who you meet are 36 child…

I thank the Minister for bringing forward the Bill. It is a technical one that tidies up provisions across our courts and civil law system, and we will, of course, be supporting it. However, I want to use the opportunity, when we have a Bill that is to do with the appointment of more judges, to talk not about the structures of the courts but about the culture that exists within them, particularly …

I thank Deputy Sherlock and the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. The opportunity to discuss decriminalisation can never come too soon. I welcome the opportunity to speak on it today. The motion states that we recall the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use, the interim report of the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use and the Misuse of Drugs Act. All we are doing is recalling them, because …

I completely welcome the debate. I am conscious it could be happening in a very different context, given how fortunate we were that the horrors we saw too viscerally in Drogheda last week did not materialise in an outcome that would have been most devastating with a loss of life. It was a scenario, however, where a person with hatred in their soul placed petrol on stairs. You cannot imagine any ot…

I consistently hear the Minister of State talking absolute drivel and I do not interrupt him. So, who are we actually taking out of sectors? Is it students? Regardless of who is taken out, that will prove another area where this Government has failed. Removing students would actually destroy the education sector. Does it want to take people out of the healthcare system? Where is it? Migration pre…

The Tánaiste said nothing.

Hear, hear.

I thank Aontú for bringing forward the motion today. Listening in to this morning's proceedings, it has been quite an interesting discussion. The motion includes some worthy measures. I fully stand over extending the voting rights to Irish citizens in the North of Ireland and even having a discussion about how nominations happen is something that we should do consistently but I cannot separate th…

He was wrong.