Noel Grealish

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I am dealing with on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The air we breathe is fundamental to our health, environment and the overall well-being of our communities. Nationally, from an ambient air-quality point of view, the main air pollutants of concern are fine particulate matter from solid fuel combustion and nitrogen dioxid…

I thank Deputy Murphy for his input this morning on this important issue. Although ambient air quality in Ireland is recognised as being among the best in Europe, there is no safe level of air pollution. There are policies and legislation in place to ensure that we continue to strive to minimise the impact of air pollution on our citizens and the environment. Local authorities are independent sta…

Deputy Tóibín gave a press conference.

I thank all of the Members who have spoken today. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, and I have listened carefully to what has been raised by the Opposition and those on the Government benches. For a few minutes I will speak about my role in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as Minister of State with responsibility for new markets, food …

I am delighted to hear that.

I hope the committee has visited Moorepark in Cork as well. I was very impressed by it. It has been said that the Government is not trying to support the tillage industry. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Heydon, on going to the meeting in the Killashee Hotel recently. Over 1,000 people attended that meeting. It was very important for the Minister to be there. It shows how seriously he takes this…

They have gone very quiet.

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Burke, who could not be here this morning. I welcome the opportunity to address the issue of employment permit processing and its impact on businesses and prospective employees. Ireland operates a managed, demand-led employment permits system under the Employment Permits Act 2024. This system sup…

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke. I heard the issues the Deputy raised and I hear them in my office. There are many delays in certain types of work permits, in particular in the transport sector. There are many transport companies in the west of Ireland, in particular Galway. I have met many and one of their major issues is try…

I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who could not be here. I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this important issue and allowing me to update the House on matters relating to it. I want to begin by acknowledging the importance of the very serious kill that occurred on the River Blackwater and its tributaries near Mallow, County Cork, last month and I wish…

I thank the Deputy for his remarks regarding the Government's response to this. I reiterate that the Government takes this significant fish mortality very seriously. As the House is aware, farmers have been asked to escalate their efforts in respect of water quality protection. State agencies must do the same. Moreover, there is a duty on State bodies and actors in the public sector to take a lead…

I hope we do not get it if it is what the Deputy is saying.

Come on.

Respect democracy.

He would if they stopped interrupting.

On behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I thank Deputy Byrne for raising these important issues. The Government continues to prioritise increased investment in the National Ambulance Service with an allocation of €285 million in 2025. Investment this year includes €8 million for new service developments to deliver 180 additional posts. This will help to support capacity bui…

I thank the Deputy. In my opening statement I focused on the specific issues she raised concerning the National Ambulance Service station in Drogheda and the status of the rapid response vehicles at the station. I will now speak more generally about the National Ambulance Service's urgent and emergency ambulance performance and reiterate this Government's continued investment in this service. Dema…

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to speak on this matter, especially in the context of my role as the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for new markets and food promotion. Ireland and the US have a significant and mutually beneficial economic relationship. Within this context, the US is a key market for the Irish ag…

Go raibh maith agat, Deputy Geoghegan, for the question. I am a great supporter of the farmer markets and organic food markets. In 2023 the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine awarded €1.1 million to 12 projects to promote and develop the organic sector over 2023 and 2024. One of the successful applications was to hold an organic food fair in Merrion Square, and this was a well-attende…

I thank the Deputy for his comments. It is great that a Dublin TD is talking about farmers' markets, which is very important. I spoke about this in my first speech to this Dáil when a number of the TDs from Dublin were talking about the farming community. Farmers put an awful lot into the economy in Ireland and I am great a supporter of farmers' markets. We have very successful ones in Galway and …

I agree with the Deputy on that and I will look at it, along with my colleagues here. The second call closed on 7 March and relates to a €3 million fund to develop and promote our organic sector to cover the period of 2025 to 2027. The applicants were asked to submit their applications for that. It is in process at the moment and the announcements will hopefully be made by the end of April. I hope…

I thank Deputy Byrne for submitting this question. The Department operates a number of schemes in the horticulture sector. They may be availed of by wine producers in the context of the grape-growing aspect of their production. The two schemes are the scheme for investment aid for innovation and diversification in horticulture, which supports feasibility and desk studies, and the scheme of investm…

It is important to note that my officials participated in the European Commission high-level wine group last year. This group was established to develop policy recommendations to address issues in the European wine sector. While primarily aimed at reducing burdens currently impacting larger wine-producing countries, the final recommendations document produced by the group also recognised the impor…

One of the first meetings I had when I was appointed was with Bord Bia. I was very impressed with the organisation. It has 14 offices around the world. We export to 114 countries and many of those exports are drinks that are produced in Ireland. If we can promote the wine industry here, I am sure Bord Bia will be delighted to do so. I will be happy to work with Deputy Byrne to ensure that happens.

I am delighted to vote confidence in the Ceann Comhairle. Verona Murphy is a formidable lady and the first woman ever elected to the office. Despite encountering difficulty in carrying out the duties of the office, she has always been impartial, fair and independent in her actions. Verona was first elected to represent Wexford in 2020. Since then, she has proven to be a strong voice for her const…