Questions

176. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office's child poverty target. [48905/25]

177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the roll out of the auto-enrolment pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50750/25]

178. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the means by which he will ensure the enforcement of sanctions against Iran agreed at the UN Security Council; to outline trade between Ireland and Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51003/25]

179. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make changes to the passport application system so that apostrophes in surnames along with fadas for Irish names can be recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51010/25]

180. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific measures agreed under the new UK-Ireland framework on the Troubles legacy; the extent of financial, judicial, and investigative powers being granted to victims’ families; the implications this agreement will have for the State’s legal proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on …

181. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will publish the full text of the new Northern Ireland-UK legacy framework; the timeline for its implementation, including the repeal of the Legacy Act; the legislative or statutory steps required in Ireland; and to identify the resources (funding, staffing, cross-border commitments) that will be committed to ensure victims’ f…

182. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which a multi-agency investigation confirmed the extent of the August 2025 fish kill in the Blackwater but failed to establish a source or cause; and if additional investigative steps such as independent hydrological analysis or technical assistance from the European Commission will now be undertaken. [50871/25]

183. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide details of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s quantified estimate of fish mortalities by species and life stage on the Blackwater in August 2025; the river reach affected by kilometre, the ecological risk assessment used; and the planned remediation and stock recovery measures with timelines and funding. [50900/25]

184. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to explain his Department’s final position on the cause of the Blackwater fish kill, given public communications that evolved from possible disease to pollution; and to reconcile this with laboratory results published on 18 and 19 September 2025. [50907/25]

185. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the implications of Ireland’s ratification of the UN High Seas Treaty; whether he intends to designate additional marine protected areas under the Treaty; the funding and enforcement resources that will be allocated; the means by which Ireland will engage with EU partners to ensure compliance and cooperation; and if he will make a stat…

186. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of instances of non-compliance with the DRS scheme (details supplied); if he has met with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss compliance and enforcement; the sanctions in place for retailers and/or suppliers who are non-compliant; whether data is being collected regarding compliance rates; and if he will make a sta…

187. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the necessary capital spending increase needed in 2026 in order to meet level of ambition 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50859/25]

188. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated level of defence spending that will be needed in 2028 in order to reach €1.5 billion in 2022 prices; the amount that would be required in 2026 in order to reach €1.5 billion in 2022 prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50860/25]

189. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on the State's participation in NATO's Support and Procurement Agency; for a breakdown of all payments to this agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50990/25]

190. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport the reason that, in the context of double tracking parts of the Rosslare to Dublin rail line, costly tunnelling through Bray Head has been included as part of the proposal; his views on whether more cost-effective ways of double tracking, for example, north of Greystones and south of Greystones as far as Wicklow town, adding a second platform to Wexford O' Ha…

191. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to improve facilities at Clonmel railway station including the scope of these works subject to planning; the timeline for these works and the level of investment planned; if he will provide an artist’s impression of the station once works are completed. [50915/25]

192. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the plans for investment in railway stations and bus stations in 2026, by county, of the proposed investment levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50916/25]

193. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has received any complaints, disclosures, or internal correspondence regarding governance concerns, conflicts of interest, or procedural irregularities regarding the recent appointment of a chief executive at a company (details supplied); if he will confirm whether the advertised eligibility requirements were met and whether any independen…

194. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport if he will set out whether the recent appointment of a chief executive at a company (details supplied) was conducted in full compliance with statutory and advertised criteria; if his Department received or reviewed any complaints, disclosures, or governance evaluations indicating conflicts of interest, procedural irregularities, or board-level disputes; whe…

195. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the projected installation timeline under the all-island sports club EV charging programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50950/25]

196. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the number of clubs in Dublin mid-west that have been included in the scope of the all-island sports club EV charging project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50951/25]

197. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the RSA in September 2025 in relation to the opening of the new test centre in South Dublin; if he will provide any updates on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50952/25]

198. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the planned capacity of the new driving test centre in South Dublin, including the number of testers to be assigned and the volume of driving tests it is expected to facilitate on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50953/25]

199. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether weekend bus timetables should differ from weekday schedules; if more frequent services should operate on Saturdays to reflect higher passenger demand on certain routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50955/25]

200. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the work his Department is undertaking to address the dangers associated with the use of e-scooters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50956/25]